South Africa's national rugby team will start its appreciation tour in Gauteng, traveling from Pretoria to Johannesburg, read a social media post published by the Springboks on X, formerly known as Twitter.
While fans celebrate South Africa's World Cup victory, World Rugby, the international rugby governing body, released its latest rankings placing the Boks in first place.
Ireland, the only team to beat South Africa at the global tournament, is ranked second, New Zealand's All Blacks dropped to third place.
Mandla Mhinga, a former South African rugby player and an All Blacks and Springboks fan, said the clash between the rivals was intense.
"I could not contain my emotions and everything" until the "final whistle was blown," Mhinga told VOA. "As soon as that whistle went I opened up my eyes and I celebrated."
The last eight minutes of the Saturday's game saw the two teams separated by one point and playing with 14-men after New Zealand's captain Sam Cane received a red card in the first half and South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe a yellow card before the conclusion.
Mhinga credited South Africa's victory to the nation's heavy investment in the sport.
"There is absolutely no reason as to why anyone should hate or look down on the Springboks or their ability," he said, "if you look at the support that we have from the development level, school level to club levels ... I think within South Africa the growth trajectory within the rugby space is well sort after."
Zukile Ncube, a former rugby player based in Japan, echoed Mhinga's sentiments.
Ncube said the Springboks can achieve a historic three-peat by winning the World Cup again at the tournament scheduled to be held in Australia in 2027.
"If you look at the squad at the moment, there are guys who didn't play. Handre Pollard, is only 29, so he could potentially be there next world cup," he said in reference to the fly-half that converted all the penalties in the final.
World Rugby announced last month the tournament to be held in Australia will change to have a historic participation of 24 teams.
Ncube is encouraging "smaller" African nations to invest in rugby to ensure that the continent has more participation at the 2027 World Cup.
"I feel like Africa has so much potential athletically," he said. "I think that sport can still grow in Africa. Of course, we need the facilities and the exposure of rugby, but if that can happen, look at the NBA, look at the French football team where a lot of people are originally from Africa. I think rugby is next for African countries," Ncube added.
Rugby Africa, the continent's rugby governing body, says interest in the sport has increased across several African nations including Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Herbert Mensah, president of the Rugby Africa, says the sport has potential to reach world class standards but needs more investment.
"Sports these days is a professional issue. It is no longer the old Olympic charter of just participating. And therefore, there needs to be investment," he said.
The African governing body facilities the growth of the sport on the continent through several tournaments — The Rugby Africa Cup and the Africa Men’s Sevens.
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