The South Africa national rugby union team (known as the Springboks) represents South Africa in rugby union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblems are the Springbok and the Protea. The team has been playing international rugby since 30 July 1891, when they played their first Test match against a British Isles touring team.

Although South Africa was instrumental in the creation of the Rugby World Cup competition, the Springboks did not compete in the first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991 because of anti-apartheid sporting boycotts of South Africa. The team made its World Cup debut in 1995, when the newly democratic South Africa hosted the tournament. The Springboks defeated the All Blacks 15–12 in the final, which is now remembered as one of the greatest moments in South Africa’s sporting history, and a watershed moment in the post-Apartheid nation-building process. As a result of the 2007 World Cup tournament the Springboks were promoted to first place in the IRB World Rankings, a position they held until July the following year when New Zealand regained the top spot. They were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.^[1] South Africa regained their title as champions 12 years later, when they defeated England 15–6 in the 2007 final.

The Springboks also compete in the annual Rugby Championship, along with southern-hemisphere counterparts Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. They have won this championship on three occasions in sixteen years. They also play Test matches against the various rugby-playing nations. They are currently ranked second in the world by the International Rugby Board. The current captain is Jean de Villiers, and the current coach is Heyneke Meyer. During the 2014 mid-year Test series, de Villiers will not play as he is recovering from a knee injury; Victor Matfield is serving as captain in his place.