Saru confirms Bok schedule to 2015

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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  • 101.willievz: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:54 am

    100

  • 102.willievz: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:56 am

    @stormersboy-96:

    Don’t know bud.

    When last did we beat them at Moftus?

    I remember the 52 -16 debacle…that was 2003. Was that the latest test to date?

  • 103.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:56 am

    @stormersboy-91:

    you’re missing the match below:

    South Africa vs England – Mr Price Kings Park, Durban – 09 June 2012 17:00

  • 104.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:56 am

    So i win!

    Yay!!!!

  • 105.willievz: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:57 am

    We certainly have a habit of smashing the Aussies at Moftus.

    But not the ABs.

    The altitude factor is a myth.

  • 106.ufo: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:57 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-99:

    c’mon bakks…

    you gotta compare apples n apples…

    comparing attendance for italy and the ab/aus/lions is not a fair comparison…

    but what your figures do show is that for top tier internationals… both stadiums pack them in…

  • 107.willievz: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:58 am

    I say play all AB tests in Kimberley ;)

    Just ask Cane.

    He hates it there.

  • 108.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:58 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-83:

    Perceptions can be a bhitch!! :lol:

    Sharks Rule!!

  • 109.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:59 am

    @Heavens Game-98:
    ja, well done kings park.

  • 110.ufo: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 11:59 am

    now if sharks fans can just and watch their own domestic games…

    :lol:

  • 111.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:00 pm

    Kingspark looks empty on TV, but the supporters are watching from the pubs.

    #wehavingit

  • 112.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:01 pm

    @ufo-109:

    Yes, i agree. Thats the thing i like about capetonians, they seem to fill the stadium quite well for domestic games. I tip my hat to you!

  • 113.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:03 pm

    @ufo-105:
    yes they do.

  • 114.wp_boytjie: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:04 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-93:

    Nah , you can’t expect games against Italy or the Pumas to sell out. Not at Newlands , Ellis Park or any 45 000 + stadium.

  • 115.gunther: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:04 pm

    I’d like to see the stats at Ellis Park vs the All Bkacks.

    I’m quite sure that its our best ground against them results wise.

    And I know for a fact that they don’t like playing there.

    :lol:

  • 116.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:06 pm

    @gunther-114:

    I think Boet Erasmus got the best stats

  • 117.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:06 pm

    @ufo-109:
    this is true

  • 118.ufo: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:07 pm

    @Mr Black-111:

    most gracious of your sir…!

    and i to you…!

    :wink:

  • 119.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:13 pm

    @gunther-114: You can wade through this if you like:

    http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/team/highest_attendance.html?id=27;type=trophy

  • 120.cane: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:13 pm

    What’s this !!!!!
    ALL Tests vs NZ at Altitude!!!!!!!!!.
    for the next 3 yrs.

    At Ellis Park.

    Is this some kind of payback,
    for the Lions,
    by the SARU, for shafting them.

  • 121.ufo: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:16 pm

    @cane-119:

    that is actually an excellent point there cane…

  • 122.cane: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:17 pm

    Does the SARU own Ellis Park?

    I ask this because, in NZ Ellis park is (or was) often referred to as SARU HQ.

  • 123.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:18 pm

    @cane-119:
    i wouldn’t worry about the altitude as much as i would the continued fitness of your captain and the ‘appropriate, correct and fair’ application of the rules and laws, if i were you.

  • 124.gunther: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:18 pm

    @willievz-104:

    Absolutely Loftus is a disaster as far as playing the AB’s is concerned.

    Should be reserved strictly for the Ozzies.

  • 125.gunther: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:19 pm

    @stormersboy-118:

    I was looking for the short answer.

    :lol:

    I’ll put my people on to it.

  • 126.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:20 pm

    @gunther-124:

    I thought you might have been.

    Sorry i am all analyzed out!

    :D

  • 127.Stawm: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:22 pm

    @Heavens Game-52:

    Hows life in Pretoria suurgat?

  • 128.David: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:22 pm

    @cane-121:
    Newlands is SARU HQ.
    The new approach means that SARU will only hire the stadiums, whereas in the past the union would bid for a test and hope to make a profit over their bid figure.

  • 129.Stawm: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:23 pm

    @Mr Black-111:
    I nod in your general direction.

  • 130.gunther: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:24 pm

    @stormersboy-125:

    Could be worse,

    You could be Crying Game and be all analised out.

  • 131.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:25 pm

    @Stawm-126:

    Storming in with a bat in your hands swinging wildly :lol:

  • 132.ufo: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:25 pm

    @cane-121:

    owned by Golden Lions

  • 133.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:27 pm

    @cane-121:
    HQ is at newlands (dont ask, who knows?)
    probably for historical reasons.

    not sure about the ownership

    its between: Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd, City of Johannesburg, Orlando Prates FC, Ellis World of Sport (Pty) Ltd, Interza Lesego and others..?..

  • 134.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:28 pm

    @Stawm-128:

    i acknowledge in your general direction :)

  • 135.cane: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:29 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-122:

    I would say………………………………………………………………bring it on.

  • 136.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:30 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-132:

    i’m sure “Shaik and Zuma Inc” has got some shares as well.

  • 137.cane: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:30 pm

    @stormersboy-125:

    The man himself.

    10,000 congratulations.

  • 138.David: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:31 pm

    What is interesting is that SARU only mention specific RC stadiums for 2013 tests. 2014 & 2015 are left as the city, which opens the door for alternative venues that WP and the GLRU might be moving to.

  • 139.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:32 pm

    @cane-134:
    really?

    like Dec 1, 2012 bring it on..?..

  • 140.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:33 pm

    @Mr Black-135:
    who knows who really owns what and who really owns who in that filthy snakepit.

  • 141.cane: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:34 pm

    @David-127: @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-132: @ufo-131:

    Thank You Gentlemen.

    P.S. The Gentlemen thingy excludes you bakkies.

  • 142.David: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:34 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-132:
    SARU don’t own Newlands, that belongs to WPRU. I think SARU just rents space.

    ufo-131:
    See Bakkies response.

  • 143.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:34 pm

    @David-137:

    If SARU owns the tests can WPRU do anything if SARU decides to hold the tests at Capetown Stadium?

  • 144.cane: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:35 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-138:

    We will not be playing England truckie.

  • 145.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:37 pm

    Instead of Ellis Park it says Joburg for the 2014/2015 games vs NZ. Are they keeping options open and considering risking another game in Soweto?

  • 146.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:39 pm

    @gonzo-144:

    What do you mean by another game in soweto? Boks has never played in soweto!

  • 147.David: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:40 pm

    @Mr Black-142:
    I was also wondering about that. After the mess with the Saracens game, it looks like SARU have to consult with the local union regarding any rugby played there.
    Other than hiring out Newlands, WPRU wouldn’t stand to make any other profit from the test. I wonder how SARU will handle ticket sales, which are generally available at the test venue and distributed by the host union?

  • 148.David: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:42 pm

    @Mr Black-145:
    You’re quite right. Technically FNB isn’t inside Soweto. It’s on the border.

  • 149.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:42 pm

    @David-146:

    True, and how does this affect season tickets?

  • 150.SyKoPlaya: Reply to this comment
    7 Dec 2012, 12:42 pm

    @gunther-114:

    I personally prefer “us” playing the AB’s at Ellis Park – the stadium is much more intimidating than FNB (Soccer City).

    The vibe in Ellis Park seems to ‘scare’ opposing teams much more than any other venue – just my humble opinion …

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