WATCH: Springboks receive heroes’ welcome as they touch down on home soil

Dylan Coetzee
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Fans gather in the OR Tambo airport split with Springboks Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi.

Fans gather in the OR Tambo airport split with Springboks Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi.

Thousands of fans gathered at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport to welcome home the four-time Rugby World Cup champion Springboks.

The back-to-back winners landed in South Africa on Tuesday morning along with the hallowed Webb Ellis trophy that has been a focal point of the celebrations so far.

The spirits are high in South Africa as the population celebrates their heroes with President Cyril Ramaphosa even announcing there will be a public holiday in honour of the team.

A trophy tour will begin on Thursday with the Springboks taking their prize around the country to show off to their people.

Fans showed their pride by singing and dancing as they patiently waited for their team to burst through the doors and when they did the roof was absolutely blown off.

The World Cup campaign was gruelling for the Springboks who in the end had to beat all the five other teams in the top six to claim the title.

After losing to Ireland in the pool stage hope was not lost as the team regrouped and pulled out some memorable performances in the knockouts.

The Springboks won each of their three knockout games by a single point as they sent France, England and ultimately New Zealand out of the tournament.

It is a moment to savour for fans and players alike as the great team writes their name in the history of this great game.

READ MORE: Springboks’ record fourth Rugby World Cup to be celebrated with public holiday

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