South Africans are gearing up to welcome the Springbok champions and the Web Ellis trophy home after their stellar performance at the Rugby World Cup finals.
Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and vice-captain Handre Pollard, alongside other team mates, are expected to arrive today with the remaining members arriving tomorrow. Due to a technical delay in Sydney, however, their original 4.30pm-4.45pm landing has been postponed to after 7pm at O.R Tambo International in Johannesburg.
Other flights carrying selected members of the Springbok RWC squad such as Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi are still expected to land at approximately 4.30 – 4.45pm today.
South Africans are preparing to welcome back the winning team with open arms. Fans will be able to travel to and from the airport via any Gautrain station for free today from 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 6pm and 8pm as long as you’re wearing a Springbok shirt.
“After the amazing Rugby World Cup victory by the Springboks, the Gautrain has decided to celebrate this glorious achievement by offering free travel to all Springbok supporters who will be welcoming the team back from Japan at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, heeding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to go and welcome them home,” Jack van der Merwe, CEO of the Gautrain management agency told Times Live.
The Ndlovu Youth Choir will also be on hand to welcome the Boks home.
We will be welcoming the @Springboks at OR Tambo this afternoon at 16:30. Join us in giving our World Champions the welcome they deserve. Here is a clip of us celebrating their magnificent victory during our Homecoming Concert. #StrongerTogether @SonyMusicAfrica @WOOLWORTHS_SA pic.twitter.com/dQ45oVfLil
— Ndlovu Youth Choir (@ChoirAfrica) November 5, 2019
The Boks will be embarking on a Champions tour from Thursday November 7 to Monday November 11.
The planned RWC Champions Tour stops are as follows:
– Thursday, 7 November: Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto
– Friday, 8 November: Durban
– Saturday, 9 November: East London
– Sunday, 10 November: Port Elizabeth
– Monday, 11 November: Cape Town
Also read: Rugby World Cup Champions Tour comes to Cape Town.
Picture: Twitter / Springboks