Chasing the Sun (TV series)


Chasing the Sun is a South African televised sports documentary series produced by SuperSport Originals, in collaboration with SA Rugby and content agency T+W. The five-part docuseries chronicles the Springboks’ journey to winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, offering unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to players, coaches and staff during their historic campaign.
The first season debuted on M-Net in October 2020, later becoming available internationally via Showmax. The series received critical and popular acclaim for its emotional depth, candid footage and compelling portrayal of teamwork, identity and national sporting pride.
The second season expands its focus to include leadership dynamics, squad rotation, injury management, and tactical experimentation under head coach Jacques Nienaber and director of SA Rugby Rassie Erasmus.

Background and production

The concept for Chasing The Sun originated with SuperSport and SA Rugby, who began filming behind the scenes during the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup campaign. The crew travelled with the team throughout the year, documenting training sessions, team talks, personal moments and match preparations that had not previously been shown to the public. SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said the documentary would reveal “an entirely new layer of what makes the Springboks great”, with SuperSport Chief Executive Gideon Khobane highlighting the story’s emotional and inspirational depth.
The series was completed under difficult conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with production and post-production teams adapting to restrictions. Following its initial South African broadcast in late 2020, Chasing The Sun was made available to international audiences across Europe, Australasia and other territories via Showmax in 2021.
Following the first season, SuperSport confirmed a second instalment documenting South Africa's attempt to defend the Rugby World Cup title. Filming began during the 2022 international season and continued through the Rugby Championship, warm-up matches, and the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Episode list and summaries

Chasing The Sun follows a chronological narrative of the Springboks’ build-up to and success at the Rugby World Cup, with each episode focusing on key phases of the journey.

Awards and nominations

Chasing The Sun has won significant honours in the South African and international creative industries: