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President Cyril Ramaphosa has conferred the National Orders to celebrate South Africans and distinguished international allies who have shaped the country’s arts, culture, business and community service. (GCIS)

President Cyril Ramaphosa bestows National Orders, placing a distinct emphasis on honouring musicians

Most of this year’s recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga, which recognises South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism…

Patriot: Rassie Erasmus embraces the values of the democratic South Africa, where we celebrate each other and our truly working class origins. Photo: Springboks

Rassie is ours, all of ours!

Even the rugby unions who can’t stand him, would not blink an eye if they could have him as their coach

Rassie Erasmus has commended his side after they overcame a tough Wales outfit to reach their third Rugby World Cup final. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters)

Well done, Coach Rassie! But 2027 is just around the corner

Our Boks showed what they are made of when they defeated the All Blacks 10-43 but they need adequate rest and consistent game time

RG Snyman during the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris, France. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

RG Snyman returns for Springboks’ November internationals

The Springboks face Scotland on November 10, England six days later, and Wales on November 23

Durban , South Africa – 13 July 2024; Siya Kolisi of South Africa is tackled by Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris and Jack Crowley during the second test between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Springboks prove dominance despite draw in Ireland series

The Boks are the undisputed number-one team in the world, but maintaining that will be a tough challenge during the Rugby Championship

Rassie Erasmus looks on during the Summer Rugby International match between South Africa and Wales at Twickenham Stadium on June 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Rassie Erasmus’ fly-half dilemma: Pollard versus Libbok for South Africa test against Ireland

Will the coach choose the master goal-kicker or ball-in-hand magician?

Siya Kolisi. (Gallo)

Kolisi captaincy future in doubt as Springboks plan ahead

Rassie Erasmus said Kolisi’s contract with French club Racing 92 did not prevent him from playing for SA, and that he would be considered for selection but not necessarily as…

Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard Photos: Craig Mercer/Getty Images

The good, the bad and the Boks

There was much to report on this year with multiple World Cups taking place across several sporting codes

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Steve Smith during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)

Why don’t we support the Proteas like we do the Springboks?

South Africa’s cricket team does not raise national morale like the Boks do.

Siya Kolisi acknowledges the fans after defeat to Ireland during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France on September 23, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Siya Kolisi is our own Babe Ruth

Rugby, represented by the Springboks, is the country’s most symbolic, just as baseball is to Americans.

Learning to fly: Springbok wings Cheslin Kolbe (above) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (left). Photos: David Ramos/Getty Images & Lionel Hahn/Getty Images

Springboks: Less boring, more terrifying

South African rugby has not just become easier on the eye, it has been honed into more complete machine

Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi and Herschel Jantjies with the trophy during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Champions Tour on November 11, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Video

The Springboks, Mr Barnes, Ma Zandile and James Small

Rassie, along with his captain, Siya Kolisi’s generation of players, have deepened our bonds with rugby in a manner that I thought inevitable as a young boy. Win or lose, they…

Rassie Erasmus has commended his side after they overcame a tough Wales outfit to reach their third Rugby World Cup final. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters)

Wallabies coach Jones ‘like a box of chocolates’ for Boks’ Erasmus

South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says new Australia head coach Eddie Jones “is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you are going to get” before Saturday’s…

South Africa’s Siya Kolisi is shown a yellow card during the Autumn International match at Twickenham Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday November 20, 2021. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

The world of rugby doesn’t like the Boks – and that needs to change

Sports media rights are where the money is, and investors want a return on their cash, so the Springboks need to up their game when it comes to charisma

Lionel Messi’s move this week to Paris St Germain was a victory for Big Oil over Big Loyalty.

Screen Grab: Where were Messi’s friends when the chips were down?

From Leo to Rassie to Mourinho, the art of the endorsement commercial is in laughably bad shape

Springbok hooker Schalk Brits captained the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup against Canada and Namibia.

How Schalk Brits built his fantasy

The Springbok hooker built his long career on his ability to adapt — and will likely do so again now that he’s finally retired from rugby

Down and out: Rassie van der Dussen is caught short. After the Proteas’ dismal showing in the World Cup, followed by an abysmal series in India, the way up for cricket is not at all clear. (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

South African cricket seems stumped for solutions

The way up for cricket is not at all clear

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk hinted as much when he revealed that any Japanese wet weather will only inspire them to look send the ball into the air more often than usual. (Marcelo Ruiz/Reuters)

Can Italy haunt the Boks once more?

Italy gave Allister Coetzee one of his biggest embarrassments and now have the opportunity to ruin the South African day once more

Nippy: With several players already in New Zealand to acclimatise, Herschel Jantjies has a chance to impress. (Carl Fourie/Gallo/Getty Images)

Boks target Aussies as stepping stones

The three weeks of the Rugby Championship will set the tone for the two months of World Cup rugby that’s pending in September

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.(Reuters/Christian Hartmann)

SA rugby in contract overhaul to stem talent drain

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the existing model had to be "disrupted"