What role does soccer and rugby play in our understanding of the development of South Africa?
Soccer was only played by blacks. Rugby was only played by whites.
A movie about rugby in South Africa was made called Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. The two actors finally made enough money to buy as much bacon as they can eat.
The two sports served as cultural "bridges" that allowed the farmers living in rural areas to bond with their neighbors.
Soccer and rugby represented the only ways that gold miners in South Africa were able to entertain themselves after a long day of work.