WHEN De Wet Barry leads Eastern Province on to the field tomorrow against defending Currie Cup rugby champions the Blue Bulls, many a tear will be shed.

It will be the last rugby match ever at the old Boet Erasmus Stadium.

“We can’t stand in the way of development. I always thought it was an excellent location, such a natural location,” said former Bok great Hannes Marais.

“You get few of those in the world, although the stadium had its weak points. When the sun goes under in the west, it is terrible on the field in the second half, and also when the wind blows.

“But many great games have been played there. It’s also where (ex-1970s Bok lock and now Golden Lions president) Kevin de Klerk beat (EP lock) George Rautenbach when he punched him out cold, so there was enough drama there.”

EP Rugby Union president Cheeky Watson, one of the first whites in the 1970s to play mixed-race rugby, said: “I think about (tomorrow) with mixed feelings, as the Boet comes with a tremendous amount of history.

“I think we can go back and remember the ‘Battle of the Boet’ (1974 British Lions tour match against Marais’ Springboks that is widely regarded as the game’s dirtiest ever) and where touring teams had fear and trepidation when they came to the Boet.

“They knew it was not going to be a walkover – it would be a tough encounter, because of the commitment of the teams and the crowd to winning.”

“The Boet Erasmus comes with a tremendous amount of history. We leave with mixed feelings, because we have this wonderful new (North End) stadium, possibly one of the best in the world.

“So although (the EPRU leaves) with mixed feelings, this is a new chapter and so we leave with a sense of excitement as well.”

Francois de Villiers, who played scrumhalf for Eastern Province from 1972 to 1978, said: “It was one of the nicest playing surfaces I ever played on.

“The playing surface was fantastic, and I had many memorable games at the Boet Erasmus.

“There is obviously always a sense of nostalgia with those sort of things. So it is sad, but I look forward to whatever is to happen down the track at the new stadium. I do recall my playing days at the Boet and I must say I really enjoyed them.

“I’m looking forward to watching rugby matches at the new stadium as well. I think it is a step in the right direction.”