South Africa win third Rugby World Cup

ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP

South Africa have won the 2019 Rugby World Cup after thrashing England in an action-packed final in Japan.

It's the third time the Springboks have won the event and the first time since 2007. 

Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe scored tries for South Africa in the 32 -12 victory at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.

Rassie Erasmus' side beat hosts Japan in the quarter-finals before getting the better of Wales in the semis to reach the finals. 

On Friday New Zealand beat Wales 40-17 to take third place.

More from Sports

  • Own goal propels Chelsea past Palmeiras into CWC semis

    An 83rd-minute Weverton own goal from a deflected Malo Gusto cross gave Chelsea a nervy 2-1 win over a spirited Palmeiras side in the Club World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.

  • Sabalenka fights off Raducanu, Alcaraz marches on

    Women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka fought off inspired home favourite Emma Raducanu in a cauldron-like Centre Court atmosphere to keep her Wimbledon quest on track but it was the end of the road for two other Grand Slam champions on Friday.

  • India lead England by 244 runs in Edgbaston test

    India finished day three of the second test on 64-1 to lead England by 244 runs after they dismissed the hosts for 407 in the first innings at Edgbaston on Friday despite Jamie Smith's commanding and unbeaten knock of 184.

  • Grand Slam champions Keys, Osaka crash out of Wimbledon

    There were to be no Fourth of July celebrations for American Madison Keys as she joined the exodus of seeds from Wimbledon with a 6-3 6-3 defeat by 104th-ranked German Laura Siegemund in the third round on Friday.

  • Liverpool's Diogo Jota mourned in hometown wake

    Prime Minister Luis Montenegro joined members of Diogo Jota’s family for a private wake on Friday in the Liverpool footballer’s hometown in northern Portugal following his death alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain.