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Ambassadors: Rugby
Naas Botha (South Africa)
An outstanding flyhalf and match-winner, Naas Botha is the Springboks' all-time leading points’ scorer. Botha was, however, more than just a points kicking machine; he was able to control games with his educated tactical kicking and with Botha leading the way his province, Northern Transvaal, dominated South African rugby. So good was he, in fact, that the British media dubbed him ‘Nasty Booter’ when the British Lions toured South Africa in 1980. Today Botha is a respected and popular rugby presenter with Supersport.
Mornè du Plessis (South Africa)
Former Springbok rugby captain Morne du Plessis led South Africa in 15 tests, winning on 12 occasions, and recorded series wins over the British Lions and the All Blacks. Following a 2-0 series victory over France in 1980 he retired from the game, but later returned as manager of the South African World Cup side in 1995. That Springbok team captured rugby’s biggest prize and Du
Plessis’ role in the Boks’ success was noted by rugby followers. In 1999 he was voted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. He helped establish the Sport Science Institute of South Africa in Cape Town and is involved in its management. In addition, he is also chairman of the management committee of the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players’ Fund that assists rugby players who sustain serious injuries. Du Plessis is also a member of the elite World Sports Academy, one of only 43 people responsible for the Laureus World Sports Awards, and for the work they do to promote sport around the world. His peers in the Academy include Gary Player, Franz Beckenbauer, Sean Fitzpatrick, Ian Botham, Michael Johnson, Michael Jordan, Edwin Moses, Sir Viv Richards, Mark Spitz and Dawn Fraser.
Francois Pienaar (South Africa)
One of the greatest achievements in South African sports’ history happened on 24 June 1995 when Francois Pienaar led the Springboks to World Cup victory
over New Zealand at Ellis Park. The abiding memory of the final, however, remains from the post-game presentation when President Nelson Mandela, wearing Pienaar’s number-six Bok jersey, presented the William Webb Ellis trophy to South Africa’s charismatic captain. When asked how it felt to win the trophy in front of 60 000 supporters at the stadium, Pienaar replied: “We didn’t win this for 60 000 people, we won it for 43-million”. Such memories will live on forever. Pienaar enjoyed a successful career with Transvaal and later with Saracens in England. Mostly, though, he will be remembered for his inspirational leadership during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, a successful time that brought people of all colours in the new South African democracy together.
Chester Williams (South Africa)
Chester Williams broke the stereotypes during his rugby career. Standing only 1.72 metres tall (five foot eight inches) and weighing just over 81 kilograms, Williams was anything but a
typical international wing. Then again, Williams was also black and when be became a Springbok he also became one of the fan favourites in the South African team; it was obvious there was something special about the flyer from the Cape. He earned his first Springbok cap in November 1993, playing against Argentina, and went on to represent the South African national team for seven years, playing in 27 tests and scoring 14 tries. He was a member of the Springbok team that won the World Cup in 1995 and in the quarterfinals of that tournament, in one of the highlights of his career, he ran in four tries against Samoa. After being forced out of rugby because of a severe knee injury Williams moved into coaching and is today the coach of the South African Sevens team. Under his leadership the team has become one of the best in the world, a testament to the inspiration that he continues to provide to South Africa’s rugby players.
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Springbok winger Chester Williams starred in the team that won the Rugby World Cup in 1995 |
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