Google data has confirmed South Africa’s obsession with sport, placing the nation second worldwide for sports searches behind Nigeria and fifth for rugby.
While football still dominates online activity in Mzansi – with Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns the three most-searched clubs – rugby remains a cornerstone of the national sporting identity. The Springboks were the 10th most-searched team globally, underlining their status as South Africa’s most followed national side, ahead of the Proteas (12th).
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The numbers reflect a nation captivated not just by the Boks’ back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs, but also by their recent exploits in the Rugby Championship.
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The data also highlighted a surge in interest around global events, including the ICC Champions Trophy (+2,860%), the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (+2,190%) and the Fifa Club World Cup (+2,250%).
“AI Mode is making Search radically more helpful by combining personalisation with real-time capabilities,” said Google South Africa country director Kabelo Makwane. “For sports fans in South Africa and around the world, it means you can follow your teams and tournaments more closely, while also discovering new ways to connect with the wider sporting community.”
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The enduring Kaizer Chiefs-Orlando Pirates rivalry was the most searched fixture, with interest spiking by 390%, while Springbok rugby continues to drive global conversation.
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
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