BLOGGING THE VIEW: 6 Ways South Africa is the World Champion in 2025

Having just honoured one of the country’s greatest leaders on Mandela Day, South Africa is basking in that Mzansi glow of a shared resilience and ubuntu spirit.

And while geopolitical tensions try to put a dampener on our good vibes, we can keep this good momentum going by looking at some of the incredible ways South Africa is coming out tops – across the world.

1. 2025 ICC World Test Champions
Contest: World Test Cricket
Date: 11 to 14 June 2025
Finally putting to bed that tired ‘chokers’ title, South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, winning by five wickets.
This historic victory marked our first-ever World Test Cricket title and our first major ICC trophy since 1998.

2. Rugby Sevens World Champions 2025
Contest: Rugby Sevens
Date: 1 to 4 May 2025
At the 2025 Rugby Sevens World Championship in Los Angeles, our men’s team beat Spain 19–5 in the final, securing the world title in the sport of 7–a–side rugby.

3. Rugby World Cup Champions
Contest: Rugby Union
Date: 2023
Not to forget, we are still the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, having won the tournament in 2019 and again in 2023.
We’re the only nation to have claimed four total titles!

4. World Rugby U20 Champions
Contest: Rugby Union
Date: 19 July 2025
The incoming talent is showing they also have what it takes, with South Africa beating New Zealand 23-15 in Italy to claim their first title since 2012.

5. World’s Strongest Man (Rayno Nel)
Contest: Strongman
Date: 19 May 2025
Rayno Nel, our South African strongman, won the World’s Strongest Man title this year, becoming the first from South Africa, Africa, and the southern hemisphere to do so!

6. UFC Middleweight Champion
Sport: UFC
Date: February 2025
Dricus du Plessis made history by defending his UFC Middleweight Championship title against Sean Strickland in an electrifying five-round battle.

And that’s just in the sporting arena!

South Africans are also killing it in music, film, runways, and even flower shows around the world.

Here’s looking forward to many more wins in 2025.

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