Springboks full-back Damian Willemse has become the youngest player to win two Rugby World Cup titles.
Ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock holds the record after winning the 2011 tournament in New Zealand aged 23 and completed the double four years ago, just 19 days after his 27th birthday.
However, Willemse bettered Whitelock’s record, starting the final against the All Blacks aged 25 years, 5 months and 21 days.
Willemse’s journey to become a double World Cup winner
The Bok utility back was initially left out of the 31-man squad named for the 2019 World Cup but was called up by Japan when center Jesse Kriel picked up an injury in the opening game of the tournament.
He played just one game for the Springboks during their 2019 title run, starting at full-back in the 66-7 rout of Canada in the pool stages.
After the World Cup, Willemse cemented himself as a regular member of Jacques Nienaber’s squads, coming off the bench in all three games of the British and Irish Lions series in 2021.
He enters the 2023 World Cup with 33 Test caps under his belt and has been involved in more this tournament, starting six of the Boks’ seven matches, missing only the final pool game against Tonga.
While Whitelock has held the record for eight years, Willemse could be replaced at the top as soon as 2027 if the Springboks go on to complete the three-peat.
If his teammate and utility back Canan Moodie is selected in the squad that has won three consecutive World Cups; he will take the record from Willemse, as his 25th birthday is just over a week before the 2027 final.
Full list of two-time Rugby World Cup winners
And Crowley – Australia (1991 and 1999)
John Eales – Australia (1991 and 1999)
Tim Horan – Australia (1991 and 1999)
Phil Kearns – Australia (1991 and 1999)
Jason Small – Australia (1991 and 1999)
We are you Randt – South Africa (1995 & 2007)
Frans Steyn – South Africa (2007 and 2019)
Dan Carter – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Richie McCaw – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Ben Franks – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Owen Franks – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Jerome Kaino – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Keven Mealamu – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Borrowed Stone – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Kieran Reading – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Colin Slade – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Conrad Smith – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Victor Vito – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Sam Whitelock – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Sonny Bill Williams – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Tony Woodcock – New Zealand (2011 and 2015)
Handre Pollard – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Lukhanyo Am – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Frans Malherbe – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Trevor Nyakane – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Just Etzebeth – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Pieter-Steph du Toit – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
He is Kolisi – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Duane Vermeulen – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Damian de Allende – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Jesse Kriel – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Willie Le Roux – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Steven Kitshoff – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Vincent Koch – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Bongi Mbonambi – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Malcolm Marx – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
RG Snyman – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Kwagga Smith – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Franco Mostert – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Faf the Clerk – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Cobus Reinach – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Damian Willemse – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Cheslin Kolbe – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
Makazol Mapimpi – South Africa (2019 and 2023)
READ MORE: The LEGENDARY list of two-time Rugby World Cup winners