October 28, 2023
South Africa emerged victorious in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, defeating New Zealand by a single point in a thrilling encounter at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France. The defending champions claimed their fourth Webb Ellis Cup with a 12–11 win, becoming the first nation in history to achieve the feat.
The triumph also made South Africa the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cup tournaments away from home. Team captain Siya Kolisi entered the record books as the first captain to complete an “away double” by leading his side to consecutive victories on foreign soil.
The closely contested match, played before a crowd of 80,065 spectators, was held under cloudy skies at a temperature of 15°C with 82% humidity. English referee Wayne Barnes officiated the game, while South African flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
The 2023 final marked the second time New Zealand and South Africa faced each other in a Rugby World Cup final, the first being in 1995, when South Africa also won 15–12. Before this encounter, the two sides had met five times in World Cup history, with New Zealand winning three matches and South Africa two.
This was New Zealand’s record fifth appearance in a Rugby World Cup final, while South Africa made their fourth. Both teams entered the final having lost one match earlier in the tournament — a first in World Cup history for both finalists.
With the victory, South Africa became the most successful nation in Rugby World Cup history, claiming a record fourth title and solidifying their dominance in the sport.
