We are going to investigate an event using written SOURCES. Can you try to guess which event we are going to look at? Here are the clues:
1. It was a sport event.
2. It happened in 1995.
3. South Africa won a trophy.
4. The springboks played in the event.
Did you guess the Rugby World Cup of 1995? Well done!
Investigating the Rugby World Cup 1995: written sources
One of the easiest ways to learn about our history is through looking at what has been written about it. Written SOURCES include books and newspapers. Nowadays we use the internet to find written clues online. Can you think of any written sources we find online? Read the following written source below and see what you can learn from it.
South Africa won and held the world cup in 1995
South Africa hosted and won Rugby World Cup which took place 25 May-24 June 1995, and was the first major sporting event to be staged in country following the end of apartheid and the country’s advent to democracy in 1994. Furthermore this event was the first in the history of Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country and the first World Cup in which South Africa was allowed to compete. South Africa was readmitted to international rugby by the then International Rugby Football Board shortly following the end of the international sports boycott due to the apartheid. South Africa participates in the tournament for the first time. In the final, held at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 24 June, South Africa wins the tournament, defeating New Zealand 15-12. Following South Africa's victory, Nelson Mandela, the then President of South Africa, wearing a Springboks rugby shirt and cap, presented the Webb Ellis Cup to the South African captain François Pienaar. This was a major milestone for the history of South African rugby which had long been an exclusively “white” sport.
Wow! That was an interesting read! Try to answer the following questions:
What is the article about?
When did the Rugby World Cup start?
Which country hosted the event?
Which two teams played in the final?
Which country won the final?
Why was this important for South Africans at the time?
In your own words, what have you learnt about the history of South Africa from this article?