The U20 Rugby Championship tournament is staying in Gqeberha for the next three years after the inaugural tournament proved to be a resounding success, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said.
There are plans to expand the four-nation mini World Cup event and turn it into a two-week festival of rugby, which will include schools from Gqeberha and the Border region.
Alexander said a deal had been done with Sanzaar and Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane to ensure the tournament remained in Gqeberha.
SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer said it was remarkable that 15,000 fans flocked to Nelson Mandela Bay for Sunday’s U20 double header.
Many of the world's best young players entertained fans from May 1 to 11 when the Junior Boks, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina competed for the trophy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The tournament ended dramatically on Sunday when the Junior All Blacks lifted the trophy after edging the Boks 48-45.
“There is some good news and the U20 tournament will be here in Gqeberha for the next three years, and we have done a deal with Sanzaar and the premier,” Alexander said.
“We lobbied to get this competition to stay here for another three years.
“We want it here, and we are bringing a Test against Italy to Gqeberha.
“SA Rugby was thrilled to bring international rugby to the Eastern Cape.
“This is a province that is a vital heartbeat for sport in SA.
“This is the bread basket of SA Rugby, and we want a strong Eastern Cape.
“This region stands as a powerhouse of talent which nurtures and produces many of our nation’s finest players.
“It is a true conveyor belt of rugby excellence.
“Hosting a Test [against Italy on July 12] in this significant rugby nursery is more than just an event.
“It is a commitment to the people of this region so that they have an opportunity to witness the Springboks in action in their own backyard.
“Rugby is deeply rooted in the fabric of the Eastern Cape.”
Oberholzer said his union was working hard to assist EP rugby on and off the field.
“We hope to expand the U20 Rugby Championship tournament and make it a festival of rugby,” he said.
“We want to bring schools in and work with Border as well.
“We are working hard to assist EP to become what they should be, and that is why we bring events here and why we are having many meetings with the province and the leadership to try and assist.
“The teams were all very grateful about how well they had been looked after in Gqeberha, and they want to come back.
“So it is not as if it is a drain for them to come and play here in Gqeberha.
“The region showed it is ready for big events.
“We had 15,000 people here for an U20 tournament, which is remarkable, and we are very happy with that.”
EP Rugby president George Malgas said his union was delighted it had been chosen to host international rugby events.
“We are honoured that SA Rugby has given us a complete vote of confidence in our ability to stage international events,” he said.
“EP have not had Test match rugby in our city for some time, but we know we are ready to deliver a Test that will make the people of this region proud, and we are committed to SA Rugby.
“We are very grateful for assistance from the local and provincial government, and we are certainly going to pull out all the stops.
“People are very excited about the upcoming Test.
“We can say in EP rugby that we are stable and ready to go.”
The Herald
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