Heineken Rugby in SA

[PaarlBok]

Coming to Slaapstad Stadium.

Saracens with its strong Saffer flavour will be in action against Biarritz on January 14 in a historically first.

Sport24

CT Stadium to host Saracens
- The Cape Town Stadium is expected to be announced as the venue for the Heineken Cup clash between Saracens and Biarritz.

Saracens announced last month they will play a home pool stage clash against Biarritz in Cape Town on January 14, but did not reveal which ground the match will be played at.

However, according to Die Burger it is a foregone conclusion that the game will be played at the Cape Town Stadium and not Newlands Rugby Stadium. The announcement will be made on Thursday.

Recently retired Bok captain John Smit joined Saracens after the World Cup in New Zealand and could be in action alongside several other Springboks currently plying their trade with the English club. It will be the first time that a Heineken Cup game will be hosted outside of Europe.

Saracens' CEO, Edward Griffiths, said the club is proud to be associated with so many South Africans. "Saracens is a club with a strong South African flavour due to Johann Rupert's (South African businessman) shares in the club and the 12 South African players here," said Griffiths, himself a South African.

"It makes sense for us to grow our support and commercial interests in South Africa. We want South Africans to view us as their favourite club."

This also opened up the rugby moving from Newlands to the same Stadium talks.

Newlands vs CT Stadium

 

[PaarlBok]

The WP faithfull kicked the Poofball Stadium idea.

Newlands it is

Sarries lose CT Stadium stand-off

The historical Heineken Cup match between Saracens and Biarritz Olympique to be played in Cape Town will now be played at Newlands and not Cape Town Stadium.

Last week Saracens and the City of Cape Town announced that the match would be held at the stadium in Green Point that has become a financial burden since the Football World Cup.

However, after meeting on Monday by the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) Executive Committee it was decided that the home of rugby, Newlands, would stage this historic match.

According to the South African Rugby Union Constitution the final decision regarding the match venue lies in the hands of the host union.

The WPRFU Executive Committee unanimously agreed that Newlands is currently the home of rugby in the Western Province, and will be treated as such for the foreseeable future.

In a statement the WPRFU said that they "Embrace such a historic match which will form part of the busy 2012 Super Rugby and Test Match schedule at Newlands Stadium.

"Newlands is one of the oldest rugby stadia in the world, with excellent facilities and currently boasts some of the highest attendance levels in world rugby.

"The decision to agree to the hosting of the match at Newlands was made in the best interests of WP Rugby and once again shows loyalty to its suite holders and fans who regularly attend matches at Newlands.

"Additionally the WPRFU hopes to end speculation of the move to The Cape Town stadium. There is currently no intention to move WP Rugby to the Cape Town stadium."

City of Cape Town councillor Grant Pascoe told this website that he is aware of the reports, but has been in meetings all morning and isn't able to comment until he has spoken to the stadium manager.

The match will be the first Heineken Cup game played outside of Europe and is scheduled to be played on January 14, 2012.

 

[Blue]

Will people actually pay money to go watch? Will be interesting to see.

So that wonderful stadium in Cape Town will be become the white elephant it was predicted to be.

I have a mate living nearby and he reckons very little happens there except the odd soccer match.

 

[PaarlBok]

Will people actually pay money to go watch? Will be interesting to see.

So that wonderful stadium in Cape Town will be become the white elephant it was predicted to be.

I have a mate living nearby and he reckons very little happens there except the odd soccer match.

Agree, they never should have builded it and should have done the same thing they did with Loftus and Ellispark. Ditto Durban. Just imagen how many rugby fields and sport organisers they could have build/appointed in the disadvantage areas in Cape Town/Durban with that waisted money.

Credit to WPRU fighting hard to keep Newlands despite all this pressure coming down on them.

WP site

WPRFU statement on Cape Town Stadium
Whilst, as in the recent past, talks with the City as to a possible future move to Cape Town Stadium remain open, no decision has been taken by WPRFU as to a move to Cape Town Stadium.
“Whilst we continue to remain open to considering our position, a considerable number of important elements would need to be resolved, including what the best financial model for WP Rugby would be.” said Mr Tobie Titus, President WPRFU.

“Any decision would need to be taken by the General Council of the WPRFU. At the moment no such decision has been taken and no such decision is pending. WPRFU will continue to play all official league Super Rugby, Currie Cup and Test rugby at DHL Newlands.” added Titus.

I'll rather see them losing this match but keep on fighting for the third oldest rugby stadium. By the way if they game is on , I'll defnitely be on Newlands and will support Saffacens on Newlands.

 

[Bardon]

Saracens have moved the game to London.

Saracens have cancelled their much-heralded Heineken Cup match against Biarritz in Cape Town and have moved the fixture to London.

The game, scheduled for 14 January, had sparked a row in South Africa over which stadium should host the event.

The Cape Town Stadium was announced as the initial venue, but that was rejected by the owners of Newlands.

In a statement the Premiership champions said they had "no wish to be a catalyst for conflict".

Newlands, which is owned by the Western Province Rugby Football Union, has been the region's traditional rugby home, and the WPRFU demanded their venue host the Saracens fixture.

The WPRFU also suspended ongoing talks between itself and the City of Cape Town, the government authority who owns the two-year-old Cape Town stadium, over sharing the city's future rugby fixtures.

In response, a Saracens statement said: "The innovative English champion club was eager to host the first Heineken Cup match ever played outside Europe, to stage a special, spectacular rugby event and to project brilliant images of Cape Town and European rugby around the world.

"However, we have no wish to be a catalyst for conflict between the City of Cape Town and the Western Province Rugby Union.

"Saracens looks forward to playing a competitive match in Cape Town as soon as local circumstances allow.

"Supporters who have bought tickets in South Africa will be fully refunded, and Saracens will engage with UK-based supporters who have already booked air tickets and accommodation, and ensure they are appropriately compensated."

Saracens have not confirmed where in London the tie will now be held.

 

[PaarlBok]

Oh well I can live with that. Just show that politics still rules in SA.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

Out of interest, what is the problem with the new stadium?

I know Newlands has a bit of heritage, but if you have a brand new one sitting there doing nothing.. are you better off to not use it?

I rememer Arsenal not wanting to leave Highbury a few years back and there was a few protests etc. Then after one game in a brand new 60k seater stadium.. those folks piped down pretty bloody quick!

 

[PaarlBok]

Out of interest, what is the problem with the new stadium?

I know Newlands has a bit of heritage, but if you have a brand new one sitting there doing nothing.. are you better off to not use it?

I rememer Arsenal not wanting to leave Highbury a few years back and there was a few protests etc. Then after one game in a brand new 60k seater stadium.. those folks piped down pretty bloody quick!

The golden goose (money counts these days) for WP/Stormers rugby comes by the way of their corporate boxes. Newlands have 300, CT Poofball Stadium 100. Newlands is also Saru's head quoters. Watching rugby at Newlands means I can drive there, park 10 meters from the stadium, have my braai and walk to the game 5 minutes from kick off. No parking at the CT Stadium, you have to go there by public transport.

and in the end its all about rugby culture and history. Money wise it will be stupid if WPRU move there and culture wise its just stupid to remove the third oldest rugby stadium from the best possible scenery surrounds for just the sake of it.

 

[whatty]

Rather simple WPRFU own Newlands they don't own the new one so they would have to pay money to use it...

 

[Thomond78]

I'm glad. A home game should be just that; at home. Taking it to another continent is playing silly buggers.

 

[PaarlBok]

I'm glad. A home game should be just that; at home. Taking it to another continent is playing silly buggers.

ja but the sad part is that could have been a massive testing trial for us. If the game would have drawn 40,000 it would have shown Saracens home is in SA and the time is right that SA just might move to the NH competitions and that no matter which month, our lot is always hunger for some live rugby. Could have proved a lot of things but I suppose the DA big shots wanted to call the shots and not rugby. Actually sad.

 

[Thomond78]

I can understand that, Oom, but the ERC are also, to all intents and purposes, asking us to do the same as Sariekaans; hold home games away from home. And, bluntly; tits to that. We aren't going to drag our fans around creation just for the ERC, because they do it to us often enough unasked.

We aren't moving. Tis our field*.

*Well, 'tis the Bull's, but he lets us have the use of it...

 

[PaarlBok]

I can understand that, Oom, but the ERC are also, to all intents and purposes, asking us to do the same as Sariekaans; hold home games away from home. And, bluntly; tits to that. We aren't going to drag our fans around creation just for the ERC, because they do it to us often enough unasked.

We aren't moving. Tis our field*.

*Well, 'tis the Bull's, but he lets us have the use of it...

Pretty sure I read somewhere the Munster vs Leinster one is about to come to Newlands? I have your possie booked Boet. :fishing 30 degrees at the moment!

 

[Thomond78]

That's what the ERC are trying to do. And over our dead bodies.

Ons sal TUIS bly!

 

[Bardon]

I hope Munster don't end up moving any of their home games. Even as a Leinster fan a HEC game at Thomond is a something to look forward to watching. Any English club who move their own home game against Munster wont actually be moving it to a neutral venue. Munster fans travel in numbers other rugby clubs can only dream of and it would look like a home game to Munster.

 

[PaarlBok]

I hope Munster don't end up moving any of their home games. Even as a Leinster fan a HEC game at Thomond is a something to look forward to watching. Any English club who move their own home game against Munster wont actually be moving it to a neutral venue. Munster fans travel in numbers other rugby clubs can only dream of and it would look like a home game to Munster.

We'd like to receive those Munster fans in Slaapstad! They love our red wine and vineyards and weather!

 

[Bowside]

Why did they not just touch-up and then use newlands for the soccer instead of building a new stadium?

 

[PaarlBok]

Why did they not just touch-up and then use newlands for the soccer instead of building a new stadium?

Excellent question. Myself think Newlands is possible to small for poofball. Its the Stadium where the crowd is the closest to the field in SA. The real problem for rugby not to move to CT Stadium is the 200 less corporate boxes at CT Stadium. 200 x R150,000 = R30,000,000 loss per year. Thats just the subs, now add the drinks and catering and you'll never catch up with only 10,000 less spectators per match plus you have to hire the Stadium from the City of Cape Town.

 

[Bowside]

Excellent question. Myself think Newlands is possible to small for poofball. Its the Stadium where the crowd is the closest to the field in SA. The real problem for rugby not to move to CT Stadium is the 200 less corporate boxes at CT Stadium. 200 x R150,000 = R30,000,000 loss per year. Thats just the subs, now add the drinks and catering and you'll never catch up with only 10,000 less spectators per match plus you have to hire the Stadium from the City of Cape Town.

Reds are the same. Lots of money is made off the corporate boxes. And in australia a lot of the corporate types are rugby fans so the boxes have been pretty full the last couple of seasons.

 

[liquor box]

Excellent question. Myself think Newlands is possible to small for poofball. Its the Stadium where the crowd is the closest to the field in SA. The real problem for rugby not to move to CT Stadium is the 200 less corporate boxes at CT Stadium. 200 x R150,000 = R30,000,000 loss per year. Thats just the subs, now add the drinks and catering and you'll never catch up with only 10,000 less spectators per match plus you have to hire the Stadium from the City of Cape Town.

This must be the only new stadium in the world that has less corperate facilities than an older stadium in the same general area. I am quite suprised by this, I am not however suprised by having to use public transport, as annoying as this seems to start with, it is quite a good option if the public infrastructure is in place. I have no issue with getting a train to Lang Park for Reds games.

How much are drinks at a Rugby game in SA?