Rugby will make its much-anticipated debut at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday 16 June when former Cell C Sharks favourite Fred Michalak will lead out a star-studded French Barbarians side against the SA ‘A’ team in Durban on Youth Day. This match will kick-off at 16h45.
Over that weekend, the City of Durban will proudly host not just this festival match, but also the Castle Lager Incoming Series Test between the Springboks and France at Growthpoint Kings Park, on Saturday 17 June (kick-off at 17h00).
Commenting on these matches, The Sharks CEO, Gary Teichmann, said: “We are happy to be associated with this historic match, which the eThekwini Municipality-Moses Mabhida Stadium has been instrumental in bringing to Durban.
“We at The Sharks are gearing up to host an exciting Test Match the following day and the support of our community is instrumental to the success of this double-header weekend of rugby in our province.”
General Manager of Moses Mabhida Stadium, Vusi Mazibuko added: “We are extremely proud as eThekwini Municipality-Moses Mabhida Stadium to be hosting our first international rugby match and welcoming new audiences to our stadium.
“We are excited to be part of the historic staging of two rugby games at two of Durban’s best loved stadia – Moses Mabhida Stadium and Growthpoint KINGS PARK – over the Youth Day weekend.”
Tickets will be priced at R40 for scholars and from R60 to R90 for adults, and will go on sale via Computicket and their outlets at Shoprite / Checkers stores from next week. Sharks suiteholders and season ticket holders qualify for a special ticket offer for the match at Moses Mabhida Stadium, which will be communicated directly to them by The Sharks.
“The excitement around the matches between SA ‘A’ and the French Barbarians is palpable as it adds something new and exciting to our existing rugby landscape,” said SA Rugby President, Mr Mark Alexander.
“Moses Mabhida Stadium will provide the perfect backdrop for the series-opener between two teams that will be full of Test and future stars in both South Africa and France, and we are hoping that many non-traditional fans will join our die-hard supporters at these matches.
“Last year, the SA ‘A’ team and England’s Saxons put up two very tough encounters in which 15 tries were scored, and we’re expecting nothing less this time around. We all know the French like to throw the ball around and SA ‘A’ coach Johan Ackermann’s Emirate Lions have shown their attacking intent in the last couple of seasons.
“We are extremely excited to be partnering with the eThekwini Municipality, Moses Mabhida Stadium and The Sharks in hosting the first-ever rugby match at this wonderful venue.”
