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Post by Admin on Oct 29, 2019 3:47:19 GMT
Prince Harry will fly to Japan to watch England play South Africa in the final of the Rugby World Cup, Buckingham Palace announced today.  The Duke of Sussex, 35, is patron of the Rugby Football Union and has regularly attended England games in the past. He was seen celebrating with coach Sir Clive Woodward after England's last World Cup win in 2003, and will be hoping the side can repeat the feat in Yokohama on Saturday. Harry also attended the last World Cup final, at Twickenham in 2015, where he presented the Webb Ellis Cup trophy to New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. The side were knocked out of this year's competition on Saturday by a dynamic England team that triumphed 19-7.  |
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Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2019 18:46:12 GMT
Prince Harry today joined Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Prince Albert of Monaco in the stands at the Rugby World Cup final - as England suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of South Africa.  England were stunned by South Africa's relentless intensity as their World Cup quest ended with a crushing 32-12 defeat in the final at International Stadium, Yokohama in Japan. The Duke of Sussex, 35, watched the game alongside Crown Prince Akishino, 53, and his wife Princess Kiko, 53, having left wife Meghan at home in Windsor - who watched the game alongside baby Archie who was dressed in an England onesie for the occasion.  Harry was also joined by Albert II, Prince of Monaco, 61, and ahead of the game had praised Japan for the way it has hosted the competition commending their 'respect'. He said the competition has been 'incredible' as he prepared for the World Cup Final clash. 'I think it's fantastic for rugby,' he said. 'Japan, the way that they've hosted this competition has been incredible.'  The Duke of Sussex had earlier in the day spent time at a training session for would-be Japanese Paralympians in Tokyo - and discovered that one or two of them were rooting for England's opponents. Prince Harry talks to Japan's Crown Prince Akishino during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup final match between England and South Africa at the International Stadium.  |
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Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2019 19:36:46 GMT
The royal dad, who is patron of the Rugby Football Union, headed to Japan to see England face off against South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final on Saturday. He made the trip solo, with Meghan Markle and their nearly 6-month-old son Archie remaining home. On the big day, Harry wore a blue suit and a pink tie, as well as a red poppy, the symbol of remembrance for World War I and veterans, in honor of Remembrance Day, which will take place later this month.  While in the stands, the royal attentively watched the game alongside Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. Although England didn’t win the match, losing 32-12, Harry gave South African President Cyril Ramaphosa a big hug afterwards, in a sweet moment that was captured on the Sussex Royal Instagram account.  “Tonight was not England’s night, but the whole nation is incredibly proud of what @englandrugby have achieved over the past few months. Hold your heads high boys, you did an outstanding job and we couldn’t have asked more from you,” Harry wrote. “To the whole of South Africa – rugby unites all of us in more ways than we can imagine, and tonight I have no doubt that it will unite all of you. After last months visit, I can’t think of a nation that deserves it more. Well done and enjoy!” he added.  |
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Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2019 3:50:15 GMT
In the end it felt as if it was written in the stars. Every 12 years South Africa have an unerring habit of winning World Cups and they have done so again, following up their triumphs of 1995 and 2007 with another prodigious display of power and might. In some ways this was an even more special achievement, certainly for anyone who has ever dreamed of a black Springbok captain lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
The image of Siya Kolisi hoisting the golden trophy into the clear Japanese night sky is set to become as treasured a picture as that of Nelson Mandela congratulating Francois Pienaar in Johannesburg 24 years ago, transcending such minor details as the scoreline and the sense of English disappointment. There are inspirational stories of hope overcoming colossal odds and then, above all else, there is the tale of Kolisi, the sport-loving boy from the townships of Port Elizabeth who has conquered the world.
On the podium during the presentations Kolisi could be seen trying to persuade his coach and longtime mentor, Rassie Erasmus, to collect the trophy with him. Erasmus has done an extraordinary job of resurrecting a struggling team but there was as much chance of him allowing Kolisi to win that battle as England had of escaping the onrushing South African juggernaut once it started to rumble.
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Post by Admin on Nov 3, 2019 18:17:37 GMT
Cheers of joy erupted across South Africa on Saturday as the country's national team emerged triumphant at the Rugby World Cup final held in Japan - the Springboks' third world title.  Almost a quarter-century after South Africa's first win, Siya Kolisi, the first black player appointed captain in 128 years of Springboks' history, lifted the trophy after a 32-12 win over England in Yokohama.  "We love you, South Africa," Kolisi said in a post-game speech, after thanking the South African people on farms, in the taverns, in the townships and the cities.  "We can achieve anything if we work together as one." |
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