Legendary Springbok Os du Randt is one of six people set to be inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame this year.
Du Randt, Richie McCaw (New Zealand), Shiggy Konno (Japan), Peter Fatialofa (Samoa), Graham Henry (New Zealand) and Diego Ormaechea (Uruguay) will officially become Hall of Famers at the annual World Rugby awards ceremony on 3 November.
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‘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.
‘Os was revered as one of the best props of his generation and he anchored many scrums, not only for the Springboks, but also in the colours of the Cheetahs – whom he helped win their first Currie Cup title in 29 years in 2005 – as well as the Cats and Bulls.
‘He was the SA Rugby Player of the Year in 1997 and the Players’ Player of the Year in 2004, which points to his popularity amongst his peers and the South African rugby media. We are very proud of Os and he fully deserves to be recognised in this way.’
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus, and a former teammate 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.’
The World Rugby Hall of Fame 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.
While Fatialofa and Konno will be inducted posthumously, McCaw, Henry and Ormaechea will attend the prestigious event, which will celebrate their careers and contributions to the game. These six inductees bring the total in the Hall of Fame to 148 since it began in 2006.
World Rugby Chairman and Hall of Fame inductee Sir Bill Beaumont said: ‘Our beloved game of rugby would not be what it is today without the contributions of remarkable trailblazers, men and women, who form the World Rugby Hall of Fame. They are players and coaches, true legends of the game that have embodied our values and will continue to inspire generations to come.
‘On behalf of the rugby family, I would like to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of this year’s six new inductees, Richie McCaw, Shiggy Konno, Os du Randt, Peter Fatialofa, Graham Henry and Diego Ormaechea for their outstanding career and thank them for their immense footprint on our game.
‘We look forward to honouring them in November at what promises to be a very special night.’
World Rugby Hall of Fame 2019 inductees:
Richie McCaw (New Zealand) – Inductee No.143
Shiggy Konno (Japan) – Inductee No.144
Os du Randt (South Africa) – Inductee No.145
Peter Fatialofa (Samoa) – Inductee No.146
Graham Henry (New Zealand) – Inductee No.147
Diego Ormaechea (Uruguay) – Inductee No.148
Brief bio: Os du Randt
Born: 8 September, 1972 in Elliot, Eastern Cape
World Rugby Hall of Fame – Inductee No.145
Os du Randt fittingly retired from the game at the very top in 2007 having won a second Rugby World Cup, the only Springbok to do so, following South Africa’s 15-6 victory over England in the final at the Stade de France in Paris.
Regarded as one of the finest loosehead props of all time, Du Randt won the first of his 80 international caps in 1994, the year before South Africa’s historic triumph on home soil, and was the last active member of that iconic squad.
Du Randt was sidelined through injury from 2000-03 but returned to the Springboks’ ranks against Ireland in Bloemfontein in June 2014, thus ending a five-year absence from the international arena.
The fact that he missed 46 matches during his time away makes Du Randt’s final tally of Test caps all the more remarkable and until being overtaken by John Smit in late 2008, the revered prop held the record as South Africa’s most-capped forward.
Aside from his Rugby World Cup successes he was also able to get his hands on the Tri-Nations trophy in 2004 (now the Rugby Championship), as well as enjoying a successful provincial and Vodacom Super Rugby career in South Africa.
Photo: Getty Images
