Habana, who scored a joint-record 15 World Cup tries during his career, has lauded today’s Springboks side as being “truly representative” of South Africa. It came 24 years after Francois Pienaar had accepted the trophy from Nelson Mandela a year after the end of apartheid - an iconic moment in rugby history.
The Springboks’ Rugby World Cup triumph two years ago signaled a landmark moment in South Africa’s sporting and social history with Siya Kolisi, the team’s first Black captain, lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy. READ: How the All Blacks handle ‘huge public expectation’ Then last month, South African cricketer Quinton de Kock apologized for refusing to take the knee at the T20 Cricket World Cup and insisted he is “not a racist.”Ĭricket South Africa had previously ordered all players to take a knee before game at the tournament, but wicketkeeper de Kock made the “personal decision” not to. Last year, South African players for English Premiership side Sale Sharks were the attention of public scrutiny for not taking the knee like their teammates, they wore T-shirts with the words “Rugby Against Racism” ahead of games. The act of taking a knee, which was popularized by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016 as a protest against racial injustice and police brutality, has proved a divisive subject when it comes to sport in South Africa. “We saw with the Autumn Nations Cup last year held in the UK that there was a number of players that would do it, and I would have most certainly done if given the opportunity.” He added: “All players in that squad have had various statements throughout the course of the last year and a half, and in so doing, hopefully show that rugby is definitely against racism.”Īsked if he would have taken the knee as a player, Habana said: “I think I would, if we were asked to do it or if there was an opportunity to do it. “I just don’t think it’s a directive at the moment,” Habana, who made 124 appearances for the Springboks and scored 67 tries, told CNN Sport of the decision not to take a knee. The Springboks - world champions in 1995, 20 - are one such example.Įarlier this year, head coach Rassie Erasmus said his side was focused on supporting South Africa Rugby’s own anti-racism and anti-discrimination program, RADAR, rather than taking a knee before games.