Rugby union in South Africa series. The Freedom Cup (against New Zealand) and the Mandela Challenge Plate (against Australia) are competed for as part of The Rugby Championship. The Africa Cup is an annual competition involving ten African nations. South Africa sent its top amateurs to this competition up until 2007. Since the readmission of South Africa to international rugby, its rugby talent has migrated across the world. There are many high-profile South Africans who, through residence or ancestry, are representing or have previously represented other countries. Players of note are: Rugby union in South Africa Rugby union in South Africa is a very popular
History of the South Africa national rugby union team '99' each Lions player would attack their nearest rival player. The idea was that a South African referee would be unlikely to send off all of the Lions. At the "battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium"—one of the most violent matches in rugby history—JPR Williams famously ran over half of the pitch and launched himself at 'Moaner' van Heerden after such a call. The 1976 All Blacks tour of South Africa went ahead, and the Springboks won by three Tests to one, but coming shortly after the Soweto riots the tour attracted international condemnation and 28 countries boycotted the 1976 Summer