Rugby supporters will have the opportunity to send off the Springbok team to the Rugby World Cup next Thursday (September 1) when the team will make a public farewell from Sandton, broadcast live on national television and radio.
Thousands of fans are expected to pack Sandton as the team makes an on-stage appearance in Nelson Mandela Square before walking to the Gautrain station here they will travel with a group of lucky supporters to OR Tambo International Airport.
The “Fans’ Farewell” is a joint initiative between SARU, Lead SA, SuperSport, Absa and the Department of Sport and Recreation.
The public send-off event entitled “The Fans’ Farewell” will be broadcast live on radio stations such as Talk Radio 702, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, KFM and Cape Talk will be shown live on SuperSport for all supporters to share in the excitement. A satellite farewell event will be hosted at the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town and.
“We have been asking fans to Unite behind the Boks and we are excited about creating an opportunity for them to show the team that the country is truly united behind them. We would like to invite all South Africans in and around Sandton to join us in the festivities of 1 September,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, SARU President.
“Rugby World Cups hold a special place in the history of modern South Africa and we want to make a memorable statement about national support for the Springboks as they head for New Zealand.”
Access to Nelson Mandela Square will be controlled to those with VIP tickets – which will be available through giveaways on 94.7 Highveld Stereo, Radio 702, the Pretoria News and The Star newspapers. But West Street – from Nelson Mandela Square to the Gautrain Station – will be accessible to all-comers.
Gates open at 12h00 and the festivities will start at 15h30 with live entertainment by South African artists, prize competitions and other activities, building up to the performance of SARU’s Rugby World Cup campaign song “Let’s do it again!” performed by Freshlyground and Goldfish, an aircraft fly-over display and the arrival of the Springbok squad.
Fans are urged to wear their official Springbok jerseys and licensed apparel on Fans Farewell day as well as on Bokday – every Friday to the end of the tournament as well as on Springbok match days.
SuperSport will broadcast the event live from 15h30 from Mandela Square and there will be regular crossings to the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town, where former Springbok and current SuperSport rugby commentator Breyton Paulse will anchor the proceedings.
The event organisers will on Monday issue a detailed run order of the exciting events of the day as well as updated traffic and security arrangements. People can also contact the Call Centre on 083 666 1636 regarding road closures of traffic information in the Sandton CBD.
