South Africa full-back The youngest player to win two Rugby World Cup titles is Damian Willemse.

Sam Whitelock, an All Blacks lock, held the record prior to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He accomplished the double four years later, just 19 days after turning 27, after winning the 2011 competition in New Zealand at the age of 23.

But since then, Willemse has surpassed Whitelock’s record, having started the All Blacks match at the age of twenty-five years, five months, and twenty-one days.

Willemse’s journey to becoming a double World Cup winner

The Bok utility back was called up to Japan after center Jesse Kriel was hurt in the opening match of the tournament, even though he was not included in the initial 31-man squad announced for the 2019 World Cup.

In their run to win the 2019 World Cup, he participated in just one game for the Springboks, starting at full-back in their 66-7 thumping of Canada in the pool stages.

Willemse solidified his place in Jacques Nienaber’s squads after the World Cup by starting all three of the British and Irish Lions series games in 2021 off the bench.

With 33 Test caps under his belt going into the 2023 World Cup, he was far more involved in the competition, starting six of the seven matches the Boks played, missing only the decisive pool match against Tonga.

Whitelock held the record for eight years, but if the Springboks manage to complete the three-peat, Willemse might be displaced at the top as early as 2027.

Canan Moodie, a utility back and teammate, will surpass Willemse’s record if he is chosen for the team that wins three straight World Cups. Canan Moodie turns 25 a little over a week before the 2027 championship game.

Full list of two-time Rugby World Cup winners

Dan Crowley – Australia (1991 & 1999)
John Eales – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Tim Horan – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Phil Kearns – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Jason Little – Australia (1991 & 1999)
Os du Randt – South Africa (1995 & 2007)
Frans Steyn – South Africa (2007 & 2019)
Dan Carter – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Richie McCaw – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Ben Franks – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Owen Franks – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Jerome Kaino – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Keven Mealamu – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Ma’a Nonu – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Kieran Read – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Colin Slade – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Conrad Smith – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Victor Vito – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Sam Whitelock – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Sonny Bill Williams – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Tony Woodcock – New Zealand (2011 & 2015)
Handre Pollard – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Lukhanyo Am – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Frans Malherbe – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Trevor Nyakane – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Eben Etzebeth – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Pieter-Steph du Toit – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Siya Kolisi – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Duane Vermeulen – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Damian de Allende – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Jesse Kriel – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Willie Le Roux – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Steven Kitshoff – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Vincent Koch – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Bongi Mbonambi – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Malcolm Marx – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
RG Snyman – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Kwagga Smith – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Franco Mostert – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Faf de Klerk – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Cobus Reinach – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Damian Willemse – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Cheslin Kolbe – South Africa (2019 & 2023)
Makazole Mapimpi – South Africa (2019 & 2023)