Programme Director
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Fellow South Africans
South Africa’s exit in the quarter finals of the 2011Rugby World Cup in New Zealand was heart breaking and painful.
We bowed out in a game where we won everything, except on the score board.
On behalf of Government, the Ministry of Sport and Recreation and the entire nation, welcome home to our Boks. To us, you are Heroes.
We pay tribute to our national rugby team, The Springboks, that fought so hard to retain the Webb Ellis trophy. We honour you for your world class performances against Wales and Fiji and the way you kept your cool against Samoa. We honour and thank you for being such wonderful ambassadors for our country.
We pay tribute to your dedication, your patriotism and your inextinguishable idealism. We are proud of you all.
I want to compliment both John Smit and Peter De Villiers for the way they handled themselves in a final World Cup press conference that was understandably emotional.
As our national rugby coach Peter De Villiers had a wonderful journey, which included a series win against the British and Irish Lions, and the Tri-Nations trophy in 2009 as well as a brief stay at No 1 in the IRB World Rankings.
John Smit, as a country we honour and thank you for the way you have lead our Springbok team from the front. As leader you have excelled and brought many memorable moments for South African sport.
I believe the 2011 Rugby World Cup Tournament has done a lot to further popularise rugby in South African areas where it previously did not have a following. I have witnessed how people, who previously did not want to be associated with rugby, support our national team by spontaneously singing Shosholoza and “Hier kom die Bokke” whilst shouting
Amabokoboko and waving our flag. In a sense Rugby, like other sporting codes, has become the cement of our Rainbow Nation.
In conclusion I wish our Springboks a safe journey back home from here. May you enjoy a well deserved rest and time with your family and loved ones.
I thank you.
