Prior to the Rugby Union World Cup being held in South Africa in 1995, the country was in deep turmoil. It had only recently been granted membership into International events in many sports due to the Anti Apartheid boycotts that forced South Africa out of the 1987 and 1991 World cups. In 1991-2 the legal apparatus supporting the Apartheid regime was abolished thus paving the way for entrance into the 1995 World Cup. Mandela still seeing his country deeply divided on the basis of race and social class saw in the founding values of rugby union a sport he could use, that already had a huge following in his country, to bring his country together. He dispatched the team across the country in an effort to bring all citizens together under what was coined "the rainbow nation." A huge national upsurge of support followed an buoyed by an unbelieveable winning run from the rugby side to beat new zealand in the final, Mandela himself put the icing on the cake by presenting Francois Pienaar (A white Affrikanner) with the World cup. Thus cementing his country as one.
Better ask him while he is alive. Father of South Africa.
