The Vodacom
Bulls, the Emirates Lions, Leinster Rugby, Zebre Parma and the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have come together in the spirit of united rugby to serve
fans and lovers of enthralling sportainment in Gauteng, with a rugby feast to
remember. The two big Jukskei rivals will host consecutive double-header weekends over Rounds 17 (Saturday 15 April) and 18
(Saturday 22 April) of the 2022/23 Vodacom United Rugby Championship, at Emirates Airline Park and
Loftus Versfeld Stadium respectively.
The
return double-header weekend at Loftus will also feature a bruising South
African domestic rugby clash in Round 7 of the 2023 Currie Cup competition, a
contest for bragging rights that cuts across the Jukskei.
Edgar
Rathbone, BBCo. Chief Executive commended the tournament officials for their
flexibility in supporting clubs that are seeking to create meaningful
experiences for fans around the competition.
“I
commend Martin (Anayi) and the entire URC team, our sponsors and the
broadcaster(s) for their unwavering support as we are always exploring ways in
which we can better our offering to all of our patrons. The spirit of the
competition is one that fosters unity amongst the franchises and we are duty
bound to collaborate for the growth and betterment of our sport.”
“We
are buoyant that this double-header will add value for the money South Africans
spend around gamedays and ultimately we are also confident that the quality of
rugby on display will rubberstamp the tournament’s legacy in the growth of the
sport in our country.”
Lions
Rugby CEO, Rudolf Straeuli remarked: “We are incredibly excited at the prospect
of hosting three quality international club sides all in one day at the iconic
Emirates Airline Park. Heading across the Jukskei the following weekend to
Loftus Versfeld doesn’t get any better from an overall sportainment experience
by the two host franchises.”
“Since
its inception, the Vodacom URC, in partnership with their sponsor and broadcast
partners, have been at the forefront of sports innovation and the double-header
weekends are testament to this.
“Sport
in South Africa is constantly in search of creativity especially when it comes
to fan engagement, and we believe that through this unique collaboration, rugby
in particular can lead the way in bringing stakeholders together and growing
the game for the greater good,” Straeuli concluded.
Stefan
van der Merwe, BBCo Chief Commercial Officer, extols the double-header as the
best opportunity yet to rubberstamp the tournament as a family-oriented
product.
“We
are incredibly fortunate to have the willing support and partnership from the
participating franchises in wanting to make this day a success and it is our collective
ambition to put together two weekends that will round off what has already been
a historic season of Vodacom United Rugby Championship rugby,”
“We
have seen the power of having multiple games in one venue in the past and how
when that is complemented by great entertainment for the whole family, everyone
can feel as though they got something out of a wonderful family day out in the
sun. This is a formula that has worked well, specifically in this competition in Wales, and we are confident that we can learn and borrow from that model,”
“We
had more than 41 000 people visit Loftus for the North versus South derby
and we are confident that Gauteng will come together again and set another
new Vodacom United Rugby Championship record with
52 000 people at the fortress.”
As a result of
these event changes, alterations have also been made to the kick-off times of
all four games.
The fixtures
have now been confirmed as follows:
Round 17
Saturday, April
15, 2023 (Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg)
12:00 UK & IRE / 13:00 SA & ITA: Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma
15:00 UK & IRE / 16:00 SA & ITA: Emirates Lions v Leinster
Round 18
Saturday, April
22, 2023 (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
12:00 UK & IRE / 13:00 SA & ITA: Emirates Lions v Zebre Parma
15:00 UK & IRE / 16:00 SA & ITA : Vodacom Bulls v Leinster
These Double-Header events in South Africa are the first to be held in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship outside of Wales
where Judgement Day has set the standard since 2013. Now, the Emirates Lions
and Vodacom Bulls are bringing a cross-hemisphere flavour to a concept the league
is keen to develop.
