Rugby bonanza
[caption id="attachment_102523" align="alignright" width="300"] OLD STALWARTS: EP Rugby Union president Cheeky Watson and former Springbok manager Zola Yeye relive their days playing for Spring Rose Rugby club Picture: FREDLIN ADRIAAN[/caption]
Top overseas teams’ games in Bay against Southern Kings huge boost for city
VISITS by star-studded teams from New Zealand, Argentina and Japan will trigger a massive cash boost for Nelson Mandela Bay when the Southern Kings return to a revamped Super Rugby tournament next year.
Rugby has already contributed more than R1-billion to the metro over the past six years.
“It is wonderful that these teams are coming. The economic impact on the city will be dramatic,” Kings boss Cheeky Watson said after the fixture list was released by Sanzar yesterday.
“It is good for business and rugby in the Bay,” he said.
When the Southern Kings last played Super Rugby in 2013, more than 250 000 fans watched their home matches and Kings officials are confident that attendance figures can be bettered.
A capacity 45 000 crowd is expected when the Kings kick off their campaign with a blockbuster opener against the Sharks on February 27 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The confirmation that the Kings will be playing in Super Rugby is a shot in the arm after the blow the Bay suffered when it lost the right to host the IRB Sevens to Cape Town earlier in the year.
The Kings will also travel to play matches against Super Rugby newcomers Argentina and teams in New Zealand as they bid to make an impact in the international event.
“With teams from Japan and Argentina coming here, it will expand the rugby world. It is good for them to be part of the Super Rugby family,” Watson said.
“They will add a bit of flavour and different styles of rugby, which will bode well for this region.”
The Kings have been grouped in Africa Conference 2 with the Lions, Sharks and an Argentine team that will be named after the World Cup in England.
Africa Conference 1 will comprise the Bulls, Cheetahs, Stormers and a Japanese team. The Japanese team will face the Kings in Port Elizabeth on April 2 and the Argentines will play at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on May 27.
The Kings travel to Argentina for their April 30 match, which is expected to be played in Buenos Aires.
Watson said hosting big events had a massive impact on the city.
“Restaurants are packed and jobs are created,” he said.
EP Kings chief executive Charl Crous also welcomed the fixtures against international teams, saying: “It is great that we have teams coming to Port Elizabeth that will bring an international flavour.
-George Byron
