Stransky and Brooke inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame

Former Springbok flyhalf Joel Stransky and All Blacks loose forward Zinzan Brooke have become the first of seven modern greats inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame as the class of 2026. The pair, both Rugby World Cup winners on home soil, were honoured at a special dinner in Cape Town ahead of the second Test between South Africa and New Zealand.

Joel Stransky and Zinzan Brooke were celebrated at a special dinner in Cape Town on Thursday, becoming the first inductees of the World Rugby Hall of Fame's class of 2026. The ceremony took place ahead of the second Test of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series between South Africa and New Zealand.

Stransky kicked all of South Africa's points in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, including the extra-time drop goal that secured victory at Ellis Park. The flyhalf played 22 Tests for South Africa from 1993 to 1996, scoring six tries and 240 points. Brooke, who won the 1987 Rugby World Cup with New Zealand, started 54 of his 58 Tests across a 12-year international career. The loose forward famously kicked a drop goal in the 1995 semi-final against England.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: "On behalf of the global rugby family, I would like to congratulate Joel and Zinzan, two players I had the privilege of playing against, on their richly deserved inductions into the World Rugby Hall of Fame."

The remaining five members of the class of 2026 will be announced on Monday, 7 September, taking the total number of inductees to 182 since the Hall of Fame began in 2006.