Introduction: World Cup Celebrations in the Rainbow Nation
South Africa was only readmitted into international rugby by the IRFB in 1992 due to the apartheid regime.
The World Cup was the last major event, where rugby was played as an amateur sport, two months after the tournament the International Rugby Football BoardI(RBF) announced that rugby would be a professional sport.
The tournament took place in five (Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and Durban) of the nine provinces in South Africa.
There were 32 matches from May 25 to June 24 and the tournament featured most of the same countries as the previous two editions of the World Cup – with the only changes being South Africa-,Ivory Coast and Tonga.
The qualifying stage was basically the same as the 1991 World Cup, where the quarterfinalists received automatic entry and the hosts, South Africa.
The remaining seven positions were battled out through regional qualifiers.
This was South Africa's first participation in the World Cup and the first major tournament the country staged.
It was the first country to host all 32 games.
One player who will never be forgotten was Joel Stransky, for his drop goal in extra time that gave South Africa the win in the World Cup final.
Other players who stood out for South Africa included Francios Pienaar, Kobus Wiese,Joost van der Westhuizen and Chester Williams.
South Africa out smarted New Zealand in the end and took the World Cup.
This was a dream come true for a country that never participated in a World Cup before.
