South Africa's Rugby World Cup champions get heroes' welcome

South Africa's rugby union team are back home from France after winning the World Cup for a record fourth time.

The players were met at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg by a huge, rapturous crowd on Tuesday.

South Africa is the most successful team at the World Cup after winning four titles in eight appearances.

Captain Siya Kolisi greeted supporters at the airport with the Webb Ellis Cup, won on Saturday after a nail-biting match against New Zealand.

"We made a decision that we had already won the World Cup in 2019 - it's not about us as players anymore," he told a press conference on Tuesday in Johannesburg.

"We wanted to make sure that this one is for the people of South Africa. This one is for every single person in South Africa. Rich, poor... it doesn't matter where you come from.

IMAGE SOURCE: REUTERS
"This trophy is also for people who come from tough circumstances in disadvantaged areas - areas that are not well-resourced.

"For the kid who sits in Zwide, who sits in Goodwood, who sits in Malmesbury... this is for you because we come from those environments, we come from those backgrounds," the captain said.

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The arrivals hall at OR Tambo had been packed for hours before the team - nicknamed the Springboks - landed, with hundreds of fans dancing, waving flags and singing the national anthem.

Such is the Word Cup spirit in South Africa that Gautrain, the high-speed commuter train linking Johannesburg to the capital, Pretoria, offered free travel to airport for fans braving the region's cold and wet weather.

Some parents, decked in team colours, told the BBC they had pulled their children out of school on Tuesday as they felt welcoming the Springboks home would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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For a country currently suffering rolling blackouts, economic strife and the world's highest unemployment rate, the win has served as a welcome break.

One rugby fan at the airport said: "We are the world champions! This is what we needed to uplift our spirit. You can see that there's a lot of things that are happening in our country, but at this point in time we are one. We are united!"

Another commented: "I'm so content that this is happening today. It's part of our history and I'm happy that I'm part of it."

President Cyril Ramaphosa was among those hailing the Springbok's feat as a sign of hope.

"We need more of this, and not just in the domain of sporting achievement... the patriotism we display in sports stadiums should be reflected in our approach to overcoming our challenges," he said.

To the delight of workers across the nation, Mr Ramaphosa declared 15 December a public holiday in celebration of the Springboks.

IMAGE SOURCE: AFP

IMAGE SOURCE: REUTERS
Additional reporting by Nobuhle Simelane in Johannesburg.