Springboks Call For Continued Unity In South Africa
The Springboks are aiming for a historic three-peat at the Rugby World Cup, and coach Rassie Erasmus has emphasized the importance of maintaining national unity.
Erasmus recently announced the squad for the upcoming two-test series against Ireland. The selection balances youth and experience, with an eye towards the 2027 tournament in Australia.
As the reigning world champions, having defeated New Zealand in France last year, the Springboks hold a unique distinction. They are the first team to win the Webb Ellis trophy four times and the second to successfully defend it.
Their journey continues towards the 2027 World Cup, fueled by a new rallying cry launched on Monday: “Forever Green, Forever Gold.”
This slogan builds on the team’s 2023 World Cup victory, where players hailed from diverse backgrounds, speaking five different home languages. Now, they’re asking South Africans for a lifelong commitment to unity and the positive values it represents.
Erasmus’ message to his players after the 2023 win serves as the foundation for “Forever Green, Forever Gold.” He challenged them to combat negativity and promote a solution-oriented approach, inspiring others to do the same.
“Guys, can we now go back to South Africa and not fall back into the trap of when someone talks negatively about South Africa, you just keep your mouth shut and say, ‘everything’s stuffed up’.
“Can you say, ‘no, no, no, we can fix it’. Let’s give this guy a chance, whether you’re a farmer, a teacher, or just a rugby player. Can you take this away from rugby – because people will listen to you.
“Take that negative person aside and say to them ‘hey, stop talking crap about our country’ and say ‘let’s make a plan, let’s listen to what this guy is saying’. Let’s start living #StrongerTogether outside rugby. And all players said ‘sure, let’s do it’.”
The Springboks return to action South Africa for the first time since their back-to-back World Cup wins when they beat Wales few weeks ago. They’ll face the world number two team, Ireland, in a sold-out two-test series starting in Pretoria on Saturday.
“This new slogan is a commitment to an unwavering dedication to the game and to each other as South Africans,” said Mr Mark Alexander, President of the South African Rugby Union.
“It reflects our firm belief that our strength lies in our unity and diversity. When we come together as one, we are very hard to beat.”
The “Forever Green, Forever Gold” campaign will be prominently displayed in upcoming matches, communications, and marketing materials. It aims to unite the entire nation behind the Springboks.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi echoed these sentiments: “Wearing the green and gold jersey is an honour and a privilege and my heart will forever be green and gold. This new slogan is a message to live the principles of #StrongerTogether in our daily lives, as well as give your commitment to the Springboks forever, in the way that we always strive to give our all for the country.”