Three Springboks included rugby’s Team of the Decade
Three Springbok World Cup winners, Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Bryan Habana, were named in the World Rugby 15s Team of the Decade by World Rugby on Monday night.
There was also special recognition for Siya Kolisi and his Springbok colleagues for their fundraising efforts through the #StrongerTogether for R32-12 campaign, which raised more than R1 million for hunger alleviation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was all part of the World Rugby Awards Special Edition, which was meant to celebrate those who have provided outstanding service during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as players and teams who have starred over the last decade
New Zealand’s two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Decade and Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai was named sevens player of the decade.
The World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade went to Black Ferns Sevens star Portia Woodman and France full-back Jessy Trémoulière was voted Women’s 15s Player of the Decade.
“On behalf of the entire South African rugby fraternity, I would like to congratulate all our Springboks who featured in the World Rugby Awards,” said Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby.
“’Beast’, Bismarck and Bryan always gave everything they had for the Springbok jersey and were great ambassadors for our wonderful country. Their inclusion in the Team of the Decade is great reward for their consistently high level of performance in the green and gold.
“To Siya and the Boks of 2019, well done on a great effort to help raise funds for those less fortunate who were hit very hard because of the pandemic earlier this year – we are all very proud of your efforts."
