Saracens to play in Mother City

Saracens to play in Mother City

5 Oct 2011

Saracens will play their European Cup match against Biarritz in Cape Town on 14 January 2012.

The Watford-based club confirmed the news on Wednesday after getting clearance from the ERC, organisers of the European Cup, and the IRB. Saracens announced their ambitions to take this fixture to South Africa last July .

This initiative follows the Sharks/Crusaders Super Rugby clash that was played at Twickenham earlier this year. With a large contingent of Saffas in the Saracens squad, like centre Brad Barritt, No 8 Ernst Joubert, scrumhalf Neil de Kock and hooker Schalk Brits, it was no surprise that Cape Town was targeted as the designated city. Springbok skipper John Smit will also join the club as he retires from international rugby after the World Cup.

‘The world is becoming increasingly smaller and well connected, and, as a club, we are committed to thinking big and creating major events that people want to watch. We look forward to proceeding with these exciting plans, expanding the footprint and commercial value of European rugby,’ said Saracens chairman Nigel Wray.

However, there has been a negative reaction from local fans.

‘A really bad decision that is a slap in the face for loyal Saracens fans. When you are receiving sympathy from fans of other rugby clubs you know you’re really being screwed over’ and ‘So the biggest Home game of the Season is being played 6,000 miles from VR, great decision Sarries’ were the responses on the club’s website.


22 Comments

  • 1.grant10: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 13:52 pm

    just leave plod on mud island asseblief!

  • 2.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 14:17 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-1: Not a chance Grant….you know the influence that Plod yields. Hows things? We missed you are on the blog. How have you enjoyed the World Cup so far?

  • 3.once more unto the breach, dear springboks, once more...: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 14:54 pm

    its a nice initiative.
    it gets my support.

  • 4.Bouts: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 14:56 pm

    Hmmm… probably the hottest time of year. Luckily it is in Cape Town.
    Do you suppose Brendan Venter will be allowed on the field?

  • 5.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 14:58 pm

    Does anyone actually care? I certainly wouldn’t pay to go to this game.

  • 6.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 15:58 pm

    Will be interesting to see how these NH teams play in the SH.

  • 7.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:12 pm

    I’ll go and watch them. What’s the main game that day?

  • 8.Quotas_se_moer: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:15 pm

    What?? a team without quotas or quota requirements @ Newlands??? Cant be! i must be dreaming!

  • 9.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:20 pm

    @Quotas_se_moer(p0ppa69)-8: Being a Premiership game, they’ll also have an English proficiency test at the stadium gates. So best you get your DSTV reconnected again. Even if that means settling your debt.

  • 10.Quotas_se_moer: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:25 pm

    That Wakefield will probably papsak before the game and cry for more quotas again! he won’t even have a clue its not WP playing … this country darem!

  • 11.Quotas_se_moer: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:29 pm

    katman, nee is reg my blaar… gaan kyk jy maar die rugby, dan vat ek jou dogter vir ‘n paar drinks

  • 12.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:37 pm

    @Quotas_se_moer(p0ppa69)-10:

    how can you type with steve hofmeyer’s knobend in your bek?

    don’t his balls get in the way?

  • 13.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:43 pm

    @Gunther(gunther)-12: He switches to predictive oral s.ex.

  • 14.Quotas_se_moer: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:45 pm

    gunther, nah its really not that big. just ask your wife

  • 15.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:48 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-13:

    :lol:

    very good.

  • 16.Quotas_se_moer: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:50 pm

    Steve het mos almal gehad … no one is safe

  • 17.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:53 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-9: :mrgreen:

    Pity it went waaaayyyyy above his head.

  • 18.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:54 pm

    @Quotas_se_moer(p0ppa69)-16: You’re projecting.
    Truth is: you are the only blogger here to be Hof-ed.

  • 19.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 16:59 pm

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-18:

    old steve hof’d and he bof’d and he blew his house down.

  • 20.H: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 17:22 pm

    A sign of things to come? Our timezones are very close, so broadcasters can’t complain. And much as I love Newlands that Greenpoint Stadium is great for rugby. We must not make this a unilateral thing – send Super Rugby games over to the UK from time to time. Just a few games per season will do.

  • 21.poethklapp7: Reply to this comment
    5 Oct 2011, 22:42 pm

    Mid-week game. Saracens vs Boks. Imagine they beat the world champs, twice!

  • 22.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    6 Oct 2011, 08:15 am

    @H(H)-20: I hope they take to Cape Town Stadium but WP are so stubborn they will opt for Newlands.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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