Gallo Images / SA Rugby
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said that they witnessed a “united nation” during the team’s four-day trophy tour that ended in East London on Sunday.
The trophy tour began last Thursday in Gauteng and wound its way to Cape Town, Durban, and East London where thousands of people thronged the streets to cheer on the champions after their 12-11 victory against New Zealand in France last weekend
“As a Springbok team we wanted to give South African people hope, but those who welcomed us back at OR Tambo International Airport from France, and all along the trophy tour routes and airports, gave us hope too and inspired us to keep showing that regardless of your upbringing, race, religion and background, you can achieve anything,” said Kolisi.
He said before the World Cup the team said they were playing for the 60 million plus people in South Africa.
“The support we witnessed first-hand on the trophy tour in the last few days was breathtaking.
“It was special to see the scenes when we arrived home after the 2019 World Cup, but this welcome was something else,” Kolisi said.
He said the Springboks may only return to the field next year again, but what we took from the last few days will continue to drive us as a team.
