SA Rugby president Mark Alexander says the nation is bursting with pride for the Springboks after they scooped the Team of the Year award at the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards.
The South African national rugby team pipped Champions League winners Liverpool, NBA champions the Toronto Raptors, the World Cup-winning US Women’s Football Team, Formula One constructors title-holders Mercedes-AMG Petronas and the Spanish Men’s Basketball team (World Cup winners) to lift the award in the German capital. It’s the second time the Springboks have won the Laureus accolade – the team that lifted the 2007 Rugby World Cup were awarded the prize in early 2008.
*Follow us on our new Instagram journey by clicking here
Inspirational captain Siya Kolisi led six of the team members, including new head coach Jacques Nienaber, on stage to receive the Laureus statuette on Monday. This prestigious award comes after the Springboks also cleaned up at the World Rugby Awards in Japan shortly after their stunning World Cup triumph.
ALSO READ: ‘With one main goal, we came together’
‘We would like to congratulate Rassie, Siya and the Springbok team, as well as the management for receiving this fantastic award,’ said Alexander.
‘They were so heroic on the field and through their excellent off-field conduct, they were true examples of excellent South African ambassadors.
‘Our country can be very proud of this team and what they have accomplished in such a short space of time. They made an amazing turnaround to establish the Springboks once more as a major force in world sport.
‘On behalf of SA Rugby, I would like to congratulate the entire Springbok team and management on this fantastic accomplishment. We saw how powerful a successful Springbok team can be, uniting South Africans from all walks of life, and we are immensely proud of their achievements.’
READ: Boks bag top Laureus award
Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images
