EPCR 'keen' to bring a Euro Final to SA
INTERVIEW: The city of Cape Town could host the grand final of Europe’s two most prized events – the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup – in the not-too-distant future.
Dominic McKay, Chairman of European Professional Club Rugby, revealed that the City of Cape Town has expressed interest in hosting a Final ‘somewhere down the line’.
He was speaking ahead of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Round of 16 matches this coming weekend.
He also added that bringing the South African teams in added a whole new dimension and has elevated the European competitions even further.
The venue for the Final is decided in advance, as cities bid to host the event.
“We are very keen to do that at some point,” the EPCR boss said about bringing the Final to South Africa.
“It would be a fantastic occasion,” McKay added.
“I am not sure when that would be, but we are very excited about expanding [the venues for] our finals.
“This year [the Final] will be in Dublin and more than 70,000 tickets have already been sold.
“It shows the power, the size and the scale of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Final.
“Already 70,000 fans have brought tickets to the finals weekend, before they even have any idea of who is in the quarterfinals or semifinals of either competition – Champions Cup or Challenge Cup.
“It is an enormous weekend and we are privileged to look after it.
“Where ever we go in the future it will continue to be an enormous event.”
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He said they have been “really pleased” with the level of engagement and interest, of not only South African fans, but also in Europe and the United Kingdom – both in the stadiums and on television.
The last round of league matches averaged around 17,000 spectators per match, across all Round Four games.
“We are really pleased that the South African project has worked,” he told @rugby365com.
“We are also really pleased with the quality of matches and the viewing figures have been incredible, particularly in France and South Africa.”
“We are excited about what the future holds,” McKay added.
“We know it will build even more, particularly as South Africans get increasingly knowledgeable about the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup [competitions].”
“There is a real intrigue and excitement as the South African teams face off against Northern Hemisphere opposition.”
“I have had conversations with coaches and they were talking about their excitement about coaching against SA teams,” McKay said, adding: “It was their first time some coached against Southern Hemisphere opposition and all the challenges that bring, whether that’s travel or the heat, or the style of rugby SA teams play.”
McKay also hailed the development of new rivalries between Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams, especially in a World Cup year.
“Looking at this weekend – with Irish teams, French teams and English teams heading down to SA – makes for incredible fixtures in what is a special year.
“Some of those rivalries and fixtures will be akin to Test match rugby.
“This year makes it extra special and some of those rivalries being created between the English and the French and South African teams will create some new talking points in the coming weeks.”
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