The SA Rugby Podcast

Springbok lock Mark Andrews, the first person to play 50 Tests for South Africa, experienced the mid to late nineties - a tumultuous time in South African rugby history - like few others. He was there in 1995 - playing out of position in the RWC final - won the 1998 Tri-Nations triumph and played in every one of the record 17 successive Test wins, but also experienced tough times in green and gold.

On Monday, 8 June 2020, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux addressed the media and gave a breakdown of the situation with rugby in South Africa amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discussed plans being put in place for a return to play, the potential re-working of the international Test calendar and next year’s tour of the British & Irish Lions.

Joel Stransky played a pivotal role in the Springboks' triumph at the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995 - which is 25 years ago today. We caught up with the former Bok flyhalf to get his thoughts on the tournament, team members who passed away, Siya Kolisi and Bok Class of 2019, and the forthcoming tour of the British & Irish Lions.

Hookers are known to not be shy when the going gets tough, and it was the same when the Springboks’ three No 2s from Rugby World Cup 2019, Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx and Schalk Brits, lined up for the latest SA Rugby Podcast.

In the third episode of the SA Rugby Podcast, we hear from Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe and the work he's doing with the Be the Difference Foundation in the Western Cape, and his RWC team-mate Handre Pollard on life in France during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our main guest is the Blitzboks' most-capped player, Branco du Preez, but we also catch up with Aled Walters and Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, on the decision of the Boks' Head of Athletic Performance to take up an offer in England.

Rassie Erasmus, Director of Rugby at SA Rugby, says the Springboks are working as hard as ever – despite the lockdown – to build on the Rugby World Cup victory of last year, in SA Rugby’s new podcast series.