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South Africa national rugby league team

The South Africa national rugby league team to date have competed at two Rugby League World Cups in 1995 and 2000.

South Africa
Badge of South Africa team
Team information
NicknameThe Rhinos
Governing bodySouth African Rugby League
RegionMiddle East-Africa
Head coachDarryl Fisher
CaptainShane Gillham
Home stadiumBrakpan Stadium
IRL ranking28th
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 Great Britain 49 – 30 South Africa 
(Durban, South Africa; 23 August 1962)
Biggest win
 Brazil 0 – 82 South Africa 
(Noosa, Australia; 5 June 2022)
Biggest defeat
 Australia 86 – 6 South Africa 
(Gateshead, England; 10 October 1995)
World Cup
Appearances2 (first time in 1995)
Best resultGroup stage, 1995, 2000

South Africa traditionally play in a predominately green uniform with black shorts, they have commonly been referred to as The Rhinos since the early 1990s. The South African emblem is a red and yellow King Protea plant which is the national flower of South Africa. South African internationals are played at a variety of venues throughout the country with no singular home ground being used.

History

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Rugby league first gained attention in South Africa when the English and French attempted expansion in the 1950s for the purpose of creating further international opposition.[1] Three games were then played between the two nations on the continent but both sides viewed the matches as nothing more than friendly fixtures so never undertook the games in a serious manner and the public never subsequently took to the three exhibition games. Though rugby league was only seriously played in South Africa beginning in the 1950s, the sport was not unknown to South Africans prior to that decade; for example, a number of notable black and Coloured rugby union players, such as David Barends, Green Vigo, and Enslin Dlambulo, code-switched from union to league and moved overseas, in part because of the allure of professionalism, while also escaping the apartheid regime.[2]

Over the next several years, rugby league lay dormant in South Africa and it was not until the 1960s when talks of creating a national side began. After much discussion within South Africa, it was eventually agreed for a national side to play a touring Great Britain and then undertake a tour of Australasia. The first South African national side played their first competitive fixture on 23 August 1962 and put on a good showing against the much stronger British but eventually lost by nineteen points 49–30. The following two fixtures turned out to be much the same with the South Africans being defeated on another two occasions but putting in good performances whilst never being comprehensively beaten. The South Africans embarked on their first tour eleven months later with a twenty-four-man squad that included several former Springboks. The tour started with several friendly fixtures against various minor representative sides where they gained two comfortable victories; the first international fixture of the tour took place in Brisbane against the world champion Australians and the South Africans performed with courage[citation needed] but eventually lost the match 34–6. The following test was played a week later in Sydney that again saw the team put in a tough effort but lost again 54–21. South Africa left Australia without an international win and be low on confidence heading to New Zealand to play a sole fixture against the New Zealand national side whom were expected to win comfortably. However, the match turned out to be a tough encounter and surprisingly saw the team gain its first international victory 4–3[3] The South Africans featured several Australian players bought in to cover injuries and improve the quality of the side and so the match against New Zealand is not counted as a test match.[4]

After this first string of international fixtures the South Africans became disheartened after only winning four of the thirteen tour matches and rugby league again lay dormant for decades.

The Rugby League World Cup tournament had been scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand in 1965, this time with the inclusion of the South African team.[5] However the tournament was abandoned.

The early 1990s saw new South African administrators begin to rebuild the international facet of South African rugby. During 1992, the South African national side again played for the first time in years against several combined African representative teams and the following years saw things look more promising for the Africans with their qualification into the 1995 World Cup and more regularity in international fixtures. Their first World Cup saw the South Africans seeded into the toughest group of the competition containing Australia, England and Fiji. The South Africans found their three group matches extremely difficult and failed to win a match during the tournament.

The following years saw the South Africans play on an inconsistent basis against several touring sides and qualify for their second consecutive World Cup in 2000. Leading into the tournament they were hopeful of gaining their first Cup win after being drawn into an easier yet still competitive group with France, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.[6] After initial optimism leading into the competition the South Africans faced Tonga in their first world cup fixture and be comprehensively beaten 66–18.[7] The following world cup matches added further disappointment and diminish all optimism the South Africans originally had with further heavy losses to both Papua New Guinea[8] and the French.[9]

After a second disappointing World Cup the side again began playing irregularly with one off fixtures over the next several years and it was not until 2006 when they again undertook another tour. A tour to Italy was undertaken in June 2006, which saw the South Africans play in two tests and a nines competition in Montelanico.

In 2008, the South Africa Rhinos were scheduled to participate in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers in the Atlantic pool also featuring the USA, Japan and the West Indies. The winner of the tournament entered into the repecharge round for the chance to qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. South Africa withdrew alongside the West Indies due to financial reasons, leaving the tournament as a one off fixture between the US and Japan. As a result of their withdrawal South Africa forfeited the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup.

In 2011 however, the South Africa national rugby league team participated in the Atlantic Qualification Tournament as part of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers. The winner of the tournament qualified for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup that is to be held in England and Wales. Despite beating Canada 36–22 in a warm-up match before the beginning of the tournament,[10] South Africa nevertheless lost to USA 40–4 in the opening match of the tournament.[11]

In 2015 South Africa were confirmed to take on Lebanon in a one-off 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualifier in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. However the match was shifted to a two match playoff in Pretoria, South Africa due to a controversial arrest of the leader of UAE rugby league who was in charge of organizing the initial match at the Dubai Sports City complex.[12]

Competitive Record

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  • Below is a list of test matches played by the South Africa XIII up until 13 November 2023.[13]
Country Matches Won Drawn Lost Win% For Aga Diff
  Australia 3 0 0 3 0% 33 174 –141
  Brazil 1 1 0 0 100% 82 0 +82
  Canada 1 1 0 0 100% 36 22 +14
  Cook Islands 1 0 0 1 0% 6 66 –60
  England 1 0 0 1 0% 0 46 –46
  Fiji 1 0 0 1 0% 6 52 –46
  France 2 0 0 2 0% 23 86 –63
  Great Britain 3 0 0 3 0% 86 133 –47
  Italy 4 2 0 2 50% 164 94 +70
  Jamaica 1 0 0 1 0% 6 20 –16
  Kenya 2 2 0 0 100% 138 14 +124
  Lebanon 2 0 0 2 0% 28 90 –62
  Malta 1 1 0 0 100% 30 24 +6
  New Zealand 1 1 0 0 100% 4 3 +1
  Niue 3 0 0 3 0% 26 142 –116
  Papua New Guinea 1 0 0 1 0% 0 16 –16
  Philippines 2 2 0 0 100% 104 42 +62
  Poland 1 1 0 0 100% 38 16 +22
  Russia 2 0 0 2 0% 45 52 –7
  Tonga 1 0 0 1 0% 18 66 –48
  United States 1 0 0 1 0% 4 40 –36
  Wales 1 0 0 1 0% 12 40 –28
  West Indies 1 0 0 1 0% 22 50 –28
Total 37 11 0 26 29.73% 911 1288 –377

Results

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Source:[14]
Matches marked with a † are not full internationals test match and thus do not count towards international statistics and ranking points.
Common reasons for games not classifying as test matches are because the opponent is not a member of the IRL or is not the senior first team of a member nation, or the game was played with modified rules.

Date Team 1 Score Team 2 Competition Venue Attendance Ref.
23 August 1962   South Africa 30–49   Great Britain 1962 Great Britain Lions tour   Pretoria Unknown
25 August 1962   South Africa 33–39   Great Britain   Durban Unknown
31 August 1962   South Africa 23–45   Great Britain   Johannesburg Unknown
7 July 1963   Northern Division 20–10
†		   South Africa 1963 South Africa Rhinos tour   Tamworth Unknown
10 July 1963   Monaro 2–41
†		   South Africa   Canberra Unknown
13 July 1963   Sydney 49–5
†		   South Africa   Sydney Unknown
16 July 1963   Queensland 32–18
†		   South Africa   Brisbane Unknown
20 July 1963   Australia 34–6   South Africa   Lang Park, Brisbane 10,210
24 July 1963   South Queensland 30–21
†		   South Africa   Brisbane Unknown
27 July 1963   Australia 54–21   South Africa   Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 16,995
28 July 1963   Newcastle 27–17
†		   South Africa   Newcastle Unknown
30 July 1963   Parramatta Eels 39–18
†		   South Africa   Sydney Unknown
1 August 1963   Wellington 12–21
†		   South Africa   Wellington Unknown
3 August 1963 South Island 12–8
†		   South Africa   Christchurch Unknown
7 August 1963   Auckland 10–4
†		   South Africa   Auckland Unknown
10 August 1963   New Zealand 3–4
†[a]		   South Africa   Carlaw Park, Auckland Unknown
Rugby league banned in South Africa
13 November 1992   South Africa 26–30   Commonwealth of Independent States 1992 CIS tour of South Africa   Johannesburg Unknown
20 November 1992   South Africa 19–22   Commonwealth of Independent States   Pretoria Unknown
8 October 1995   Fiji 52–6   South Africa 1995 World Cup   Cougar Park, Keighley 4,845
10 October 1995   Australia 86–6   South Africa   Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead 9,181
14 October 1995   England 46–0   South Africa   Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds 14,041
6 December 1997   France 30–17   South Africa Friendly   Arles Unknown
19 October 2000   South Africa 12–40   Wales Friendly   Pretoria Unknown
28 October 2000   Tonga 66–18   South Africa 2000 World Cup   Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris 7,498
2 November 2000   Papua New Guinea 16–0   South Africa   Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse 4,313
5 November 2000   France 56–6   South Africa   Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi 7,969
9 October 2004   South Africa 22–50   West Indies Friendly   London Unknown [16]
8 June 2006   Great Britain Amateurs 34–14
†		   South Africa Friendly Unknown Unknown
12 June 2006   Italy 6–76   South Africa Two-match series friendly   Rome Unknown
13 June 2006   Italy 20–60   South Africa   Rome Unknown
9 June 2007   Great Britain Amateurs 30–12
†		   South Africa Two-match series friendly Unknown Unknown
16 June 2007   Great Britain Amateurs 42–10
†		   South Africa Unknown Unknown
17 October 2008   Great Britain Amateurs 42–4
†		   South Africa Friendly Unknown Unknown
9 October 2011   Canada 36–22   South Africa Friendly   Fletcher's Field, Markham, Ontario 1,005 [17]
15 October 2011   United States 40–4   South Africa 2013 World Cup: Atlantic Qualifiers   Philadelphia ~300
19 October 2011   Jamaica 20–6   South Africa Unknown
2 May 2015   Niue 48–4   South Africa Friendly   Leumeah Unknown
25 October 2015   South Africa 12–40   Lebanon 2017 World Cup: Middle East-Africa Qualifiers   Brakpan Stadium, Pretoria Unknown
31 October 2015   South Africa 16–50   Lebanon Unknown
29 October 2016   South Africa 22–55   Niue Two-match series friendly   Brakpan Stadium, Pretoria Unknown
11 November 2016   South Africa 0–44   Niue Unknown
24 June 2018   South Africa 30–24   Malta Friendly   St Mary's Stadium, Sydney Unknown
12 October 2018   Italy 18–8   South Africa Friendly   Kellyville Ridge Stadium, Sydney Unknown
21 June 2019   Cook Islands 66–6   South Africa 2021 World Cup: Inter-regional Qualifiers   Wentworthville Ringrose park, NSW 78
5 June 2022   Brazil 0–82   South Africa Friendly   Sunshine Coast Stadium, Noosa Unknown [18]
26 November 2022   Poland 16–38   South Africa Friendly   Southport Tigers, Queensland Unknown [19]
22 July 2023   Philippines 14–72   South Africa Friendly   Skilled Park, Gold Coast, Queensland Unknown [20]
28 October 2023   Italy 50–20   South Africa Friendly   Lidcombe Oval, Sydney Unknown [21]
8 November 2023   South Africa 56–12   Kenya Two-match series friendly   Grizzlies Stadium, Pretoria Unknown [22]
11 November 2023   South Africa 82–2   Kenya Unknown [23]
4 December 2024   South Africa –   United States Two-match series friendly   Quins-Bobbies Rugby Club, Pretoria
7 December 2024   South Africa –   United States   Grizzlies Stadium, Pretoria

IRL Rankings

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IRL Men's World Rankings
Official rankings as of December 2024
Rank Change Team Pts %
1     Australia 100
2     New Zealand 86
3     England 84
4   1   Tonga 63
5   1   Samoa 54
6   1   Papua New Guinea 53
7   1   Fiji 44
8     France 30
9   2   Serbia 23
10     Cook Islands 22
11   1   Netherlands 22
12   5   Wales 18
13   2   Malta 17
14   6   Ukraine 13
15   1   Greece 12
16   7   Lebanon 12
17   4   Italy 11
18   2   Ireland 9
19   1   Jamaica 8
20   1   Czech Republic 8
21   2   Chile 8
22   3   Scotland 7
23   4   Philippines 7
24   7   United States 7
25   1   Poland 5
26   2   South Africa 5
27   5   Germany 5
28   3   Norway 5
29   4   Brazil 4
30   4   Kenya 4
31   10   Canada 4
32     Montenegro 4
33   2   North Macedonia 3
34   15   Argentina 3
35   5   Albania 2
36     Bulgaria 2
37   7   Ghana 2
38   9   Nigeria 2
39   5   Turkey 1
40   3   Cameroon 1
41   2   Japan 1
42   4   Spain 1
43   1   Colombia 1
44   1   El Salvador 0
45     Russia 0
46   1   Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
47   3   Hong Kong 0
48   3   Solomon Islands 0
49   8   Vanuatu 0
50     Niue 0
51   1   Latvia 0
52   2   Denmark 0
53   2   Belgium 0
54   4   Estonia 0
55   9   Sweden 0
56   12   Morocco 0
48   9   Hungary 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ This game was not given test status as the South Africa squad contained a number of Austrailans who replaced South African players injured earlier in the tour.[15]

References

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  1. ^ History of rugby league in South Africa South African Rugby League Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  2. ^ Dall, Nick (8 November 2019). "South Africa's History of Black Rugby Dates Back More Than a Century". Ozy. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  3. ^ South African Tour of Australasia International Competitions Website Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  4. ^ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
  5. ^ AAP; Reuter (15 August 1962). "League Cup Year Fixed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Auckland. p. 18. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  6. ^ Rhinos aim to break duck BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  7. ^ Tonga too strong for Rhinos BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  8. ^ Kumuls see off dogged Rhinos BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  9. ^ French seal spot in last eight BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  10. ^ RLEF
  11. ^ RLEF
  12. ^ "Venue changed for Middle East-Africa RLWC qualifier". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Head To Head". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  14. ^ "South Africa - Results - RLP".
  15. ^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
  16. ^ "WINDIES V WILD-DOGS - OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT". West Indies Rugby League Federation. Archived from the original on 7 April 2005.
  17. ^ "Canada falls just short against South Africa". Canada Rugby League. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  18. ^ "South Africa 82 0 Brazil". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  19. ^ "South Africa 38 16 Poland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  20. ^ "South Africa 72 14 Philippines". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Italy 50 20 South Africa". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  22. ^ "South Africa 56 12 Kenya". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  23. ^ "South Africa 82 2 Kenya". European Rugby League. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
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