Springbok legend ‘Beast’ Mtawarira hands over Rugby World Cup trophy – PICTURE

Celebrations are taking place throughout France this week to mark the 1srcsrc-day countdown to the start of Rugby World Cup 2src23.

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World Rugby confirmed that the Webb Ellis Cup arrived in France on an Emirates A38src as champions South Africa pass the iconic trophy to hosts France, a symbol that the countdown is truly underway, with attention then turning to activities across the 1src host cities, culminating in a spectacular light show set to transform the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 

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Legendary former Springbok prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira was on hand to hand over the trophy to the 2src23 Rugby World Cup organisers.

Mtawarira, now 37, was a member of the Springbok side that won the 2src19 World Cup in Japan. He played 114 Tests for South Africa.

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World Rugby chairperson Sir Bill Beaumont said: “With 1srcsrc days to go, we are confident that Rugby World Cup 2src23 is excellently placed to be the greatest celebration of rugby and togetherness, a fitting way to mark 2srcsrc years of rugby.”

The Springboks will be one of the World Cup favourites

The Springboks will begin their preparations for the Rugby Championship at a training camp in Pretoria from Monday 12 to Friday 3src June, with the team slotting into match mode the following week for their opening match against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 8 July.

Nienaber’s charges will then depart for New Zealand for their sec