Double delight for Cape Town fans
NEWS: The highly anticipated clash between the Springboks and All Blacks at the Cape Town Stadium has received an added bonus.
The Springbok Women are set to face a Barbarians Womens’ side as the curtain raiser for the highly anticipated Rugby Championship clash between South Africa and New Zealand on September 7 in what will be a rugby bonanza.
The clash against the star-studded Barbarians outfit forms part of the Springbok Womens’ preparation for the WXV 2 tournament, which will kick-off later in September.
The match will mark the second meeting between the two sides in the last two years – having faced each other in Cape Town in 2023 at Athlone stadium where the visitors claimed a 36-28 victory in what was a try-fest.
SA Rugby’s Women’s Rugby High-Performance Manager Lynne Cantwell has welcomed the return of the Barbarians to Cape Town – noting the importance of a healthy relationship between the two sides.
“Any match against the Barbarians has a special feel to it and we are really honoured, privileged and massively thankful for their willingness to travel all the way to South Africa for this,” said Cantwell.
“Like last year, this will help us prepare for WXV and we are very pleased that they agreed to visit our shores again. To play them as a curtain-raiser to one of the biggest sporting events in Cape Town this year, when the Boks and All Blacks meet, is huge for both teams.
“We have not seen their squad, but we know it will be packed with international experience and class. Their presence will be a massive boost to the exposure of WXV 2 and Cape Town Stadium, where we start our campaign against Japan on September 27.”
John Spencer, President of Barbarian F.C., said: “We are delighted to be playing Springbok Women in Cape Town once again. It is a privilege to be invited back to Cape Town, playing in the magnificent Cape Town Stadium against a team who are fast becoming great rivals and friends of the Barbarians.”
Fiona Stockley, Barbarian F.C. and Women’s Team Manager, added: “Barbarian Women have demonstrated time and again the wonderful values of the Barbarians. Flair, courage, spirit and passion are deeply entrenched in the camps, which form close friendship between the stars of the women’s game.
“It has been a pleasure to see the team come to fruition and build year-on-year, and our rugby friendship with the Springboks has resulted in increasingly close matches and strong bonds. We are looking forward to confirming more star names as the match nears, and I can promise a stellar cast to take on the Springbok Women in Cape Town.”
All tickets secured for the Rugby Championship match between the Springboks and All Blacks will allow entry for this match and spectators are encouraged to come early and experience the thrills and spills women’s rugby has to offer.
