Province pull rank on Euro Cup match
15 Nov 2011
Newlands and not the Cape Town Stadium will host the European Cup match between Saracens and Biarritz.
Ticket sales have already started for the match on 14th January, with the designated venue being the modern 60 000-setter stadium in Greenpoint, Cape Town. The fixture was widely expected to sell out, with locals and foreign visitors (it is the height of the tourist season) expected to file in for the unique event.
However, the Western Province Rugby Union have intervened and successfully challenged for the hosting rights. This continues an alarming drought of high-profile sporting fixtures for the stadium, which is increasingly becoming a serious financial burden for the city.
WP pointed to the South African Rugby Union constitution’s ruling that the the final decision regarding the match venue lies in the hands of the host union. WP and not Saracens are deemed to be the hosts.
In a statement WP said: ‘ After a recent meeting by the Western Province Rugby Football Union Executive Committee, the request by Saracens to host the match at Cape Town Stadium was considered. However, the Executive Committee 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. The Western Province Rugby Football Union embraces such a historic match which will form part of the busy 2012 Super Rugby and Test Match schedule at Newlands.’
Meanwhile Saracens issued a carefully worded statement that read: ‘Saracens has noted today’s statement by the Western Province Rugby Union. We are delighted that two world class venues in Cape Town both want to stage the historic Heineken Cup match between Saracens and Biarritz on Saturday January 14. We will now continue detailed discussions with all parties.’
WP also moved to end the ongoing speculation about a potential move to the Cape Town Stadium. ‘There is currently no intention to move WP Rugby to the Cape Town stadium,’ they said.
195 Comments
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15 Nov 2011, 12:34 pm
WP not making friends. Daft.
15 Nov 2011, 12:34 pm
strop dragon my….
stop dragon my heart aro-hound…!!
15 Nov 2011, 12:35 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-1:
yeah…
not being sensible at all…
15 Nov 2011, 12:42 pm
stellies mafia in operation
15 Nov 2011, 12:49 pm
Game should be played at Cape Town Stadium. What a pity they will not play there.
15 Nov 2011, 12:54 pm
Stupid Stupid , Now I actually wish WP do move
15 Nov 2011, 12:54 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-4: @PissAnt(PissAnt)-1:
Who are the top dogs at the WPRU? Titus and?
15 Nov 2011, 12:55 pm
This is like having recently added a luxury self-contained guest wing to your house, but then insisting that your in-laws stay in the wendy house behind the garage to get back at your wife for killing the interior decoration budget.
15 Nov 2011, 12:55 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-7:
Wagner
15 Nov 2011, 13:01 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-9:
Bizarre choice not playing that game at the new stadium. Extremely short sighted.
15 Nov 2011, 13:02 pm
This is just negotions, Mafia style.
They know the City is making a loss on the stadium.
They know the City’s only hope is moving WP to the stadium.
They know by depriving the stadium of this desperately needed fixture, the financial woes of the stadium will only grow more dire.
And therefore they know that the City’s negotiating position will grow weaker as a result, ultimately bringing down the price tag of their eventual move.
Now if they can just cancel the next big international music concert at the stadium on some technicality, they will really be in the pound seats.
Typical gansta style gun-to-the-head negotating tactics.
Just what I would expect of these upstanding citizens.
15 Nov 2011, 13:05 pm
A simple solution to fix this would be to boycott the match. No fans, no revenue. Boycott the stormers warm-up matches as well.
15 Nov 2011, 13:05 pm
It could be a power game.I saw this coming a few days ago when Tobie Titus said that there is no formal relationship between Saracens and WP and that he does not like the arrogant and paternalistic attitude of Edward Griffiths.He might have a bit of a point- it seems to me as if there is a group who are trying to “steamroll” or bully WP into making decisions re the future of Newlands.They will probably eventually move but nobody likes to be pushed around by Griffiths and his kind.
15 Nov 2011, 13:07 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-13:
True what you say there, as well.
Griffiths just looks slimey.
What was the whole controversy with him again, before he skedaddled out the country after the 95 World Cup?
15 Nov 2011, 13:09 pm
Tobie Titus does not have a decision making bone in his body, he’s only there for the finger-food and dop.
15 Nov 2011, 13:09 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-8: I lol’d.
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-11: That’s modern day capitalism, not about being ‘upstanding’.
Personally I just want us to move to the Stadium, if this as Tac points out, is going to help that then all power to them, but as PA says this might anger a lot of people and it simply a case of these guys being incompetent and vindictive.
15 Nov 2011, 13:10 pm
A simple question. Would the excitement be more or less when people know the venue of the game.
15 Nov 2011, 13:10 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-11:
It is a double-edged sword and WP is playing a dangerous game here.
Bullying tactics usually comes around to bite you in the ***. Already there is speculation that Newlands will not be given tier 1 tests in future because they do not comply with minimum stadium standards (requirements) the IRB is busy drawing up for all internationals.
If that does happen the city of CT holds all the aces and WP Rugby will sit with a whole lot of pissed of season ticket holders and suite owners…
15 Nov 2011, 13:11 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-8:
… Hilarious………… hehe
15 Nov 2011, 13:12 pm
At the WP stadium, is the suite revenue equavilant to Newlands? This seems to be the issue in Durban, and I can understand why the KZNRU will not move.
If CT stadium will mean a loss of income for Newlands (in terms of suite revenue), and they will have to pay rent, then why the hell would they move?
15 Nov 2011, 13:15 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-14: at least he is doing wonders for Saracens versus the amateurs that are running SA rugby. Tac you really surprise me….you are judging someone because they ‘look’ slimey?!
15 Nov 2011, 13:16 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-18:
One thing I respect about the management of the Bulls over the last 10 years has been their absolute committment – at least from an outside perspective – to do things right, following the correct procedures, and with ethical business practice supporting it.
Here I have to compliment Barend van Graan in particular. Whether it be negotiations with potential player aquisitions – always transparent and following proper process. Never backhanded or dirty dealings.
Whether it be contractual matters relating to Bakkies Botha or the Bulls Babes issue, always following correct procedure.
And whether it was the whole World Cup Soccer enforced move to the Orlando stadium.
Even if it costs them in the short term, there management has always done the right thing with a long term view in mind.
No shortcuts, no bullying tactics, no quick fixes to problems.
Quite exemplary, really. And some other unions would do well to pay attention to how it should be done.
15 Nov 2011, 13:16 pm
What have WP won in the last 10 years? Stuck in an amateur era. keo your twitter feed is apt.
15 Nov 2011, 13:18 pm
@XV(XV)-21:
No man. I meant that there is some lingering impression regarding Griffiths being involved in some unsavoury stuff before his departure. But I can’t recall what the hoohah was about. I’m surprised, given that it was pretty big news at the time.
But for the life of me I just can’t recall what it was. Something to do with Louis Luyt perhaps?
15 Nov 2011, 13:20 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-13: Also Griffiths wants South Africa to go north to play our rugby! No way, we will slip backwards if we do that.
With the Stadium it would have been a show case for Cape Town if it was played at Cape Town Stadium, a pity it won’t be. Though Titus is right and they can’t tell Province what to do.
15 Nov 2011, 13:21 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-14:
I cannot remember exactly what he did besides writing the autobiography of Naas Botha – could not find anything on google either- only managed to find an Australian firefighter,a royal navy officer and a british sculptor with that name, so he is not so famous after all. Maybe that is why Tobie is not impressed by him
15 Nov 2011, 13:23 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-20:
If Moses Madhiba hosted 92 events this past fiscal year (almost four times more than CT) and ‘still’ made a R20 odd million loss… CT stadium is in deep kakka… no one Saracens game is going to put a dent in that…
15 Nov 2011, 13:24 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-14:
He was at the forefront of the ‘One Team, One Nation’ movement and wanted to make rugby equal soccer in rural SA. ie take it to the masses.
Unfortunately after SA won, all the Rugby elite were interested in was how much money they could make. He was left out of the Rugby administration meetings after that and fired by fax.
This was when Pienaar and his Lions, who made up the bulk of the SA 1995 side went on strike and Lious Lyt struck a deal with them which effectively began professional rugger in SA.
I wouldnt say slimey. Very shrewd perhaps but not slimey.
15 Nov 2011, 13:24 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-22:
You know my feelings on Barend so nothing to add there.
My frustration with WP rugby is their seeming inability to sit around a table like grown, businessmen, and negotiate and/or plot a course ahead.
Of course there are important issues at hand when considering such a massive task or challenge of moving home grounds or stadiums (most importantly financial issues), all of which can be studied, planned or workshopped around a negotiations table with the various parties involved.
It is not only childish but also embarrassing.
I hope Saracens now cancels this game, gives WP the middle finger and undoubtedly red-faced.
I am also waiting for Vrede to confirm who brokered this deal/match in the first place… Sarries & WP or Sarries and City of CT? I expect its the latter and if it is the case the actions of WP rugby citing a SA Rugby constitutional ruling would be nothing less than pathetic.
15 Nov 2011, 13:24 pm
A little collaboration before they built the stadium would have gone a long way to avoiding this confrontation. I am paying ridiculous property rates for this shiny stadium while these guys try not to blink. Both parties need to realise that they are not in ideal positions and get together to form a compromise. We are beginning to look like the idiots that initially forced the Green Point stadium on Cape Town.
15 Nov 2011, 13:25 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-24: Was it not that he was working with Pienaar, Mulder, Le Roux and some of the wc winners at the time about pushing to go Professional? Can’t remember the full details but think it was something to do with that.
15 Nov 2011, 13:25 pm
Cheeky bastareauds. This is going to get nasty. Why like this?
15 Nov 2011, 13:25 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-28:
Sorry ‘One team, One Country’
15 Nov 2011, 13:26 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-26:
No there was some big hooha. Wasn’t he involved in Kerry Packers attempt to buy the entire Bok team for some Rebel League after the 95 World Cup?
15 Nov 2011, 13:34 pm
Battle of the egos. So now we all have to sit by while WP flex their muscles and pat themselves on the back for “not being bullied” before eventually agreeing to what is practically inevitable anyway.
15 Nov 2011, 13:36 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-34: Yes something like that, but they also had plenty of the ABs and Oz players in it with them. Eventually it fell away and after that rugby went Professional. They went on strike and LL struck a deal with the Bok squad at the time.
15 Nov 2011, 13:41 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-34: Not Kerry Packer if I remember correct think it was Rupert Murdoch. The same guy that messed up with ‘News of the World’
15 Nov 2011, 13:47 pm
Saracens under Griffiths are making major progress. WP on the other hand are going backwards. A game at the new stadium would be another opportunity to show the public that good rugby deserves to be played in a first class stadium. The bottom line is that SA / WP rugby administrators have been shown up once again for their inability to think big.
15 Nov 2011, 13:49 pm
@XV(XV)-38:
I don’t think the Newlands situation is any different from the King’s Park one.
In both cases a new stadium is being forced onto the rugby unions by cities that didn’t bother to ask their opinions prior to building the white elephants.
WP administration is k*k in general. But that doesn’t change the fact that the stadium issue is none of their doing, and all of the city’s doing. Just like the Moses Mabhide fiasco.
15 Nov 2011, 13:55 pm
Kan Boland wedstryde aanbied in die stadion?
15 Nov 2011, 14:05 pm
Swak Province
15 Nov 2011, 14:05 pm
If this stadium was in the greater Pretoria area, they’d fill it out every week with Mighty Men gatherings.
Now Green Point would also be able to stage their own version of a Mighty Men gathering, but the ratepayers would most certainly protest.
15 Nov 2011, 14:05 pm
Filthy province fat boys …. I bet that Tobie Tightass was behind this creepy move! Can somebody tell why WTF are the WP the “hosts” of this match?
15 Nov 2011, 14:06 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-39: It is a fiasco with the MB stadium Tac, but really what would you do? Sit in a out dated stadium or a modern first world stadium? I would like us to move over the road, but doubt it will happen.
They should have built MB according to Rugby Standards really. Then it was Fifa that ruled on the way the stadiums that got built had to be.
I went to one of the wc soccer games there and it was brilliant. A truely magnificent stadium with first world facilities. Just not enough suites. I thought viewing from there was superb and doubt it would make a difference watching rugby to the soccer we watched.
Have many great, great memories of KP love the stadium, but really it has seen its days. Would really want Sharks to move over the road to MB.
Now that MB is left standing empty. Just think they should have negotiated with Sharks to update their stadium much like Loftus and Ellis Park was done before the wc. Instead of building a brand new one. That way we would have scored and the council would not be sitting with this headache of not knowing what to do with this beautiful stadium that is going to waste and is now costing them a fortune.
15 Nov 2011, 14:06 pm
Has anyone considered that WPRU wouldn’t make any money if the game was played at Greenpoint? Why shouldn’t they object?
15 Nov 2011, 14:09 pm
I am sure they have a good reason that we just dont know about, only logical explanation.
15 Nov 2011, 14:10 pm
@DG(DG)-40:
Ja. hulle kan – soos die warm-up match tussen Boland en Stormers 2 jaar terug to Boland die ‘host unie’ was.
15 Nov 2011, 14:10 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-27: Events like what?? Flower shows? Has Moses had any sold out rock concerts? WP need to make the move sooner or later. International teams will not want to play in an old stadium when a brand spanking new stadium is available just down the road.
15 Nov 2011, 14:13 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-39:
Correct.
Although Moses Mabhida isn’t as much of a burden on Durban rate payers as the new CT stadium is on CT ratepayers.
Largely due to the fact that it is a multi purpose stadium which has hosted numerous PSL games, concerts and even an SA T20 game againt India. Added to this it contains various shops, Virgin Active gym etc whose combined rental revenue helps pay the bills. Not profitable but not a sinking ship either.
Could have been so much better had that ANC brown nose Sutcliffe not approved the plans without the Sharks Unions knowledge.
15 Nov 2011, 14:15 pm
@David(David)-45:
Did they broker the deal? If not, why should they make money?
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