South African Rugby 8th grade

Rugby is a popular sport in South Africa. It is a full contact sport originated in England. South Africa’s team is the Springboks that represent South Africa in the rugby union. They compete in the annual championship with Argentina, New Zealand and Australia. The team at first didn’t compete in the world cup because of the boycotts in Africa. Rugby has been played since 1891.South Africa has won 3 rugby championships the firs in 1998 the second in 2004 and the third in 2009.They don’t use a national stadium as their home but play in different venues in South Africa. Their policy of racial apartheid had made the nation an international outcast, and other countries were not happy to have sport contacts with black people. The rugby union a is an extremely popular sport in New Zealand, and the Springboks were New Zealand's best opponents. 

The team that represents the union  was founded in 1992. Before it was called SARU but now is called South African Rugby Football Union. It has a president, a men coach and a women coach. The president is Oregan Hoskins. The men’s coach is Heyneke Meyer. The women’s coach David Dobella. 

In conclusion the South African Rugby Football Union is an awesome team. South Africa has hosted and won the rugby world cup in 1995.

                                                                                  Written by: Héctor Muñoz, Adriana Aguilar, Rodrigo Altamirano and Rodrigo Vides

Barry Heatlie

One of the best Rugby players in all South African history. The one and only Barry Heatlie. You may be wondering who Barry Heatlie was. He was born April 25 in the year 1872 and in the place of Western Cape in Africa. It was predictable that he will be a successful rugby player because all of his other siblings especially his brother Charles and Sydney Heatlie. He studied at Diocesan College is South Africa. He didn’t know even how to play rugby. But his brothers did know how to play Rugby. So basically he got inspired by his two siblings.

When Barry Heatlie started playing in the team of South African the team named Barry Heatlie as the 6^th captain of South African team (today this team is South African Rugby Union). This Barry Heatlie during his season and his career did his best to make the team recognized all over Africa and also all over the world. Since back then Africa then was not recognized since the players were of black raze. But Heatlie was one of the few that made the South African team well recognized. Also Barry had many nicknames one of the recognized is the fairy Heatlie. Also he was recognized as the Ox Heatlie. Also he was the one who gave “life” to the team. The team was gray and no color. But Barry gave the team green and life. But Barry did not also play for south Africa also the team Argentina. He died in Cape Town in South Africa in the year 1951 in april.

In conclusion this Barry Heatlie was, is and he is going to be recognized all over the world. He is now in the IRB hall of fame in Africa.

                                                                       Written by: Hector Munoz. Rodrigo Vides, Adriana Aguilar, and Rodrigo Altamirano

     

Cricket in South Africa

            Cricket is a well known game played with a ball and a bat; it is played between two teams of 11 players on a field. One team bats and tries to make as much runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, it is similar to baseball.  It was first played on England in the 16^th century but in South Africa they first played it in 1889. The captain of the team now is Graeme Smith and the coach is Gary Kristen. As of 11 November 2011 the South African team has played 359 Test matches, winning 126 and losing 124 and also they have played 462 ODI Matches, winning 288 losing 157.

Written by Antonella Comandari

Best cricket players:

                        Graeme Smith:

            South Africa’s youngest and most successful captain of all time. He is the South African to have scored four test double centuries. He reached to be captain in 2008, he was also named SA’s cricketer of the year for 2009.

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers

He is the best fielder; he was the key for the team victories in England and Australia in 2008. In the 2010-11 seasons he made South Africa’s highest score ever. He was named vice- captain of the team at the beginning of the 2011-12 seasons. Later was named test team of the year for 2011.

Samuel Eto

Samuel Eto'o is a famous professional soccer player of Douala, Cameroon. He has eight brothers, Eto'o is the oldest brother. He also made an important contribution to worldwide soccer, but mainly in the European league. He was born the 10 of March, of 1981. His first team was the Avenir Douala. Then he joined the Real Madrid in February 7, of 1997. Afterwards in February 19, of 2000 he joined Mallorca. Some of his achievements he has accomplished are: winning the "balon de oro"(a trophy for the best soccer player of the year) two times. He also joined the F.C Barcelona in 2005 until 2010, because then he joined the Inter A. Milan for the 2010-2011 season. Now he is in a Russian team named named Anasasi. After many years he keeps showing off his skills as a great soccer player.

Dieder  Drogba:

Dieder Drogba  was born in Abiya, Costa de Marfil in March 11 of 1978, his career started at his young ages in the juvenile leagues in France. He loved so much this sport that he trained at a parking lot. Duringhis career he was hired by many teams from different categories including Le Mans and Guingamp. He was consider a one of the best young scorer of the times. In 2002 he was first selected as a bench player in the selection of Ivory Coat. He was finally selected as a front player when he score his first goal in a very important game. He later was consider the biggest scorer in Ivory Coast of all times, he was the first of his team to go to the premier league teams.  In 2004 he was hired by the elite soccer team Chelsea for 24 million yens. Drogba soon became the favorite scorer and front player of the team. He was responsible for scoring the most important goals of the season in the premiere league and winning the cup. In 2006 he was consider one of the best front players in the world.  

Cynthia Lonborg

   Cynthia Lonborg was born in Ghana. She has become a very famous African dancer.  Her house was full of dancers and since her childhood, Cynthia has been extremely talented. At a young age, she joined a local dancing group, Brotherhood Troup. In 1994, because of her passion for dancing, she became part of the famous Dance Theatre. Cynthia Lonborg is a worldwide recognized artist. Now she leaves in Denmark since 1997.

Written by Arianna Cabrales and Sophia Eva