Free e-book on 50 years of South African rugby

TODAY the Sunday Times brings you the past 50 years of Springbok rugby in all its glory — and with a few low points inbetween.

Because, whatever you might say or think about Springbok rugby, it has seldom been boring. Among the victories — and many have been sensational and uplifting for South Africa — there have also been sagas of despair, of feuds and scandals, of national disgust at the rugby bosses daring to summon Nelson Mandela to court, and of the disgrace of our Springbok heroes being humiliated at Kamp Staaldraad.

Springbok rugby over the past 50 years has been part of the story of South Africa, moving from apartheid to democracy. Its story has been told on the front and back pages of the Sunday Times, by many fine sports writers, whose five decades of reporting form the basis of this book.

50 Years of South African Rugby is a free downloadable e-book and contains all the major sto- ries from the Springbok frontline, where heroes in green and gold often overcame huge odds — as they did in 1965, and again in 1995 — to triumph over old enemies. The e-book features:

A preview of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with stats, facts, trivia and Springbok team information;

Full Sunday Times coverage of the most important and memorable games played, won and lost from 1965 to 2015;

A history of black rugby in South Africa;

A chapter on transforma- tion in the game from the 1995 World Cup until today; and

An appendix with all South Africa’s international match scores from 1965 to 2015.

With a focus on the matches, the book puts the sport in the historical context of a changing country.

While the Springboks’ victory at the Rugby World Cup of 1995 was the apotheosis of the rainbow nation, the book also reflects on the huge challenges still facing the South African game.

It tracks the course of transformation in rugby, and the continuing struggle of black players to achieve recognition.

As the Springboks prepare to open their World Cup campaign this week, 50 Years of South African Rugby is also a reminder of a past that, despite many flaws, is something to be proud of.

To download your free copy of “50 Years of South African Rugby”, brought to you by Dial Direct Insurance, go to http:// bit.ly/RugbyEbook