The advantage of Province's move to the 'Home of Football'
The title-chasing Western Province will benefit greatly play their next two Currie Cup matches at the Athlone Stadium.
WP, fourth in a delicately-balance Currie Cup table with just four rounds remaining, will play their Round 11 (against the Pumas) and Round 12 (Lions) encounters at the 34,000-seater venue.
The decision to move the Currie Cup games was taken in order to prioritise pitch maintenance of the troublesome Cape Town stadium surface ahead of the United Rugby Championship Final between the Stormers and Munster next Saturday, May 27.
The Athlone Stadium, often referred to as the ‘Home of Football’ and the home ground of the Cape Town Spurs soccer team, was a key training venue during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and also hosted eight matches as part of the African Nations Championship in 2014.
WP defence coach Norman Laker described the move to Athlone, a suburb of Cape Town located to the east of the city centre on the Cape Flats, as a “great occasion”.
He confirmed they have never played there before, a venue that has hosted rugby matches – including the inaugural Cape Flats Sevens tournament.
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“We are cherishing the opportunity to go and play there – especially for the people of Cape Town to see their Currie Cup side play in Athlone,” Laker told @rugby365com.
“It will be great for the Pumas and us to play in that stadium.
“There should be a decent crowd.”
He added that he is confident the Athlone surface will hold up better than the Cape Town stadium pitch, which has come in for major criticism for not being fit for rugby.
“As far as I know the ground is not too bad, so I think the atmosphere will be good. It
“It is something that’s new for us, but we’re looking forward to playing there.”
Kick-off times for the two matches – Friday, May 19 and May 26 – are 17.00.
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