City gets behind EP Rugby bid for Sevens World Series
26 November 2010
Fifteen countries participate in the fast-paced and hugely popular tournament which has cinched its place as a crowd puller after its inclusion as an Olympic sport from 2016.
“We are hot off the heels of a triumphant World Cup, a hugely successful Pro20 Cricket tournament, and a great EP Kings game – Nelson Mandela Bay wants to keep the international sporting spirit alive as we bid for a five-year contract to host the IRB HSBC Sevens,” said Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) chief executive, Mandlakazi Skefile, who added that the event would bring economic spin-offs, tourists and raise the international profile of the city.
“Hosting the IRB HSBC Sevens will be an opportunity to put all the legacies of the World Cup into practice. We have top facilities readily available and we don’t have to spend that much to get a good return. In addition, we are the friendly city, it’s safe and easy to get around, we love rugby and we want this to build our credibility in hosting big events.”
She also emphasized that her organization saw the value of promoting the event as part of their long-term strategy of growing and promoting tourism through events.
A trio of city role-players is collaborating for the bid, with their eye set firmly on the goal posts: securing the popular global event for the Bay. Working together with Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) on the bid are Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) and the Nelson Mandela Bay multi-purpose stadium.
“It is vitally important that the city gets this event,” said Cheeky Watson, EPRU president. “If we look at the turnout at the October 29 game (between EP Kings and the Pumas) we can see the kind of support this city gives rugby. We also have a world-class stadium and the whole tourism set-up is geared for an event of this nature. We have both stability and ability here.”
George has hosted the South African leg of IRB Sevens since 2002, but lost it earlier this year when the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) executive council decided in August that all 14 unions would be given the chance to tender for the IRB tournament. SARU will present the tenders from bidding cities to the IRU, which will then select the new host.
Watson said he thought the city stood a good chance because of its location. “The Sevens don’t like playing at high altitude, so on this issue we have a little bit of a head start.”
City politicians also endorsed the bid ahead of the December 10 tender deadline. “There is, as far as I can see, no better host city for exciting rugby event,” said Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor, Zanoxolo Wayile.
“Events like this can be used as a tool to unite different races and as the home of black rugby, winning this bid is important for developing the sport and capitalizing on a huge multi-racial market of people who love and support rugby. Over the World Cup we also demonstrated that we are capable of pulling off an international event,” said Wayile, who is an avid follower of the game and spent much of his youth playing rugby and watching “Uncle Cheeky” at Dan Qeqe Stadium in Zwide.
Wayile added that they were trying to promote the city as one of the most recognizable in South Africa, and that the HSBC Rugby Sevens bid synergized well with the long-term vision for the city as a centre of strong social infrastructure and bastion of sports, arts and culture.
Nelson Mandela Bay is bidding against Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Cape Town, Boland, George and Gauteng. The winning city would host the event starting next year following this year’s games in George over December 10 and 11.
The IRB Sevens has previously been hosted in Stellenbosch and Durban and recently became an official Olympic sport. Teams currently participating in the IRB Sevens circuit include the Arabian Gulf, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, United States, Wales, and Zimbabwe and bring with them thousands of dedicated fans.
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