The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has joined millions of citizens across the country in expressing excitement after Bafana Bafana made history by reaching the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

Mark Alexander has pledged to make “hard calls” in the interests of player welfare after being reappointed for a fourth and final term as president of SA Rugby.

Following comments from South African Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie declaring that he “will not rest” until the Rugby World Cup returns to South Africa, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander and CEO Rian Oberholzer have responded cautiously, highlighting the enormous financial and infrastructural demands involved in hosting the global showpiece.

SA Rugby spent a quarter of its total income directly on the Springboks, Springbok Women, Blitzboks, Junior Springboks and other national teams in 2025, according to the Annual Financial Statements presented to member unions at Thursday’s Annual General Meeting in Cape Town.