Rugby: Springboks hope Mandela at final

PARIS - Former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela has been invited to the World Cup final on Sunday (NZ time) between South Africa and England, Springboks coach Jake White revealed after his side had seen off Argentina 37-13.

The 43-year-old 'Boks handler said that South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka had been into their changing room after the victory over the Pumas and told them President Thabo Mbeki would definitely be coming while it was possible 89-year-old Mandela would as well.

Mandela was president when South Africa won the 1995 tournament and the image of him presenting the William Webb Ellis trophy to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar is one of the enduring images of the World Cup's history as it symbolised the new South Africa where a sport viewed as predominantly white saw a black president handing over the cup to a white captain.

"We have invited Nelson Mandela but we do not know if he will come," said White.

Rugby has been riven by political disputes since the end of apartheid with White himself having to cope with the quota system whereby he is obliged to select a certain amount of black players in a squad.

- AFP