Sarries can SA initiative
17 Nov 2011
Saracens will not host their European Cup match against Biarritz in Cape Town because of the conflict between the city council and WP Rugby.
Saracens announced the cancellation of their plans of taking the first European Cup fixture to the southern hemisphere on Thursday. This comes after negotiations between the Watford-based club, City of Cape Town and WP Rugby fell through this week.
The orginal plan was to play the match at Cape Town Stadium in Greenpoint, but as the host union, WP forced their hand and demanded that the match be played at Newlands. Saracens attempted to reason with the two parties but a failure to reach an agreement has seen the English Premiership champions cancel the initiative as they’ll now play the match in London.
‘The innovative Saracens were eager to host the first European 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,’ said the club’s statement.
‘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 by Computicket, and Saracens will engage with UK-based supporters who have already booked air tickets and accommodation, and ensure they are appropriately compensated.’
301 Comments
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18 Nov 2011, 02:36 am
And WP fans allow Titus and Wagner to remain at the helm… hilarious…
18 Nov 2011, 04:42 am
Cape Town becomes the laughing stock of the world…….
Thanks WPRU……..
A hOLES
18 Nov 2011, 05:18 am
@grant10(grant10)-52:
How many of the moaners on here would actually have gone to this… how many of the moaners will actually do something about Titus and co?
Why not flood social media sites… why not boycott the first S15 game or the Argie test which would hurt even more?
Alot of hot air…
18 Nov 2011, 05:42 am
@grant10(grant10)-52: thanks to your WP morons in suits i’m not going to see SMIT play for Sarries in january now
18 Nov 2011, 06:38 am
Well done Province, you did the right thing…. One day Green Point will be ours at a bargain price….
18 Nov 2011, 07:09 am
A lot of hot air about nothing really.
A NH competition is exactly that a NH competition, what is the purpose of playing a game in the SH ??
If I were a fan of either of these sides I would be pretty piss ed off with them for denying me the opportunity of seeing my side play because of trying to “brand” my team in front of an audience that besides a novelty factor has no real interest in either of the sides involved. There is so much HC rugby on TV , why the need to play live HC games in the SH , I would not be pleased if the Stormers played the Blues (as an example) in London rather than in CT !! Denying me the chance to see these sides.
The only reason why I am mildly disappointed is that I am going to be “rugby hungry” at that stage and was looking forward to it suppressing my appetite.
I still hold the top brass responsible for the farking up of the deal, farking amateur hour by the amateurs suits !!!!!
18 Nov 2011, 07:10 am
Good morning all.
My advice to Wp..
sell Newlands – move… financially it will benefeit WP/Stormers on the long run.
and with the spare cash please buy Tobie Titus some teeth…
18 Nov 2011, 07:28 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-56:sarries knows cape town is fertile ground for international teams, ed griffith must’ve been at the stormers/crusaders game and saw all those StormSaders and wants a piece of the action.
18 Nov 2011, 07:30 am
egg on the face for breakfast at the newlands offices…nice…
18 Nov 2011, 07:40 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-58:
LOL…………………… Stormsaders have no affiliation to the NH, it is the boys from the islands that do it for them………………………… the pale legs from the North they have no interest in !!!
18 Nov 2011, 07:41 am
@Staal(Staal)-57:
Nee man……………. daai laaste comment was lelik !!!
18 Nov 2011, 07:44 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-61: ag askies man – dit het uitgeglip! Sorry…
18 Nov 2011, 07:46 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-58: on that StormSaders tip: bra, ive lost faith in coloured people. i saw one wearing an ABs t-shirt with the final score printed on the front and numbber 12 on the back with Ma’a Nonu’s name written in italic cursive font. talk about fabrication at its best.
18 Nov 2011, 07:48 am
@SHARKattack(mabu)-63:
Even they won’t support the duh Villiers circus.
18 Nov 2011, 07:55 am
@Staal(Staal)-62:
18 Nov 2011, 08:05 am
This Stomersaders issue is blown out of all proportion… there are maybe several hundred at any one game at newlands… or perhaps even a thousand or at a stretch… out of 50 000…?? 1 or 2 per cent…
there are way more sharks fans in cape town than stormersaders… you see their silly little stickers on their cars wherever you go…
why does no one complain about them…?
and while most of the stormersader fans are actually a lot of fun and add to the atmosphere of newlands… the sharks fans are really OTT loud and obnoxious… cheering excessively just to make the point…
give me the stormersader fans any day…
18 Nov 2011, 08:07 am
No one gets painted in a good light after these shenanigans, but the archaic way in which SA provinces r run by committee is what makes it look stupid, the power of these northern money men is apparent, at the drop of a hat they can afford to drop these ideas, kinda like how they run everything else, mining, goverenments etc
18 Nov 2011, 08:08 am
No one gets painted in a good light after these shenanigans, but the archaic way in which SA provinces r run by committee is what makes it look stupid
18 Nov 2011, 08:09 am
The serious power in rugby is moving to these rupert like moguls who can snap fingers and make people jump
18 Nov 2011, 08:17 am
oops
Fark sorry double post
18 Nov 2011, 08:19 am
I don’t get this whole “keep the NH rugby away from us” argument. I know Tac put forward some labored reasoning about their income and ability to lure SA players, but that’s just hogwash and his attempt to stir. But a lot more of you seem genuinely affronted by the thought of European clubs playing here. Why? It’s a rugby spectacle. It’s like a band coming to play in your town. And, in this case, it involves a bunch of bladdy good SA players. I’d love to see them play. I wish they could have just given a big middle finger to both WP and the City and played the game at Athlone Stadium.
And I hope Tobie Titus and Rob Wagner have just put a couple more nails in their coffins.
18 Nov 2011, 08:26 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-53: I was going to the game so I could pelt fat boy with overripe tomatoes….
18 Nov 2011, 08:27 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-54: I was looking forward to seeing you guys……real pity my man
18 Nov 2011, 08:27 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-71:
i agree with you katters…
i see it as another event or concert… which just happens to feature rugby… with not a few saffa and cpt players in the teams… so an opportunity to enjoy some – hopefully – good rugby and a social occasion…
plus…
i see it as a super marketing opportunity for cape town… a lesser version of the soccer world cup…
lots of people in europe and the rest of the world would have watched the game… and all thought… ‘damn… wish i lived in that beautiful place….!’
people have to lose their laager mentality and insular attitudes…
the world is a small place these days… the more we interact with it and are seen and perceived as a normal part of it… the better it will be for south africa…
18 Nov 2011, 08:29 am
i think there is still a good chance the game will be played here…
18 Nov 2011, 08:30 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-71: totally agree
18 Nov 2011, 08:31 am
@ufo(ufo)-74: top post my man…my sentiments exactly
18 Nov 2011, 08:33 am
@grant10(grant10)-77:
cool bud…
18 Nov 2011, 08:33 am
So where did this cancelled games origins spring from?
Saracens contacting WP
Saracens contacting City of Cape Town
WP contacting Saracens
City of Cape Town contacting Saracens
My bet it was some variation of the last option. The council looking outside the box to get income for their white elephant
18 Nov 2011, 08:37 am
@ufo(ufo)-74: Correct. It’s like some people here are still afraid of Communism, Rock Music and Bellbottoms.
18 Nov 2011, 08:38 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-80:
hahaha…
Ed Zachary…!!
18 Nov 2011, 08:40 am
Farken Newlands ******* ! now I soma gonna boycott the dam place. I use to love that place but the powers that be are doing everything in their power to push us away !
18 Nov 2011, 08:43 am
@ufo(ufo)-74:
Lager mentality?
Are you talking about Bod?
Because he’s a sangria man nown
18 Nov 2011, 08:46 am
@ufo(ufo)-74: totally agree with this post of yours.
@ufo(ufo)-66: totally disagree with this post of yours.
18 Nov 2011, 08:50 am
A once off game will achieve nothing, little marketing of CT will take place besides those tuned in to watch the game in the NH which will be massively insignificant.
Joining a NH competition and to competively play in it , then a different story totally.
Ther Saffa players you guys are talking of are mostly players that could not command a starting place in any SAFFA conference side , and that includes the Bok captain, so essentially instead if wattching U2 you will be watching the equivallent of Ballyhoo !!!
Off to play golf at Mowbray, the wind is set to fark me up 6-0, 6-0 !!!
Cheers
18 Nov 2011, 08:52 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-84:
You have to understand that UFO loves the Caped Spanish Crusaders like a father loves his drug addictted child.
Frustrated yet blindly believing that one day they will turn the corner.
Statistics would suggest otherwise.
18 Nov 2011, 08:53 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-53:
3 friends (all Cape Town based) had decided to take their families to the game. 12 people and that was just the 1st call. I had not begun talking to mates.
None of my mates will take their families to Newlands. We have daughters and wives that dont love the game. They love an event and Newlands does not cut it.
I am not a WP supporter but I go to 5 or 6 games a year. This year will be zero.
I hope they dont play Varsity Cup games at Newlands because I am really looking forward to it in 2012
18 Nov 2011, 08:56 am
@Gunther(gunther)-83: But he likes to take the edge off with half coke zero. Calls it the Skinny Katembria.
18 Nov 2011, 08:56 am
I must be in an argumentative mood this week.
Is it just me, or is anyone else actually keen to hear some details about why the WPRU wanted to move the game to Newlands instead of CT Stadium?
Don’t get me wrong, I’d have loved to have gone there and watched the game. BUT I’m suspicious of the City’s attempts to strongarm WPRU into taking over their White Elephant because they were too STUPID and BLINDED by the glammer of the Soccer World Cup to do a proper study into the long term longevity of the facilities after the 4 GAMES (I mean, 4 Games for crying out loud, what’s that R4 BILLION a game???!!!???)
How about adressing WPRU’s concerns about the suitability of the stadium before they built it, i.e things like corporate hospitality? That way the transition would have been more attractive etc.
Were they just hoping that all this lovely publicity and goodwill generated by the games would have people flocking to the city? Increased revenue for local business? They’d have to go a long way to make up R4 Billion in extra municipal taxes…..
No, until we get details on this one, I’m inclined to be on the side of WPRU, until it is made obvious that they are simply being objectionable and small minded.
Fact is, Griffiths’ motives here are as suspicious as anyones. Was he doing it out of a sense of altruism?? Not likely.
Just because Titus is a posturing fool doesn’t mean he’s always wrong, as much as it pains me to say it.
But no, you guys all go off based on some propoganda statement made by our mayor, who’s biggest impression on me was her leading a march back in the day for the UDF screaming “One Settler One Bullet” at the top of her lungs. Then forming an “Independant” party who dissolved at the first juicy offer from the DA. A nice position in Cape Town. Forget the whole credo that you founded the party on, being the independant watchdog for thos who have no voice yadda yadda.
Credible indeed.
You guys are so gullible.
18 Nov 2011, 08:58 am
@Gunther(gunther)-83:
hehehe…
he’s escaped the laager for a larger lager… and converted to sangria… so we can hardly accuse bod of being insular… even if he has connections hassles…!!
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-84:
shot man..!!
18 Nov 2011, 08:59 am
Fact is, Griffiths could have asked the city to host it without the WPRU. There’s nothing comelling him to go this route.
He’s the bad guy here. WPRU will protect their interests, as i would expect them to.
The City is doing the same, as i would expect, given the monumental fuckup they are now saddled with.
Who’s interrests is Griffiths protecting??
18 Nov 2011, 09:01 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-85:
JR… any marketing opportunity is better than no marketing opportunity…
what is irrelevant is whether or not their players would command a starting spot in our teams…
enjoy the golf…
to day the wind will be the winner…!!
18 Nov 2011, 09:02 am
@ufo(ufo)-90:
El bodo is being insular on the Iberian Peninsula.
18 Nov 2011, 09:03 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-89: But you are conflating two issues here: The long-term home of WP rugby and this once-off game, that has nothing to do with WP Rugby.
Many local soccer teams have played once-off games in Green Point as a spectacle and to market the game to a wider audience. There were a number of double headers there last year that attracted big crowds, and most of these teams are based elsewhere.
This was not a Province/Stormers game, and there was absolutely no obligation to move there after this game was played. This was just WPRU being vindictive because some odd clause said they can. And clearly there were no winners here.
18 Nov 2011, 09:04 am
@justrugby(justrugby)-85:
So you are in the camp that supports idea of moving North.
How do you think that would be organised?
1. All 5 SA teams enter as a block to Heineken Cup
2. 1 team per year is added to the comp the others do nothing
3. All 5 go through promotion relegation
18 Nov 2011, 09:04 am
@Gunther(gunther)-86: Without the Cape Crusaders I’s have no-one to abuse and mock on my way to the stadium.
I’d be forced to turn my attention to the opposition supporters like the Bulls. They are a much tougher prospect. Not the easy takedowns that the locals are. Surpisingly feisty they are.
As for the Sharks supporters, well they are quite nimble and quick. I haven’t managed to catch one yet. They bolt at the first sign of confrontation.
18 Nov 2011, 09:07 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-96:
Indeed.
Those horns on the helmet are there for a reason.
18 Nov 2011, 09:08 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-89:
I’m with you on this bud… about the whole stadium move that is… i do think wp are being petty about this actual game though… we’ve had other rugby matches at CTS… so why is this one a problem…
but as far as the stadium move is concerned… as i said to grant yesterday… why should wpru ‘fold’ to the city…?
why does the city feel they have to force wf’s hand…?
the move is inevitable… why doesn’t the city approach wp with a little less confrontation and wagging fingers and make the sort of deal now that they would HAVE to make if this drags on for several years…?
a lot of people are blaming wpru for this… but the city is wasting our tax-payers money on a white elephant… sort it out sooner rather than later so that the costs becomes wpru’s and not yours and mine…
18 Nov 2011, 09:08 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-94: See my post 91.
That is why i would be keen to see the details of the issue. Why didn’t WP want to host it at the stadium?
Only then will I form an opinion based on my judgement of the facts.
As I said, Griffiths could have played here regardless.
There’s more to this.
No doubt.
18 Nov 2011, 09:10 am
@SHARKattack(mabu)-63: hey, i wasn’t saying have a go at “coloured” people.
if the guy wants to mark his team’s victory with a homemade t-shirt, so be it.
i’ve seen the strangest gear won by Bok supporters chap, like this ou balie that was wearing a real springbok hide waistcoat…don’t hate
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