2025 Global Sports Recap (9 mins)

The year 2025 may have felt like a fever dream of high-octane drama to some, but to others it provided critical long-awaited breakthroughs. This article is a recap of some of the biggest moment in global sports over the last year. We’ve included our pick for best sportsman and our favorite story for 2025.  It has been one heck of a year. Let's get to it. 

Upcoming "Four Nations" finale will decide the world's best Rugby team right now

South Africa's Springbok rugby team secured their biggest-ever win against New Zealand's All Blacks in Wellington on September 13, 2025, with a dominant 43-10 scoreline in the "Four Nations" Rugby Championship.  After trailing 10-7 at halftime, the Springboks scored 36 unanswered points in the second half, that included a flurry of tries from numerous Springboks.  The highlights and player reactions are in the video below.   

The Rugby Championship "Four Nations" tournament

In 1996, a rugby competition was established to create a southern hemisphere equivalent to the Northern Hemisphere's Six Nations Championship.  The Six Nations Rugby is phenomenally popular in Europe and has even developed a large fanbase in North America given the widely acclaimed Netflix Series, Six Nations: Full Contact.

A Humble Southern Hemisphere Hero #2, Siya Kolisi

"Rise: A Siya Kolisi Story" is a powerful and inspiring documentary that chronicles the journey of Siya Kolisi, the first Black captain of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. The film delves into Kolisi's remarkable rise from poverty and adversity to become a national hero, leading the Springboks to a historic victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He also led the team to victory in the subsequent Rugby World Cup last year in 2023.  He is one of only two captains to have achieved this in the history of the sport of rugby. 

The Springboks do it again, 4 time world champs!

                               

In a thrilling display of grit and determination, on October 28th 2023 South Africa etched their names in Rugby World Cup history once again, defeating New Zealand 12-11 in a nail-biting final at Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Paris), France. This triumph marked South Africa's fourth Rugby World Cup title, cementing their position as one of the sport's most dominant teams. From the outset, the match was a tense affair, with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess. South Africa's resolute defense, led by captain Siya Kolisi, proved to be a formidable obstacle for the All Blacks, who struggled to break through their unwavering wall of green and gold. South Africa's flyhalf Handre Pollard proved to be the difference-maker on the night, maintaining his 100% kicking record in Paris and guiding the ball through the posts with four crucial penalties. His accuracy and composure under immense pressure were instrumental in maintaining South Africa's lead throughout the match.  

Auckland Rugby Showdown

The All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby side, are the most successful rugby team in the world. They have won the Rugby World Cup three times and they have a winning percentage of over 77% in international matches. This means that any team that plays the All Blacks is facing a very tough challenge, and even more so when playing them on their home soil. New Zealand is a passionate rugby country. The All Blacks are considered national heroes, and the atmosphere at a rugby match in New Zealand is electric. This can be a major factor in home advantage, as the crowd can really get behind the team and create a hostile environment for the opposition. And the All Blacks have a unique playing style. They are known for their aggressive running game and their ability to score tries from anywhere on the field. This can be a very difficult style to defend against, especially in New Zealand, where the conditions are often favorable for running rugby.