Damian Willemse breaks Rugby World Cup record after Springboks victory

Damian Willemse breaks Rugby World Cup record after Springboks victory

South Africa's Damian Willemse celebrates victory after the final whistle following the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match at the Stade de France in Paris.

South Africa full-back The youngest player to win two Rugby World Cup titles is Damian Willemse.

Sam Whitelock, an All Blacks lock, held the record before to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He accomplished the double four years later, only 19 days after turning 27, after winning the 2011 competition in New Zealand at the age of 23.

Since then, though, Willemse has surpassed Whitelock’s record, having started the All Blacks match at the age of 25 years, 5 months, and 21 days.

The path taken by Willemse to win two World Cups

The Bok utility back was called up to Japan after center Jesse Kriel was injured in the opening match of the tournament, even though he was not been included in the initial 31-man roster announced for the 2019 World Cup.

In their journey to win the 2019 World Cup, he participated in just one game for the Springboks, starting at full-back in their 66-7 thumping of Canada in the pool stages.

Willemse solidified his place in Jacques Nienaber’s squads after the World Cup by starting all three of the British and Irish Lions series games in 2021 off the bench.

With 33 Test caps under his belt going into the 2023 World Cup, he was significantly more active in the competition, starting six of the seven matches the Boks played, missing just the decisive group encounter against Tonga.

Whitelock maintained the record for eight years, but if the Springboks manage to complete the three-peat, Willemse might be displaced at the top as early as 2027.

If his fellow teammate and utility back Canan Moodie is selected in the squad that wins three successive World Cups; he will take the record off Willemse, as his 25th birthday is just over a week before the 2027 final.

Full list of two-time Rugby World Cup winners

Dan Crowley – Australia (1991 & 1999)
John Eales – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Tim Horan – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Phil Kearns – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Jason Little – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Os du Randt – South Africa (1995 & 2007)
Frans Steyn – South Africa (2007 & 2019)
Dan Carter – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Richie McCaw – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Ben Franks – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Owen Franks – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Jerome Kaino – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Keven Mealamu – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Ma’a Nonu – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Kieran Read – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Colin Slade – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Conrad Smith – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Victor Vito – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Sam Whitelock – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Sonny Bill Williams – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Tony Woodcock – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Handre Pollard – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Lukhanyo Am – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Frans Malherbe – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Trevor Nyakane – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Eben Etzebeth – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Pieter-Steph du Toit – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Siya Kolisi – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Duane Vermeulen – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Damian de Allende – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Jesse Kriel – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Willie Le Roux – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Steven Kitshoff – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Vincent Koch – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Bongi Mbonambi – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Malcolm Marx – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
RG Snyman – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Kwagga Smith – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Franco Mostert – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Faf de Klerk – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Cobus Reinach – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Damian Willemse – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Cheslin Kolbe – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Makazole Mapimpi – South Africa (2019 & 2023)

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