Photos: Nelson Mandela and South Africa's 1995 Rugby World Cup Win

June 24, 2015 7:00 AM EDT

It was exactly 20 years ago, on June 24, 1995, that South Africa beat rival New Zealand to win that year’s Rugby World Cup. It was the first World Cup for South Africa, as the nation had been kept out of the competition during apartheid, so the victory was a meaningful one—but, as anyone who has seen the 2009 film Invictus knows, the game was even more meaningful for what happened off the field.

In South Africa, rugby had been seen as a sport for white Afrikaaners, but President Nelson Mandela saw that the tournament could be a chance for a broader social reconciliation. As TIME reported that May, the sport could herald a united future in which “at rugby matches, thick-necked Afrikaans players stand at attention for the black liberation and nationalist hymn Nkosi Sikelel i Afrika (God Bless Africa).” By the time the 1995 World Cup was over, that vision was much closer to being a reality.

Following Mandela’s death in 2013, TIME published an interview with Francois Pienaar, who had been captain of that 1995 team. Pienaar reflected on his relationship with Mandela, the link between sports and politics, and the moment he realized that June 24 game would go down in history:

Were you aware this was more than a game?

Not before the competition started. But in six weeks, I saw the country change. At our hotel in Cape Town, the lady who checked us in was wearing a Springbok jumper. The gentleman who served us breakfast would say we must eat because we needed to be strong. The morning of the final [in Johannesburg], we went for a run, and four black kids selling newspapers chased after us, shouting the names of the players. After the match, when an interviewer asked me how it felt to win in front of 65,000 people, I replied, “We didn’t have 65,000. We had 43 million.”

Read an interview with Francois Pienaar about Nelson Mandela’s legacy, here in the TIME Vault: A Leader and a Champion

New Zealand's players perform their famous Haka in front of the South African team before the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup final.Christian Liewig—TempSport/Corbis

Os du Randt runs at Ian Jones (#4) at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. 24/06/1995 — Os du Randt runs at Ian Jones (#4) at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, June 24, 1995.Colorsport—Corbis

South Africa Rugby World Cup — New Zealand player Jonah Lomu, bottom left, is tackled by South African players during the Rugby Union World Cup Final between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on June 24, 1995. South Africa defeated New Zealand 15 - 12, after extra time had been played. AP Photo

Joel Stransky kicks the winning drop-goal for South Africa at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Colorsport—Corbis

South African captain Francois Pienaar throws his arms in the air as referee Ed Morrison blows the final whistle as his team won the Rugby World Cup over New Zealand in the final 15-12 at Ellis Park, Johannesberg, Saturday, June 24, 1995. — South African captain Francois Pienaar throws his arms in the air as referee Ed Morrison blows the final whistle as his team won the Rugby World Cup over New Zealand in the final 15-12 at Ellis Park, Johannesberg, June 24, 1995. John Parkin—AP Photo

South Arican President Nelson Mandela, left, cheers as Springbok Rugby captain Francois Pienaar holds the trophy high after winning the World Cup Rugby Championship in Johannesburg on June 24 1995. Jan Hamman—AP Photo

Nelson Mandela, Francois Pienaar — South African rugby captain Francios Pienaar, right, receives the Rugby World Cup from South African President Nelson Mandela, who wears a South African rugby shirt, after they defeated New Zealand in the final 15-12 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Ross Setford—AP Photo

South Africa match day squad team group at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg. Colorsport—Corbis

See Photos From South Africa’s Monumental Rugby World Cup Victory

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