On the eve of this year’s Rugby World Cup Final, three Laureus legends recall their experiences of a historic day at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Yokohama, Japan – Ahead of this weekend’s Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa in Yokohama, three Laureus rugby legends are reflecting on their own memories of a moment which proved sport’s ability to inspire, instil hope and unite a nation.
Twenty-four years ago, South Africa beat New Zealand in Johannesburg, in front of President Nelson Mandela, to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. It proved to be life-changing for his nation, for sport and for three men present in Ellis Park, Johannesburg, that June day.
Now Bryan Habana, Morné du Plessis and Sean Fitzpatrick, all members of the Laureus Family, come together in an exclusive Laureus video – ‘1995 Rugby World Cup – How Sport United a Nation’ – to relive their experiences of that unforgettable moment.
Bryan Habana, the scorer of 67 tries for South Africa, was 12 at the time: “I was one of the fortunate 65,000 that were able to be in the stadium to witness this symbolic moment for our country. It made a little boy not only dream of doing the same but built a fire inside him.”
Morné du Plessis was the manager of the Springboks team: “It was a new nation. It was a nation that had been reborn. The realisation that sport could actually bring about this unity in a nation is my lasting impression of that day.”
Sean Fitzpatrick, captain of the losing All Blacks team: “For me, the final was life-changing, without question. I’ve never experienced an atmosphere like that. Once the great man Nelson Mandela said ‘one team, one country, the shift in the enthusiasm among the South African public was just phenomenal.”
In celebration of a milestone 20th anniversary, Laureus have launched the #SportUnitesUs campaign. From sports stars to sports fans and the young people in Laureus Sport for Good programmes around the world: Sport Unites Us.
The 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards, to be staged in Berlin on February 17, will celebrate 20 years of Laureus; 20 years of using sport to change the world; 20 years of celebrating the biggest names in sport; 20 years of sports stars supporting our vision to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage; and 20 years of us, together, changing lives.
Watch the video below:
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