Northern | US
South Africa
Ox Nche Eben Etzebeth Faf de Klerk
Ox Nche Eben Etzebeth Faf de Klerk

The Springboks are the pride of South Africa. They’ve won four Rugby World Cups and they’re the current holders of The Rugby Championship.

Springboks Form last 5 games 🔥 win streak

🔥 Streak
5 wins

Springboks News

'You'll get beat': Sir Steve Hansen on Springboks series against All Blacks

Sergio Parisse leaves World Rugby panel as Grand Slam winner and Puma join

SARU statement: Players 'face immediate expulsion' over rogue trials

Latest

SA Rugby confirm 2026 Toyota Challenge with 4 nations represented

'Generational talent' Haashim Pead follows in Siya Kolisi's footsteps

Steve Borthwick loses long-time backroom ally to Springboks

Nations Championship has already lit up London, 100 days before KO

World Ranking

Springboks are currently 1st in the World Rugby Rankings. They have held the top spot for 7 months.

Ranking Over Time

Date {{date}}
Rank # {{rank}}
Points {{points}}
2003
2015
2026

Springboks Matches

Sat 29 Nov, 2025
Wales Wales
0
-
73
FT
South Africa South Africa
Principality Stadium
Sat 20 Jun, 2026
Rugby Union Hybrid Friendlies
Round 1
South Africa South Africa
Round 1
06:00
Barbarians Barbarians
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Sat 4 Jul, 2026
Round 1
South Africa South Africa
Round 1
08:40
England England
Ellis Park

Springboks Rugby Team Players

Springboks Forwards

Name
Position
Ox Nche
Ox Nche
Prop
Boan Venter
Boan Venter
Prop
Thomas du Toit
Thomas du Toit
Prop
Malcolm Marx
Malcolm Marx
Hooker
Bongi Mbonambi
Bongi Mbonambi
Hooker
Marnus van der Merwe
Marnus van der Merwe
Hooker
Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Hooker
Vincent Koch
Vincent Koch
Prop
Wilco Louw
Wilco Louw
Prop
Asenathi Ntlabakanye
Asenathi Ntlabakanye
Prop
Eben Etzebeth
Eben Etzebeth
Lock
Ruan Nortje
Ruan Nortje
Lock
Lood de Jager
Lood de Jager
Lock
Franco Mostert
Franco Mostert
Lock
RG Snyman
RG Snyman
Lock
Siya Kolisi
Siya Kolisi
Back Row
Kwagga Smith
Kwagga Smith
Back Row
Marco van Staden
Marco van Staden
Back Row
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Back Row
Jasper Wiese
Jasper Wiese
Back Row

Springboks Backs

Name
Position
Faf de Klerk
Faf de Klerk
Scrum Half
Cobus Reinach
Cobus Reinach
Scrum Half
Morne Van Den Berg
Morne Van Den Berg
Scrum Half
Grant Williams
Grant Williams
Scrum Half
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Fly Half
Manie Libbok
Manie Libbok
Fly Half
Handre Pollard
Handre Pollard
Fly Half
Damian Willemse
Damian Willemse
Fly Half
Makazole Mapimpi
Makazole Mapimpi
Outside Back
Damian de Allende
Damian de Allende
Centre
Andre Esterhuizen
Andre Esterhuizen
Centre
Ethan Hooker
Ethan Hooker
Centre
Jesse Kriel
Jesse Kriel
Centre
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Outside Back
Cheslin Kolbe
Cheslin Kolbe
Outside Back
Canan Moodie
Canan Moodie
Outside Back
Aphelele Fassi
Aphelele Fassi
Outside Back
Willie Le Roux
Willie Le Roux
Outside Back
Edwill Van Der Merwe
Edwill Van Der Merwe
Outside Back

Springboks Tournaments

South Africa National Rugby Union Team: The Springboks

The South Africa national rugby union team are affectionately known as the Springboks by supporters all over the world. They're the current holders of both the Rugby World Cup and The Rugby Championship. As a result, they're one of the most formidable teams on the planet.

Several giants of the game have played for the South Africa national rugby union team. This includes more than a dozen former Springboks players who have been inducted into either the International Rugby Hall of Fame or the World Rugby Hall of Fame, such as John Smit and Francois Pienaar.

The current Springboks squad features several stars of the modern game, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe. All three have won back-to-back Rugby World Cups with the squad. 

The Springboks at The Rugby Championship 

The Springboks joined the inaugural edition of the Tri-Nations in 1996, alongside Australia and New Zealand. In 2012, the competition was expanded to include Argentina. It’s now known as The Rugby Championship and is the pinnacle of rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.

Since 1996, the Springboks have won this annual competition on six occasions, including in both 2024 and 2025. To date, they're the only team to win both this competition and the Rugby World Cup in the same year.

The Springboks at the Rugby World Cup 

Although South Africa was instrumental in the creation of the Rugby World Cup, the team could not compete in the first two editions of the tournament due to anti-apartheid sporting boycotts.

But, the first time the Springboks entered the competition in 1995, they both hosted and won the tournament. Famously, Nelson Mandela presented the Springboks players with the trophy after the final. Since, they've continued to be highly successful. They've won the tournament three more times (2007, 2019 and 2023) and they've claimed third-place twice. Interestingly, they’ve won all four of the Rugby World Cup finals they’ve played in. 

Added to this, the Springboks are now the most successful team in the history of the Rugby World Cup. This is because South Africa’s 2023 Rugby World Cup victory made the Springboks the first team to capture four Webb Ellis Cups. They’re followed by New Zealand on three, Australia on two and England on one. 

FAQs

How many Rugby World Cups have the Springboks won?

The Springboks have won four Rugby World Cups. They’re the most successful side in the history of the competition.

Who is the current Springboks head coach?

The current head coach of the Springboks is Rassie Erasmus.

Who is the captain of the Springboks?

Siya Kolisi is the current captain of the Springboks. He led his country to back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023.

Why are South Africa referred to as the Springboks?

The Springboks nickname was first devised during the team’s 1906-07 tour of Britain, with the team named after the Springbok emblem on their jersey.

When was South Africa’s national rugby team founded?

The South African rugby team was established in 1891. The team faced a touring British Isles team in their first international fixture, which was held in the same year.

What is the Springboks’ biggest defeat in rugby union?

The Springboks suffered their biggest ever defeat in September 2017. They were beaten 57-0 by the All Blacks in Wellington.

Who has scored the most points for South Africa?

Percy Montgomery is South Africa’s record point-scorer. He scored 893 points for the Springboks between 1997 and 2008.

Who has the most caps for the Springboks?

Eben Etzebeth is the most-capped Springboks player. He’s made 140+ appearances for his country since 2012 and still represents the Springboks to this day.

What is South Africa’s record against New Zealand?

South Africa hold a losing record against New Zealand. The two teams have faced each other 110 times in test matches since 1921. Over this time period, New Zealand have won 63 of the encounters between the two countries, while South Africa have won 43. A further four have ended in a draw.

Who is the Springboks’ all-time leading try scorer?

Bryan Habana is the Springboks’ all-time leading try-scorer. He scored 67 tries during his international career.

What is South Africa’s best Rugby World Cup result?

South Africa are the most successful team in the history of the Rugby World Cup. They’ve won the tournament on four occasions: 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023.

Where do the Springboks play their home matches?

The Springboks don’t have a set ‘home’ stadium. Instead, they play at various grounds across South Africa, including Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Kings Park Stadium in Durban and Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

What colours do the Springboks play in rugby?

South Africa play in green jerseys with a gold collar and trim, white shorts and green socks. Traditionally, their away kit is predominantly white with dark green socks.

Who are the most famous Springboks players?

The Springboks are one of the finest rugby teams in the history of the sport. As a result, a number of famous players have featured for the South African rugby team, including Bryan Habana, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Joost van der Westhuizen. Other legends of the game in South Africa include the likes of Victor Matfield, Os du Randt, Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira and Chester Williams.
Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Close
ADVERTISEMENT