Rugby brings South Africa together—if only for 80 minutes
The sport reflects the country’s uneven progress and enduring dreams
Perhaps it is the beer that has flowed since early morning, or the sugary food on sale at the kiosks, but as kick-off approaches in Paarl, the crowd is nearing a delirious crescendo. Every year the town in the South African winelands hosts what may be the biggest game of school rugby in the world. Along the main road, trees are wrapped in the blues and white of Paarl Boys’ High School or the green, gold and maroon of Paarl Gimnasium, local teams locked in a historic rivalry.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Try, the beloved country”
Culture September 24th 2022
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