Who was the captain of the 1995 Springboks team that won the World Cup?

Francois Pienaar was the captain of the 1995 Springboks team that won the Rugby World Cup. He led South Africa to a 15–12 extra-time victory over New Zealand in the final at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

Pienaar was a flanker and had captained South Africa from his international debut in 1993. In the 1995 tournament, he guided the previously isolated Springboks through victories over Australia, Romania, Canada, Western Samoa and France before the final against the All Blacks.

The presentation of the trophy became one of rugby’s most famous moments. South African President Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok jersey bearing Pienaar’s number, handed him the Webb Ellis Cup. The image came to symbolise reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa and later inspired the film Invictus.

The other listed names belong to different eras or teams. John Smit captained South Africa to the 2007 World Cup, while Siya Kolisi captained the 2019 and 2023 champions. Morne du Plessis captained South Africa before the World Cup era.