A treasured piece of Springbok history has been lost, not through choice, but necessity, after former national No 8 Adriaan Richter disclosed that severe financial strain forced him to sell his 1995 Rugby World Cup winner's medal.
Richter, now 59, was part of the iconic squad that lifted the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil, captaining South Africa in their pool clash against Romania, where he crossed the line twice, and repeating the feat against Canada. He also featured off the bench in the quarter-final win over Samoa, though his involvement ended before the semi-final and final.
Speaking about the sale, via Rapport , Richter made it clear that parting with the medal was a last resort rather than a decision made lightly, describing it as the result of relentless pressure to keep his household afloat. He said finding work has become increasingly difficult and that the responsibility of supporting his family left him with no alternative.
