Rugby

Destination Dublin - South Africa

Hennie Le Roux and I with a group of excited youngsters after our rugby clinic in Johannesburg
Chester Williams greeting me at the airport in Joburg.
Joel Stransky joined Chester Williams to welcome the Cup to South Africa.
My role as Cup ambassador means lots of press conferences! We did this one at Ellis Park, scened of the 1995 World Cup final where South Africa won it.
Me and the Springbok boys after the press conference.
This Joburg school's rubgy team escorted the Cup and me from the helicopter across their rugby pitch to the assembly of students in front of the grand stands.
They were an enthusiastic bunch. We had great fun showing them the Webb Ellis Cup.
At the rugby clinic the boys show me what they can do. We ran some drills with Coach Mack.

Rugby legend Grant Fox recounts his “whistle stops” with the Webb Ellis Cup in South Africa - two days packed solid with everything from press conferences to rugby coaching clinics.

We had an early morning start at the airport in Johannesburg, where we were met by Chester Williams and Joel Stransky - a couple of South African legends who won the World Cup in 1995.

After that we went out to Ellis Park, scene of the 1995 World Cup final where South Africa won against the All Blacks, and held a press conference to officially announce the DHL’s role as Official Logistics Partner to Rugby World Cup 2015 in South Africa. Joel, Chester and I were joined by a number of other former Springboks - together we nearly made our own side! It was really great to catch up with some old contemporaries.

From there we went and visited a couple of schools, flying the Cup in by helicopter. It was pretty cool to have an aerial view of Johannesburg, which is a beautiful city. We did a little presentation there, showed them the World Cup and had a lot of photographs. It’s amazing to see this little wee trophy, which means so much to counties like New Zealand and South Africa, put a smile on so many kids’ faces.

The smiles on the kids’ faces. It’s just a joy to behold.

From there we took the Cup to an underprivileged part of the city for a rugby clinic. Coach “Mack” - Ian McIntosh, who used to coach the Springboks in the 90s - ran the clinic and the other players and I each coached smaller groups. I was so impressed by the kids there - and with the local rugby club that is taking rugby to these communities. The smiles on the kids’ faces, their willingness just to be out there, running around, getting some exercise, passing and kicking the ball. It’s just a joy to behold.

In Cape Town the next day we had a similar schedule - including a great kids rugby clinic at the brand new South African Rugby Museum. Another day with lots of smiling faces and lots of good fun.

What I already know but was reinforced during my time in South Africa is that this game we play called rugby gives us all a common bond. Wherever you go throughout the world, it’s about a family. And it was great to see a group of guys have fun and interact with each other - and they included me, although I’m the enemy! But we all have something in common. Rugby is one part of it, but the other part is that we’ve all won a World Cup. It was neat to catch up with some old mates and meet some players whose names I know but never met before.

I’ve really enjoyed my time in South Africa - they’re just rugby people and that’s alright in my book.

Tonight it’s off to London for the next and final stop on my part of the tour. And that’s alright with me, too, because mate I’m tuckered out!

Grant Fox

PS: One remarkable thing just happened at the airport shortly before we left Cape Town. I had the honour of meeting the daughter of a truly great rugby man, Danie Craven, a former Springbok player, coach as well as the President of South African Rugby Union. She inquired about the Webb Ellis Cup, having seen coverage on TV early today. I was happy to talk with her about my time as an All Black and to pose for a photograph with her and the Cup. It goes to show you once more that rugby truly does transcend across nations.

Read about my stop in Australia

Read about my stop in New Zealand

 

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