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South African legend Cecil Afrika picks two standout moments in his career
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 29.11.25. | 15:02
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Afrika noted that looking back at his glittering career, two tournaments stand out above the rest
Rugby great Cecil Afrika has shared some of the unforgettable tournaments that shaped his celebrated journey in the sevens world.
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Afrika, one of the most naturally gifted playmakers to ever feature in the World Rugby Sevens Series, retired in 2022 as South Africa’s all-time top points scorer. He boasts of 1,462 points in 345 matches across 66 tournaments.
He made his debut in Dubai in 2009 and quickly rose to become the heartbeat of the Blitzboks.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Afrika noted that looking back at his glittering career, two tournaments stand out above the rest.
The first one is the 2013 Cape Town 7s.
The tournament remains one of the most emotional moments of his career. It came just days after the passing of Nelson Mandela, a man whose relationship with sport helped unite South Africa during some of its darkest years.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison under apartheid before becoming South Africa’s first black President in 1994.
His famous partnership with the Springboks during the 1995 Rugby World Cup became a symbol of reconciliation, one that healed divisions and helped unite a country emerging from decades of racial injustice.
So, when he passed away on December 5, 2013, South Africa entered a period of national mourning. The Cape Town Sevens that followed became an unofficial tribute.
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In his honour, the Blitzboks defeated rivals New Zealand at the iconic Mandela Stadium to be crowned the Cape Town 7s champions.
“2013 was the year our President passed away, so we played that tournament hoping to bring a little bit of happiness back to the country,” Afrika reflected.
A year later, Afrika experienced yet another career-defining moment at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. South Africa met New Zealand in the final, a side that had dominated sevens rugby for years.
But on that day, the Blitzboks were flawless. They beat the All Blacks Sevens to claim their first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal and became the first team to defeat New Zealand that entire year.
“In 2014, we won gold, our first-ever gold medal, and we became the first team to beat New Zealand that year. Those two tournaments really stood out for me because we managed to lift the nation when it mattered most,” he recalled.
It remains one of the most iconic achievements in South African Sevens history.
Afrika’s brilliance did not go unnoticed. In 2011, he became the first South African to be named the IRB Sevens Player of the Year, a moment that cemented his status among the greats.
“It felt incredible to be named in the IRB Series. There were players in that group whom I had looked up to for years, and others who told me I inspired them. Becoming the first South African to win that honour meant a lot,” he offered.
Now retired, Afrika is currently coaching the Lady Boks, and his impact has already been felt. He guided the team to victory at the Africa Women’s 7s in Nairobi, held from Saturday, 16 to Sunday, 17 November at the RFUEA Grounds.
Impressively, no opponent managed to score a try against South Africa throughout the tournament. Their dominant 22-0 win over Kenya in the final sealed their qualification for next season’s SVNS Series Division Three.
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