South Africa declares Dec 15 a holiday to celebrate rugby win

JOHANNESBURG :South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday said he was declaring Dec. 15 a public holiday to celebrate the country's Rugby World Cup win.

The Springboks claimed a record fourth Rugby World Cup on Saturday with a 12-11 win over old foes New Zealand.

Ecstatic South African supporters who had called for a holiday on Monday to bask in the victory of their rugby heroes, will get their wish - albeit a month and a half after the fact.

"In celebration of the Springboks momentous achievement and... all our other sportsmen and women... I'm declaring Friday the 15th of December 2023 as a public holiday," Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation.