23/06/2026
๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฃ ๐ญ๐ต๐ต๐ฑ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฟ๐ฆ On This Day in 1995
Twenty-nine years ago today, I had the privilege of experiencing one of the most memorable periods in South African sporting history during the Rugby World Cup 1995.
Following our visit to President Nelson Mandela, several of us attended a function at a local shopping centre, where many of the international match officials were purchasing gifts to take home.
๐ธ In the photograph, from left to right: Stephen Hilditch (Ireland), Ed Morrison (England), the shopping centre representative, Jim Fleming (Scotland), Clayton Thomas (Wales), a French referees assessor, and myself.
After the function, we returned to our hotel in Sandton. Later that day, at Ed Morrison's request, we paid a visit to Dr Louis Luyt and Johan Prinsloo at Ellis Park.
As we stepped out of the vehicle, I remarked to Ed: "South Africa will get under the weather big time if we win the World Cup."
His response has remained with me ever since: "You've got the team, the stadium and the crowd. It's not impossible."
On the day of the Final, I had the honour of transporting the match-day officials to and from Ellis Park, a responsibility I fulfilled throughout the tournament as host and representative of Golden Lions Rugby.
The officials that day were: ๐ Ed Morrison (England) ๐ Joรซl Dumรฉ (France) ๐ Derek Bevan (Wales)
I also made numerous trips between Johannesburg and Pretoria, collecting and dropping off Piet Robbertse, Chairman of SA Rugby Referees, at his residence in Waterkloof.
Travelling with us in the kombi, under traffic police es**rt, were my longstanding friend Theo van Rensburg and his wife Ina, a former Springbok athlete, whom I was fortunate enough to secure tickets for on the morning of the Final.
Following behind us in a second vehicle were Theo's law partner Eckaard le Roux and his wife, together with Dr Hannes Marais, Convenor of the Springbok Selectors. Their vehicle was driven by Norman Turner.
The reality of South Africa's historic victory only truly sank in on the Sunday evening when we watched the match again at the hotel.
The pressure of ensuring our guests were cared for and that all protocol arrangements ran smoothly on the day of the Final certainly added to the occasion.
Yet looking back today, those remain unforgettable memories from one of the greatest moments in rugby history.
๐ South Africa 15 โ 12 New Zealand
๐ Ellis Park, Johannesburg
๐
24 June 1995
Some memories never fade.
๐ธ ยฉ๏ธ Global Sports News
