Former Springbok prop and dual Rugby World Cup winner Os du Randt is one of six legends who will be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame at the World Rugby Awards in Tokyo on 3 November, the day following the Rugby World Cup 2019 final.
World Rugby has announced that Du Randt will be joined by the New Zealand duo of Richie McCaw and Graham Henry, as well as Shiggy Konno (Japan), Peter Fatialofa (Samoa) and Diego Ormaechea (Uruguay).
“This is a wonderful way to recognise the career of one of the best Springboks to ever don the green and gold,” said Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby.
“He is one of only a handful of players to have lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice, and the fact that he did it with an interval of 12 years between victories, speaks volumes about the man and his career.
INDUCTEE: Richie McCaw with the Webb Ellis Cup. Photo: Henry Browne/Reuters.
Rassie Erasmus, Director of Rugby and a former team-mate of Du Randt, both with the Boks and the Cheetahs, said he first met the big front ranker fresh out of high school.
“We were in the same battalion in the army and what is the most amazing thing about Os, is that he has not changed one bit over the years, despite doing all the great things he’s done,” said Erasmus.
“We played together for the Boks, Cheetahs and the Cats, I coached him when he came back from retirement, then he won the Rugby World Cup for a second time – if there is one legend in South African rugby history, it’s him. What he’s achieved is simply incredible.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldRugbyHOF?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldRugbyHOF
The World Rugby Hall of Fame presented by Tudor recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the game of rugby throughout their careers, while also demonstrating rugby's character-building values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.
The six inductees will be honoured at the World Rugby Awards at The Prince Park Tower in Tokyo during a night dedicated to the game, with important members of the rugby family.
African News Agency