PRO14 match at NMU

Guinness PRO14 rugby will be played at Nelson Mandela University’s Madibaz Stadium in Port Elizabeth for the first time when the Isuzu Southern Kings face Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.

The venue change was made because extra preparation time is required for the Rugby Championship game between SA and Australia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on September 29.

Last season, the Kings played their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium except for a match against Ulster at the Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakhele and one against Munster at the Outeniqua Park Stadium in George.

The move “is in line with our ongoing initiative of taking the Isuzu Southern Kings and Guinness PRO14 brands to our various communities within our region,” Kings chief operations officer Charl Crous said.

“The Nelson Mandela University is one of the stakeholders where we enjoy a big following.

“We are excited about taking this international competition and a world-class club like Glasgow Warriors to the people,” Crous said.

“We are confident we will get a good crowd at Madibaz Stadium.

“We encourage our supporters to buy their match tickets early in order to #JoinTheJol.”

Madibaz Stadium will become the 45th match venue to host a Guinness PRO14 game.

The Kings have no fewer than seven players who have been students at Nelson Mandela University – Andisa Ntsila, CJ Velleman, Brandon Brown, Yaw Penxe, Lupumlo Mguca, Michael Botha and Xandre Vos.

Ticket sales for the match will be open from Monday, at all Ticketpro outlets and at NMU’s The Kraal.

Tickets will cost R60 for the main stand and R20 for the bowl.