The countdown has started for a ground-breaking clash between the Stormers and French side RC Toulon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in rugby-starved Gqeberha on December 7.
This is the first time an Investec Champions Cup will be played in Gqeberha and a large crowd is expected to flock to the stadium for a rare top-level professional match in the metro.
Tickets, between R60 and R300, have gone on sale and are expected to be snapped up.
NMB Stadium Special Projects executive Raaziq Poole said there is a buzz of excitement in Gqeberha around hosting another Stormers match.
Because of a clash with the HSBC Cape Town Sevens, which will take place at DHL Stadium on the same weekend, the Stormers opted to kick off their Champions Cup campaign in Gqeberha.
When the Stormers played a United Rugby Championship clash against Welsh outfit the Dragons in 2022, 15,000 fans attended the match at the NMB Stadium.
Star-studded Toulon have more pulling power than the Dragons and as many as 30,000 fans could turn up to watch history being made in the Bay.
If the Stormers vs Toulon clash is well supported, new doors could open for Gqeberha fans, who have been starved of international rugby.
A win in front of a vibrant crowd could tempt the Stormers to switch more matches to Gqeberha.
The demise of the Southern Kings signalled the end of the professional era for the region after the team campaigned in Super Rugby and Pro14 for several seasons.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said the squad was looking forward to taking the Investec Champions Cup to a new frontier.
“Our match against the Dragons RFC two years ago was a fantastic experience and we are looking forward to what should be another special occasion at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“We are expecting a vibrant atmosphere in a world-class stadium, with the added excitement of bringing the Investec Champions Cup to the people of Gqeberha,” he said.
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux said this would be a good opportunity to connect with supporters in Gqeberha.
“Our team is well supported wherever they go and we know the people of the Eastern Cape will turn out in their numbers to experience an Investec Champions Cup against a renowned RC Toulon side,” he said.
“The Stormers are adored by the citizens of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and we are thrilled to have them back after the Vodacom URC match two years ago which was such a success.
“This time we experience a new tournament in the Investec Champions Cup and we are ready for some elite rugby between two top sides,” he said.
Poole said the game would bring the Eastern Cape and Gqeberha to a standstill and that the metro expected domestic patrons and international supporters to descend on Gqeberha.
He said the staging of globally broadcasted sporting events would be a great advert for both the metro and the Eastern Cape in showcasing SA’s hospitality and capacity to host major events.
Poole encouraged fans to buy tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are available from Webtickets online, Pick n Pay, Boxer Stores and the NMB stadium ticket office.
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