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:South Africa national rugby league team

{{Short description|Rugby league football team that represents South Africa}}

{{Use South African English|date=July 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}

{{Infobox rugby league representative team

| Name = South Africa

| Badge = South_Africa_national_rugby_league_team_logo.png

| Nickname = The Rhinos

| Governing body = South African Rugby League

| Region = Middle East-Africa

| Coach = Darryl Fisher

| Captain = Shane Gillham

| Most caps =

| Top try-scorer =

| Top point-scorer =

| Home Stadium = Brakpan Stadium

| RLIF Rank = 26

| pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_goldcollar|pattern_ra1=|pattern_sh1=|pattern_so1=_2 gold stripes

| leftarm1=004A40|body1=004A40|rightarm1=004A40|shorts1=004A40|socks1=004A40

| First international= {{rl|Great Britain}} 49 – 30 {{rl-rt|South Africa|1928}}
(Durban, South Africa; 23 August 1962)

| Largest win = {{rl|Brazil}} 0 – 82 {{rl-rt|South Africa}}
(Noosa, Australia; 5 June 2022)

| Largest loss = {{rl|Australia}} 86 – 6 {{rl-rt|South Africa}}
(Gateshead, England; 10 October 1995)

| World cup apps = 2

| World cup first = 1995

| World cup best = Group stage, 1995, 2000

}}

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

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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20061004181754/http://www.sarugbyleague.co.za/history.htm History of rugby league in South Africa] South African Rugby League Retrieved 18 May 2007. 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.{{cite web |last1=Dall |first1=Nick |title=South Africa's History of Black Rugby Dates Back More Than a Century |url=https://www.ozy.com/news-and-politics/south-africas-history-of-black-rugby-goes-back-more-than-a-century/232242/ |website=Ozy |access-date=8 December 2019 |date=8 November 2019}}

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|date=November 2011}} 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[http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/sum/int1963.htm#SAF%20tour South African Tour of Australasia] International Competitions Website Retrieved 18 May 2007. 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.Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League {{ISBN|1-86971-090-8}}

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.{{cite news

| last = AAP

| author2 = Reuter

| title = League Cup Year Fixed

| newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald

| location = Auckland

| page = 18

| date = 15 August 1962

| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E1MVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3222,4068871

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103052930/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E1MVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3222,4068871

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 3 January 2013

| access-date = 6 October 2009}} 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.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/group_3/973879.stm Rhinos aim to break duck] BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007. After initial optimism leading into the competition the South Africans faced Tonga in their first world cup fixture and be comprehensively beaten 66–18.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/group_3/996118.stm Tonga too strong for Rhinos] BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007. 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[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/group_3/1002434.stm Kumuls see off dogged Rhinos] BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007. and the French.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/group_3/1008504.stm French seal spot in last eight] BBC Sport Retrieved 20 May 2007.

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,[http://www.rlef.eu.com/other/report?RLE00000208 RLEF] South Africa nevertheless lost to USA 40–4 in the opening match of the tournament.[http://www.rlef.eu.com/wcq/report?RLE00000162 RLEF]

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.{{cite news

| title = Venue changed for Middle East-Africa RLWC qualifier

| publisher = Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation

| date = 2015-07-24

| url = http://www.aprlc.com/2015/07/24/venue-changed-for-middle-east-africa-rlwc-qualifier/

| access-date = 2015-09-26}}

Competitive Record

  • Below is a list of test matches played by the South Africa XIII up until 13 November 2023.{{cite web |title=Head To Head |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/teams/south-africa/head2head.html |website=Rugby League Project |access-date=18 December 2020}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
style="width:150px;"|Country

!width="80"|Matches

!width="70"|Won

!width="70"|Drawn

!width="70"|Lost

!width="70"|Win%

!width="70"|For

!width="70"|Aga

!width="70"|Diff

style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Australia}}3003{{#expr:0/3*100 round 2}}%33174–141
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Brazil}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%820+82
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Canada}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%3622+14
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Cook Islands}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%666–60
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|England}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%046–46
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Fiji}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%652–46
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|France}}2002{{#expr:0/2*100 round 2}}%2386–63
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Great Britain}}3003{{#expr:0/3*100 round 2}}%86133–47
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Italy}}4202{{#expr:2/4*100 round 2}}%16494+70
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Jamaica}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%620–16
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Kenya}}2200{{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%13814+124
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Lebanon}}2002{{#expr:0/2*100 round 2}}%2890–62
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Malta}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%3024+6
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|New Zealand}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%43+1
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Niue}}3003{{#expr:0/3*100 round 2}}%26142–116
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Papua New Guinea}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%016–16
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Philippines}}2200{{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%10442+62
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Poland}}1100{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%3816+22
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Russia}}2002{{#expr:0/2*100 round 2}}%4552–7
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Tonga}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%1866–48
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|USA}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%440–36
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|Wales}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%1240–28
style="text-align:left;"| {{rl|West Indies}}1001{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%2250–28
Total3711026{{#expr:11/37*100 round 2}}%9111288–377

=Results=

Source:{{cite web | url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/teams/south-africa/results.html | title=South Africa - Results - RLP }}
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.

class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#bdb76b;"

! Date !! Team 1 !! Score !! Team 2 !! Competition !! Venue !! Attendance !! Ref.

23 August 1962{{rl|RSA|1928}}30–49{{rl|GBR}}rowspan=3|1962 Great Britain Lions tour{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} PretoriaUnknown
25 August 1962{{rl|RSA|1928}}33–39{{rl|GBR}}{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} DurbanUnknown
31 August 1962{{rl|RSA|1928}}23–45{{rl|GBR}}{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} JohannesburgUnknown
id="1963 Rhinos tour"

| 7 July 1963

{{leagueicon|Balmain|16}} Northern Division20–10
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}rowspan=13|1963 South Africa Rhinos tour{{flagicon|AUS}} TamworthUnknown
10 July 1963{{leagueicon|Australia|16}} Monaro2–41
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} CanberraUnknown
13 July 1963{{leagueicon|City|16}} Sydney49–5
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} SydneyUnknown
16 July 1963{{flagicon|Queensland}} Queensland32–18
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} BrisbaneUnknown
20 July 1963{{rl|AUS}}34–6{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} Lang Park, Brisbane10,210
24 July 1963{{leagueicon|Souths-Logan Magpies|16}} South Queensland30–21
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} BrisbaneUnknown
27 July 1963{{rl|AUS}}54–21{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney16,995
28 July 1963{{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle27–17
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} NewcastleUnknown
30 July 1963{{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels39–18
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|AUS}} SydneyUnknown
1 August 1963{{leagueicon|Wellington|16}} Wellington12–21
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|NZL}} WellingtonUnknown
3 August 1963South Island12–8
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|NZL}} ChristchurchUnknown
7 August 1963{{leagueicon|Aucklandnzrl|16}} Auckland10–4
†		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|NZL}} AucklandUnknown
10 August 1963{{rl|NZL}}3–4
†{{efn|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.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-86969-366-4}}.}}		{{rl|RSA|1928}}{{flagicon|NZL}} Carlaw Park, AucklandUnknown
colspan=8{{N/A|Rugby league banned in South Africa}}
13 November 1992{{rl|RSA|1928}}26–30{{flagicon|CIS}} Commonwealth of Independent Statesrowspan=2|1992 CIS tour of South Africa{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} JohannesburgUnknown
20 November 1992{{rl|RSA|1928}}19–22{{flagicon|CIS}} Commonwealth of Independent States{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} PretoriaUnknown
8 October 1995{{rl|FIJ}}52–6{{rl|RSA}}rowspan=3|1995 World Cup{{flagicon|ENG}} Cougar Park, Keighley4,845
10 October 1995{{rl|AUS}}86–6{{rl|RSA}}{{flagicon|ENG}} Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead9,181
14 October 1995{{rl|ENG}}46–0{{rl|RSA}}{{flagicon|ENG}} Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds14,041
6 December 1997{{rl|FRA}}30–17{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|FRA}} ArlesUnknown
19 October 2000{{rl|RSA}}12–40{{rl|WAL}}Friendly{{flagicon|RSA}} PretoriaUnknown
28 October 2000{{rl|TON}}66–18{{rl|RSA}}rowspan=3|2000 World Cup{{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris7,498
2 November 2000{{rl|PNG}}16–0{{rl|RSA}}{{flagicon|FRA}} Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse4,313
5 November 2000{{rl|FRA}}56–6{{rl|RSA}}{{flagicon|FRA}} Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi7,969
9 October 2004{{rl|RSA}}22–50{{rl|West Indies}}Friendly{{flagicon|ENG}} LondonUnknown{{cite web|title=WINDIES V WILD-DOGS - OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT|url=http://www.wirlf.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1097642204&archive=&cnshow=news&start_from=&ucat=2&|publisher=West Indies Rugby League Federation|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407233527/http://www.wirlf.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1097642204&archive=&cnshow=news&start_from=&ucat=2&|archivedate=7 April 2005}}
8 June 2006{{flagicon|GBR}} Great Britain Amateurs34–14
†		{{rl|RSA}}FriendlyUnknownUnknown
12 June 2006{{rl|ITA}}6–76{{rl|RSA}}rowspan=2| Two-match series friendly{{flagicon|ITA}} RomeUnknown
13 June 2006{{rl|ITA}}20–60{{rl|RSA}}{{flagicon|ITA}} RomeUnknown
9 June 2007{{flagicon|GBR}} Great Britain Amateurs30–12
†		{{rl|RSA}}rowspan=2| Two-match series friendlyUnknownUnknown
16 June 2007{{flagicon|GBR}} Great Britain Amateurs42–10
†		{{rl|RSA}}UnknownUnknown
17 October 2008{{flagicon|GBR}} Great Britain Amateurs42–4
†		{{rl|RSA}}FriendlyUnknownUnknown
9 October 2011{{rl|CAN}}36–22{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|CAN}} Fletcher's Field, Markham, Ontario1,005{{cite web|url=http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10145 |title=Canada falls just short against South Africa |publisher=Canada Rugby League |accessdate=2013-11-12 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109121513/http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/site/eng/news/article.php?id=10145 |archivedate=2013-11-09 }}
15 October 2011{{rl|USA}}40–4{{rl|RSA}}rowspan=2|2013 World Cup: Atlantic Qualifiersrowspan=2|{{flagicon|USA}} Philadelphia~300
19 October 2011{{rl|JAM}}20–6{{rl|RSA}}Unknown
2 May 2015{{rl|NIU}}48–4{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|AUS}} LeumeahUnknown
25 October 2015{{rl|RSA}}12–40{{rl|LBN}}rowspan=2|2017 World Cup: Middle East-Africa Qualifiersrowspan=2|{{flagicon|RSA}} Brakpan Stadium, PretoriaUnknown
31 October 2015{{rl|RSA}}16–50{{rl|LBN}}Unknown
29 October 2016{{rl|RSA}}22–55{{rl|NIU}}rowspan=2|Two-match series friendlyrowspan=2|{{flagicon|RSA}} Brakpan Stadium, PretoriaUnknown
11 November 2016{{rl|RSA}}0–44{{rl|NIU}}Unknown
24 June 2018{{rl|RSA}}30–24{{rl|MLT}}Friendly{{flagicon|AUS}} St Mary's Stadium, SydneyUnknown
12 October 2018{{rl|ITA}}18–8{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|AUS}} Kellyville Ridge Stadium, SydneyUnknown
21 June 2019{{rl|COK}}66–6{{rl|RSA}}2021 World Cup: Inter-regional Qualifiers{{flagicon|AUS}} Wentworthville Ringrose park, NSW78
5 June 2022{{rl|BRA}}0–82{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|AUS}} Sunshine Coast Stadium, NoosaUnknown{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1096 |title=South Africa 82 0 Brazil |website=European Rugby League |access-date=8 August 2024}}
26 November 2022{{rl|POL}}16–38{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|AUS}} Southport Tigers, QueenslandUnknown{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1156 |title=South Africa 38 16 Poland |website=European Rugby League |access-date=8 August 2024}}
22 July 2023{{rl|PHI}}14–72{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|AUS}} Skilled Park, Gold Coast, QueenslandUnknown{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1240 |title=South Africa 72 14 Philippines |website=European Rugby League |access-date=8 August 2024}}
28 October 2023{{rl|ITA}}50–20{{rl|RSA}}Friendly{{flagicon|AUS}} Lidcombe Oval, SydneyUnknown{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1268 |title=Italy 50 20 South Africa |website=European Rugby League |access-date=8 August 2024}}
8 November 2023{{rl|RSA}}56–12{{rl|KEN}}rowspan=2| Two-match series friendlyrowspan=2|{{flagicon|RSA}} Grizzlies Stadium, PretoriaUnknown{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1281 |title=South Africa 56 12 Kenya |website=European Rugby League |access-date=8 August 2024}}
11 November 2023{{rl|RSA}}82–2{{rl|KEN}}Unknown{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1282 |title=South Africa 82 2 Kenya |website=European Rugby League |access-date=8 August 2024}}
4 December 2024{{rl|RSA}}18–38{{rl|USA}}rowspan=2| Two-match series friendly{{flagicon|RSA}} Quins-Bobbies Rugby Club, Pretoria
7 December 2024{{rl|RSA}}32–44{{rl|USA}}{{flagicon|RSA}} Grizzlies Stadium, Pretoria

IRL Rankings

{{RLIF World Rankings|South Africa}}

See also

{{Portal|South Africa|Sports}}

Notes

{{noteslist}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://www.sarugbyleague.co.za/}}

{{Rugby League in South Africa}}

{{International Rugby League}}

{{National Sports Teams of South Africa}}

{{Rugby League European Federation}}

{{MEA Rugby League Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:South Africa National Rugby League Team}}

Category:National rugby league teams