Cape Town Stadium has been named as the venue for the first Heineken Cup rugby match to ever be played outside of Europe.
Well-known British rugby club Saracens will play French club Biarritz in a pool match at the stadium on 14 January 2012. Saracens are current English champions.
The match will be broadcast to 11 television networks across Europe, and will provide Cape Town with an excellent marketing opportunity at the height of the South African summer, and when Europe is in the middle of winter.
“This is a historic day for us and a great day for the stadium,” said Grant Pascoe, Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, at the announcement, which took place at the stadium on Thursday 10 November.
“This opportunity to have Cape Town broadcast live across the world gives us an opportunity to market our destination so that more visitors from Europe can come visit us,” he added.
“It will give people from Europe an opportunity to see and hear Cape Town from the players playing here.”
Twelve South African rugby players are currently playing for Saracens, including recently retired Springbok captain John Smit.
South African businessman Johann Rupert owns shares in Saracens, and its CEO, Edward Griffiths, is also South African.
Griffiths said that given the strong South African connection to the club, it makes sense for Saracens to try and grow its support and commercial interests in South Africa.
Tickets cost R80 or R140, and are available at Computicket outlets or on their website.
