Nation Building, Symbolism and Meaning in Sport: A Perspective on the Springbok Emblem

Abstract

For several decades, the apartheid state and white sport federations in South Africa regulated sport, reinforcing the apartheid regime before 1994. The relationship between government and sport evolved into a hegemonic system that perpetuated and strengthened the racist ideology of apartheid. The level and scope of state interference in sport fluctuated, varying from strict control under government regulations to more regionalised and accommodating governance. The divisive nature of sport regulation deeply impacted South African society, with most local sport bodies aligning their policies with government mandates. Rival sport organisations existed within Black and Coloured communities, who firmly believed that “no sport was possible in an abnormal society.” These communities opposed segregated sport and, in particular, rejected the Springbok emblem as a symbol of apartheid. Their opposition was expressed through a lack of support for the Springbok rugby team and a strong backing for opposing teams. This article explores how the triumphs of the South African rugby team in the 1995 and 2007 Rugby World Cups ignited support for the Springbok emblem and symbol. However, it argues that the emblem’s lack of representativeness for the broader society remained a significant barrier to its widespread acceptance. It was only during the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, when the team was captained by a Black player (Siya Kolisi) and featured a diverse team, that the Springboks received near-universal support and began to be seen as a symbol of unity.