Fully vaxxed rugby fans will be allowed to return to stadiums in South Africa, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) announced on Wednesday.
👏 Supporters will be allowed to return to rugby matches - under certain strict conditions
— Springboks (@Springboks) October 13, 2021
🔗 More here: https://t.co/TJ6nCwOasY pic.twitter.com/2OeZPFkvoN
A total of 2 000 fans returned to the stands earlier in the week when Bafana Bafana beat Ethiopia 1-0 in their World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium.
Unfortunately for Capetonians, rugby’s return will also not take place in the Mother City.
Instead, it will be Loftus Versfeld that will in all likelihood host the first match when the Currie Cup team selected by fans face Kenya on November 6.
Saru CEO Jurie Roux welcomed the news that 2 000 vaxxed fans will be allowed at stadiums, saying: “This is very welcome news and the first step to returning to having the freedom to sell out venues on special occasions again.
“It is 19 months since a fan was last allowed in a rugby stadium and this is the light at the end of the tunnel that our sport has desperately needed.
“We trust that this initial allowance will increase speedily as the impact of the vaccination programme and the experience in other territories points to a further relaxation of restrictions.”