Springboks’ visit to Mbombela in planning stages
The Rugby World Cup champions are presently on a trophy tour of major cities in South Africa, and certain members of the squad will bring the Web Ellis Cup to Mbombela in the future.
Yes, the Springboks will be coming to Mbombela with the Webb Ellis Cup, but not during the present four-day trophy tour of major cities in South Africa.
Lowvelders have been calling on the Springboks to come to Mbombela to show off their Rugby World Cup trophy on social media.
A Facebook group, Bring the Boks to Nellies, that was established by Charles Kerridge in 2019, has 146 members, including Duane Vermeulen’s mother, Estelien.
“I think it is time the trophy came here; we deserve it with five former Lowvelders in the Bok team,” said Kerridge in a post on Monday October 30.
Two-time Rugby World Cup winners, Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch and Kwagga Smith all have deep Lowveld roots.
The Airlink Pumas’ coach, Jimmy Stonehouse, has also called on the Boks to include Mbombela in their trophy tour. “Springboks, come and spoil the Lowveld with a visit to show off your World Cup trophy. Five Boks are from Mpumalanga. Three – Duane, Faf and Vincent – played for the Pumas. Who will ever forget Faf and Vincent playing together at Mbombela Stadium? Come, Rassie, make a plan,” Stonehouse wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday November 1.
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The Springboks trophy tour started in Tshwane this morning, Thursday November 2.
“Satellite tours to other population centres in the Free State, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga the and Northern Cape, among other places, are in the planning stages, with scheduling contingent on players’ club commitments,” said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander on Monday.
“While it was always challenging to visit every town and city due to time constraints, we are confident that our choices and ongoing planning will enable us to visit all major population centres in every province over time. With the cup in our possession for another four years, there’s ample opportunity for that,” he said.
Details of the Mbombela visit of the Springboks will be announced as soon as they are finalised, but it is likely to take place in the first half of next year. The visit will not include the entire squad.
