Bryan Gary Habana made the headlines at the 2007 Rugby World Cup with his blistering speed on the wing for South Africa. His eight tries equalled the record set by Jonah Lomu in 1999, and he was named the 2007 IRB Player of the Year. Named after former Manchester United footballers Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey, he played outside centre and scrum half in provincial and age group rugby, but once he was moved to the wing a vast improvement was seen.

Habana is noted for his speed and has been timed as one of the fastest wingers in South African rugby; as proven when he famously raced a cheetah for charity. Habana won international acclaim for his championship-winning try in the 2007 Super 14 final, as one sportswriter put it: "It was one of the most amazing finales to a major game ever seen... Habana's swerving run was brilliant."