Saru confirms Bok schedule to 2015
7 Dec 2012
Saru has confirmed the Springboks’ home fixtures up to the 2015 World Cup and that it will be taking over the running of Test matches in South Africa.
The Boks will face their 2015 World Cup Pool B opponents, Scotland and Samoa (as well as Italy), in a new tournament featuring double-header Test matches in 2013.
According to a statement from Saru, fans will be able to watch two Tests for the price of one after a decision of the Executive Council (Exco) overhauled the way that Tests are run in South Africa. For the first time in Springbok history, Tests will be solely hosted by the mother body.
The decision was taken by the Exco after consulting the 14 member provinces. The Exco also took the unique step of announcing the Test schedule for the next three seasons – featuring Tests in Nelspruit for the first time.
However, Saru cautioned that all matches were subject to conclusion of commercial terms with planned hosting venues.
‘Saru was the only major union in world rugby that didn’t properly own its own Test matches,’ explained CEO Jurie Roux. ‘The decision by the Exco now gives ownership to Saru.
‘The key benefits will be in allowing us to plough a share of the profits back into all the provincial unions and, that by controlling the ticket office and all commercial activity in the stadium, we will be able to provide an experience for our stakeholders on a par with what we experience when playing overseas.’
The Saru statement says that the existing model had seen rugby’s governing body effectively ‘sell’ Springbok Test matches to the major provinces. The Test-hosting unions paid a rights fee (the amount of which was dependent on the stature of the opponent) and then set ticket prices and kept all receipts as well as commercialising aspects of the match as they saw fit.
‘This is a major change in how rugby is run and will present challenges,’ said Roux. ‘But the major effect is that it has placed Springbok Tests in the ownership of the mother body, for the benefit of all rugby’s stakeholders.
‘We are taking the Springboks to a new venue in 2013 and have an exciting new competition format for the June Tests – by coincidence against two of our World Cup opponents of 2015. We have also been able to map out a home fixture schedule for the next three years – something the provinces had also wanted.’
The new-look quadrangular tournament for 2013 is between the Springboks, their 2015 opponents, Scotland and Samoa, as well as Italy.
The tournament – which will be played on a log basis over two rounds to determine finalists – will open at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 8 June.
BOKS’ 2013 HOME FIXTURES
QUADRANGULAR TOURNAMENT
Saturday, 8 June (Mbombela Stadium): Scotland vs Samoa; Springboks vs Italy
Saturday, 15 June (Kings Park): Samoa vs Italy; Springboks vs Scotland
Saturday, 22 June (Loftus Versfeld): Team 3 vs Team 4; Team 1 vs Team 2
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, 17 August (Free State Stadium): Springboks vs Argentina
Saturday, 28 September (Newlands): Springboks vs Australia
Saturday, 5 October (Ellis Park): Springboks vs New Zealand
BOKS’ 2014 HOME FIXTURES (dates TBC)
INCOMING TOUR
Springboks vs Wales (Johannesburg)
Springboks vs Wales (Nelspruit)
Springboks vs Scotland (Port Elizabeth)
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Springboks vs Argentina (Pretoria)
Springboks vs Australia (Cape Town)
Springboks vs New Zealand (Johannesburg)
BOKS’ 2015 HOME FIXTURES (dates TBC, no incoming tour)
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
Springboks vs Argentina (Cape Town)
Springboks vs Australia (Durban)
Springboks vs New Zealand (Johannesburg)
191 Comments
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7 Dec 2012, 12:43 pm
@David-147:
Nasrec (sic)
7 Dec 2012, 12:44 pm
@David-146:
Computicket ??? and the stadium’s ticket office ???
7 Dec 2012, 12:45 pm
The Hore Thread gets to 10,000,
and YOU PACK of LOSERS desert the thread.
I am disgusted.
Taa is over there talking to himself. Poor guy.
Have none of you any compassion for your fellow posters?
7 Dec 2012, 12:45 pm
I would like to see the blacks play a game in Kimberley. Should be a fun game.
7 Dec 2012, 12:50 pm
@David-141:
not sure what you mean david…
but it is my understanding that Ellis Park is owned by the Golden Lions Rugby Union…
7 Dec 2012, 12:52 pm
@cane-136: Thanks. But that was yesterday……
7 Dec 2012, 12:53 pm
@Mr Black-145: Sorry, you’re right, I fell for the transformation marketing. But the question stands, could they risk playing another game at the stadium they claim on the telly to be in Soweto?
7 Dec 2012, 12:54 pm
@SyKoPlaya-149:
The vibe outside Ellis Park scares the local supporters as well.
@Mr Black-148:
Good question. I reckon SARU need to discuss that with the unions. However, I doubt whether the tests have been included in next years season tickets, since they’ve only just been announced.
7 Dec 2012, 12:55 pm
@Mr Black-153: That would be interesting to watch. Neither team would be willing to hold the ball, it would either be a kick-fest-borathon or touch rugby passing madness
7 Dec 2012, 12:55 pm
@stormersboy-155:
How are you dealing with this instant fame? I don’t think I would have been able to handle it…
7 Dec 2012, 12:56 pm
@ufo-154:
They sold 51% to Orlando Pirates a few years ago. From what I understand the shareholding is a rats nest of conflicting interests.
7 Dec 2012, 12:59 pm
@SyKoPlaya-151:
What I was getting at, is that SARU have f all experience in arranging the logistics of ticket sales.
7 Dec 2012, 12:59 pm
@David-157:
We’re a tough bunch … lol !!!
7 Dec 2012, 13:00 pm
@Gumboots-159: haha you know me.
Feet on the ground…..
You well??
7 Dec 2012, 13:01 pm
@cane-140:
@David-141:
yes but i meant saru is headquartered at newlands.
7 Dec 2012, 13:02 pm
@David-160:
oh… okay…
must’ve missed that…
thanks for the correction…
and to Bakks…
7 Dec 2012, 13:02 pm
@cane-152:
Nope. A WP guy won the 10,000 race and that’s the end of it. Once someone has won a race you don’t continue giving the other guys prizes for running further.
7 Dec 2012, 13:05 pm
@cane-143:
no, but you may be playing under a ref intent on applying the rules, caner.
7 Dec 2012, 13:10 pm
@Mr Black-130:
I do what what I can!
7 Dec 2012, 13:23 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-164:
Yup, the spiritual home of SA rugby.
7 Dec 2012, 13:54 pm
If it wasn’t for the cape town hooligans, Cpt would get 2 tests a year ….
7 Dec 2012, 14:02 pm
@suffer_guy-170:
Pisssoff, you racist pig
7 Dec 2012, 14:05 pm
its the truth …. nothing to do with racism ….
7 Dec 2012, 14:15 pm
@cane-121:
From 1965 to 2006 the Transvaal (Golden Lions) RFU was very influential in the SARB (SARU) through its then sequence of strong-willed, connected, influential & politically (used in its broad sense) astute Presidents, Jannie Le Roux, Louis Luyt & Basil van Rooyen, the last two who served as SARU Presidents. {Of the 3 Luyt is also an astute businessman & he performed a financial miracle at the then virtually bankrupt union he inherited from Le Roux).
Hence it is quite understandable that in NZ the idea took hold that SARU power was wielded from Ellis Park rather than Newlands – de facto that was probably the situation for a duration of 4 decades plus…
{Jeesh, how the mighty have fallen! – no wonder the pervasive hysteria about The Kings…}
7 Dec 2012, 14:29 pm
Although Sharks are sucking the hindtit with International games, I am glad Ellis Park has the Lions share of AB games…
Ellis Park is categorically the stadium with the best Test match atmosphere in SA…
It actually sits quite comfortably with other iconic Stadiums like Twickenham, Millenium Stadium, Stade de France in terms of pure atmosphere…
Dynamite Stadium is good, but Ellis Park is great…
No other stadium in SA comes close. FACT
7 Dec 2012, 14:36 pm
@Heavens Game-174:
They should demolish Ellis Park and rename it Dynamite stadium.
7 Dec 2012, 15:40 pm
The Quadrangular tests seem a good idea but I like the idea of actual tours etc…
I would love to see the rugby calendar go something like this for the Springboks
January -June SuperRugby
June – 3 test match series e.g. Wales or England to tour.
July – August – Rugby Championship
November – Tour Europe 3 Test matches & 2 midweek games against club sides – More players get experience for South Africa ‘A’team which could be given a name ibstead of Emerging springboks and would mean that players already capped could tour and play without being tacklebag holders and also means everyone will get used to SA systems.
The Currie Cup could run from August – October and only 8 week tournament with Springboks being involved from The middle of September to the play-offs.
They would get a break after the June tests until the beginning of rugby championship and from the end of November to the start of January.
7 Dec 2012, 16:22 pm
@Heavens Game-174: bloody agent
7 Dec 2012, 17:48 pm
Every thread has died.There is a 3,d force at work.However “Lonely,I,m mister
lonely”
7 Dec 2012, 17:48 pm
Agreed.Bloody agent.But not HG
7 Dec 2012, 18:50 pm
@Heavens Game-174: The late Bill McLaren was once asked which stadium was, in his opinion, was the “best” in the world for test rugby.
His reply went something like this: “Well, in all my years of watching test rugby all around the world and being a Scotsman as well, Murrayfield is obviously very special and dear to me.
“But I once went into a deserted stadium during the week, stood on the centre spot and had a good look around the stadium. I couldn’t help it, the tears just rolled down my cheeks…”
He was talking about Ellis Park.
RIP Bill
7 Dec 2012, 20:22 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-180:
I know how he felt. It’s a real tragedy. There’s more bats than supporters.
7 Dec 2012, 20:28 pm
Do these words mean anything to anyone
I don’t practice Santeria
I ain’t got no crystal ball
Well I had a million dollars but I
I’d spend it all
7 Dec 2012, 20:46 pm
the seating at ellis park is c.rappy, the next person is literally in your face…would still go there but not enthusiastic about about it.
7 Dec 2012, 21:49 pm
It is impressive how people are avoiding the hore.
8 Dec 2012, 06:44 am
@174, actually no…….Opinion
Now that’s a FACT
8 Dec 2012, 17:02 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-180: Yes, if anyone knew what they were talking about wrt rugga, it was the great Scotsman – the voice of Rugby…
If he says Ellis Park is special – who are we to argue… I’m not, it sounds like you’re not.
It was my first time to Ellis Park this year for the Bok/Eng test, and I tell you what – the atmosphere blew me away, and my English mates who were with me…
A great stadium transcends “state of the art” or location… Ellis Park is in a sh.itty spot, but hellsteeth the spirit of rugby is strong there… The spontaneity of crowd support and pride that you only find in great stadiums is as much there as any other…
As a comparator, I also attended the Bok/Aus test at Loftus – beautiful stadium, better location, but fark me it wasn’t the same…
Even Kings Park doesn’t come close… and Newlands? Dont make an honest rugga supporter farken larf his arseoff…
Ellis Park up there with Twickenham, Millenium and Stade as the very best gladiatorial arena for the great game
8 Dec 2012, 18:25 pm
@Heavens Game-186: Excellent post HG, and I fully agree with you. I have watched games at all SA’s major stadiums bar Boet Erasmus, maybe I’m biased but it wasn’t the same at any of them; funnily enough the Free State stadium had quite a feel to it (Cats vs Sharks that nite) but that could’ve been helped by the Boys’ weekend we were on.
It’s strange, I’ve been thinking how the All Blacks have all but admitted how they hate playing at Ellis Park yet SARU doesn’t take advantage of it.
8 Dec 2012, 19:35 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-187: IMO
Boet Erasmus was the worst major stadium to watch rugby:
Not much atmosphere, spectators positioned quite far from the field, located in a natural dip as a virtual wind-tunnel of sorts, & worst of all the spectators started streaming homewards across the open stand as soon as it became obvious the local team, whether that be EP or the Bokke, was going to lose – some local fans had no ‘skaam’ leaving midway through the 2nd half… hopefully that has changed with the move to the grand new stadium?
But whilst it was not a great arena to watch rugby, it often dished up a great fight which EP seldom lost…
{sigh … the days of yore … not hore}
10 Dec 2012, 14:42 pm
If I was SARU I would also give more Tests to JHB. Soccer City has a capacity of 94 700, Ellis Park Stadium 62,567, Newlands Stadium 51,100, Moses Mabhida Stadium 54,000, Kings Park Stadium 52,000. As the All Blacks are the biggest crowd pullers you would think for SARU to make money they would as they have done.
As a supporter I would like for All Black games to be spread but understand what they are doing. Oh…and I am WP supporter living in JHB
11 Dec 2012, 00:22 am
Can someone tell me why I get the feeling that the AB’s are always playing in Jo’burg???? is that because SA hope that playing there ONE DAY they may win a game? C’mon people this is a joke. Yes they are the BIGGEST crowd pullers in the RUGBY WORLD but every game for the next 3 years in Jo’burg. Then again SARU must be a thick lot to keep scheduling their games there.
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