Michael Watt’s company brokered the deal between Murdoch and Sanzar that changed rugby for ever, for better or worse
Twenty-five years ago this Wednesday, rugby union supplied the backdrop to one of the most famous images in history. Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar reached out to each other across the dais and the years, as their troubled nation came together to celebrate South Africa’s victory against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final. They have written books about it. They have made films.
Mandela had left his place in the box to present the trophy to the Springboks captain, clad in a team shirt bearing Pienaar’s No 6. Among the guests in said box was a New Zealander who had plenty of reason himself to celebrate, notwithstanding the defeat on the field of the All Blacks, Jonah Lomu et al.
Written by Michael Aylwin
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jun/21/the-man-behind-deal-that-launched-rugby-unions-professional-era under the title “
“. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
