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Sporting Witness: Rugby World Cup Unites South Africa

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Rugby World Cup Unites South Africa

22/10/2011

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Rugby World Cup Unites South Africa

How the 1995 Rugby World Cup helped unite the new South Africa.

In 1995, there were wild celebrations across the racial divide in South Africa when the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup on home soil.

Victory on the pitch followed a concerted campaign by Nelson Mandela - then the new president - to get white and black South Africans behind the team.

Rob Bonnett hears from the South African captain Francois Pienaar and from John Carlin, the author of the book about the World Cup which became the Hollywood film, Invictus.

Photo: Nelson Mandela presents the Rugby World Cup to Francois Pienaar. Getty Images Sport.

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