Rugby World Cup fever is a real thing

Every four years a huge sporting tournament comes along and manages to turn every citizen into a huge rugby fan – no matter if you like the sport or not.

We are halfway through the 2023 Rugby World Cup tournament, and everywhere you look the effects and symptoms of World Cup fever can be seen. Social media is filled with videos, photos, posts, and even memes of supporters of the various rugby teams, which only contributes to the big hype and huge excitement surrounding this tournament.

In saying that, I would like to believe that Springbok supporters can be seen as some of the most passionate, and for the eight weeks that the tournament is running, almost everyone becomes a rugby fan, and in some cases even a rugby expert! This phenomenon is also not limited to a certain age group, or even geographical area as support is shown from the very young to the very old and everywhere in between.

I have seen some heartwarming videos all over social media of a youngster telling his mom he is Manie Libbok, and singing the National Anthem with his rugby ball under his arm. There are also the Springbok players’ videos telling the nation what or who they are playing for, pulling on every South African’s heartstrings. Some of the videos, posts, and other memes are an illustration of the uniquely South African humour, but all of this has one goal – uniting a nation.

The Caxton Jhb West editorial team is also a shining example of this. We have created a Superbru pool to help build some gees and provide a platform for some (un)healthy competition, and this is exactly what has happened. Every participant in this pool, no matter if they have watched rugby in their whole life, or don’t even know the Springboks by name, or have any knowledge of the game or team, has now turned into super supporters. Every game is watched religiously, and picks are made on time, and, with some luck, the competition in the pool is strong, with some of the ‘experts’ being schooled!

This might sound cliché, but I firmly believe in former President Nelson Mandela’s words, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

We have seen this during the final in 1995, and again in 2019 and every citizen is watching this year’s tournament with bated breath, hoping, praying, and believing that the Springboks will be able to do it again. Should this be the case, I believe that it would unite our nation once again, and (if only for a short while) give us something positive to believe in, which will help us find the motivation and inspiration to tackle a new day with hope.

Through sport, we are stronger together and we stand united as one nation.