Fans respond in their droves
A sold-out Springboks v Wales incoming series is firmly on the cards, after it was confirmed earlier this week that the “house-full” signs were already up for the first Test at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
After the Covid restrictions on the 50% stadium capacity were lifted last week, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town immediately had another half a stadium to fill, with Loftus given just over a week to do so.
It proved to be no problem however, and with tickets for the Bloemfontein Test selling fast and Cape Town having had a ticket ballot due to exceptional demand, it looks set to be a sold-out three Test series.
It is an emphatic response from South Africa’s rugby-starved fans, who have been turning out in their droves as restrictions slowly lifted.
The United Rugby Championship final between the Stormers and Bulls was a soldout affair with restrictions still in place, as 31 000 fans turned out for that game.
The Currie Cup final last weekend, luckily for Kimberley perhaps, was held just days after restrictions were lifted, with fans responding positively to sell out the 13 000 capacity Griqua Park Stadium for the decider.
Following the Welsh series, the Springboks will then have three more home internationals this year, with two massive Tests against the All Blacks in Mbombela and Johannesburg at the start of August, and the final Test of the Rugby Championship against Argentina in September.
The Ellis Park Test is already over 70% sold and is expected to be sold-out within the next week or two.
The Test at the Mbombela Stadium is the first-ever featuring the All Blacks in the city and should thus have no problem selling out, while their local fans are also riding the wave of the Pumas’ recent Currie Cup success.
The final Test at Kings Park should also be a sold-out affair, as it could very well be a Rugby Championship decider.
All of this will be a massive boost to the coffers of SA Rugby, who have struggled during the Covid pandemic.