Cape Town - Cape Town’s popular tourist destination, the world-renowned V&A Waterfront, has a new attraction that is sure to draw rugby fans from around the globe.
The Springbok Rugby Experience is a new state-of-the-art rugby museum, celebrating all things rugby, but more specifically, the heritage of the game in South Africa. The two-storey attraction will feature a museum section with historic rugby artefacts, audio visual exhibits and compelling graphics. There is also an interactive experience zone for the visitor, the Springbok Trials zone, which tests rugby skills.
“We are putting a world-class visitor attraction, celebrating the rich but complex history of South African rugby and the Springboks, in the middle of one of Africa’s most visited tourist destinations,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of Saru.
Visitors will be able to recall many great moments in South Africa’s rugby history and none more so than the two times a Springbok captain has held the coveted Rugby World Cup William Webb Ellis trophy aloft. To personalise these displays, the two winning captains’ jerseys, Francois Pienaar from 1995 and John Smit from 2007, will be on display.
John Smit, now CEO of The Sharks, was happy to give the museum the shirt off his back – literally. It is the actual jersey he wore for the historic 2007 final in France and the jersey he wore when he was presented the William Webb Ellis trophy.
Smit has also contributed his Rugby World Cup gold medal and the jersey he wore when he led the Springboks to win his first Tri-Nations trophy as Bok captain in 2004.
The Springbok Experience will be open every day from 10am to 6pm.
l Ticket prices are: adults R50; scholars (5-18) R30; pre-schoolers (under 5) free; senior citizens (60+) R30; families (four including two children) R140 plus R25 for every extra child; groups (10 or more by prior arrangement) R40pp; schools (by prior arrangement) R20pp. - Sunday Tribune