‘The 16th Man’ tells the emotional story of the end of apartheid in South Africa, the start of Nelson Mandela’s new government with its goal of racial unity, and how the South African rugby team’s victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup brought a healing process to the country.

The film highlights how Mandela used the game of rugby to make a deeply divided, distressed nation whole at a time when traditional politics were failing, and how the 1995 Rugby World Cup win became the turning point in South Africa’s history.

The Springboks went on to win the 2007, 2019 and 2023 World Cups and is currently at the top of the logs, preparing for the next World Cup in 2027 with another a world-beating team in the making. In September 2024, the team beat the All Blacks to win the coveted Freedom Cup.

The Springbok team continues to draw enormous support at its matches as the inspirational and aspirational model of what a still divided country can become. It is now truly representative of all races with its captain Siya Kolisi leading the way under the guidance of coach Rassie Erasmas.

Laurels:

- 4th Television Academy Honors Award - International Emmy Award

- 2011 Encounters Audience Award: best South African Documentary