AS IT HAPPENED | Curtain comes down on Springboks' trophy tour celebrations

When the Springboks lifted their third rugby world cup trophy in 2019, scrum half Jaden Hendrikse was only 19 and watching the game on TV as he dreamt of playing for the side.

Last Sunday, that dream came true for the Eastern Cape local when the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis trophy for the fourth time, more than any nation has done.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the trophy tour in East London on Sunday, Hendrikse's message for the youngsters was that they must never stop dreaming.

Picture: Bok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse (Photo by Randell Roskruge/Gallo Images)

Thousands of Eastern Cape residents have flocked to the coastal town of East London to welcome the world rugby champions Springboks.

The team, fresh from defending the Webb Ellis trophy in Paris last Sunday, is on a nationwide trophy tour to celebrate their historic victory with South Africans.

The parade kicked off in Pretoria on Thursday, moved to Soweto, Joburg, Cape Town and Durban. It concludes today in East London.

Springboks have won the World Cup a record four times, becoming the only rugby nation to do so.

Dozens of fans are lining up along major East London routes hoping to see their favourite players.

People from all walks of life are wearing their Springbok colours and painted their faces amid a carnival atmosphere.

The world conquerors landed in East London on Saturday evening from the Durban leg of the tour and checked in for overnight at the beach-facing Garden Court Hotel where the tour starts.

Then, they proceed through:

Moore Street;

John Baillie Road;

Glen Eagles Road;

Old Transkei Road;

Devereaux Avenue;

Western Avenue;

Amalinda Main Road;

Woolwash Road;

Mdantsane Access Road;

Alphen Road;

John Nash Road;

Dunnoon Road;

Douglas Smith Highway;

Windyridge Road;

St Peter's Road;

Oxford Street;

City Hall;

Fleet Street;

Currie Street;

Esplanade;

and Garden Court

- Malibongwe Dayimani

PICTURES BY LULAMA ZENZILE @NETWERK24

That's it for the Durban leg of the trophy tour, tomorrow the Springboks are in East London. 

Follow us for more then. 

Pinetown 

Image: Nkosikhona Duma

KwaMashu

Image: Nkosikhona Duma

Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi is at his brother-in-law's wedding today, and will not be with the rest of the team as they tour Durban on Saturday.

Joel Smith is marrying South African swimming champion Tatjana Schoeman, the couple got engaged in April.

She shared the exciting wedding news on her Instagram account two weeks ago:

"Cant wait to start doing life with you. My best friend, my happiness." said Schoeman in her post.

- Lisalee Solomons / News24.

Hundreds of Springboks fans, with many donning the team's iconic green and gold, have gathered outside Umhlanga’s Garden Court hotel ahead of the Durban leg of the 2023 Rugby World Cup champions' celebratory tour

Cheslin Kolbe is reportedly not on the Durban-leg of the Springbok tour but his fans have come out to show their support.

Image: Nkosikhona Duma

The Pillay family

Image: Nkosikhona Duma

Crowd has turned up in Durban.

Image: Nkosikhona Duma