Cape Town’s hosting of the African continent’s first Rugby Sevens World Cup at the weekend set a new attendance record for the popular sport.
Mother City Mayor Jordyn Hill-Lewis says more than 105,000 fans flocked to Cape Town for the three-day event, surpassing the crowds that attended the previous event held in San Francisco in 2018.
“The atmosphere was great and the action on the pitch kept the fans on the edge of their seats. A lot of work goes into making this event a success. On behalf of the City of Cape Town, I would like to thank everyone involved in planning and delivering this special event. We would also like to thank World Rugby for showing confidence in Cape Town’s ability to host major competitions,” adds Hill-Lewis.
Video – Cape Flats Sevens Rugby Tournament at Athlone Stadium
Focus on the talented youth of the Cape Flats at the rugby sevens tournament
The inaugural Cape Flats rugby sevens tournament kicks off at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. Boys and girls teams from different areas of the Cape Flats will compete for top honors in the 15-18 age groups.
The tournament is hosted by the SABC in partnership with the City of Cape Town.
SABC Group Corporate Affairs and Marketing Executive Gugu Ntuli says the tournament will provide a strong foundation for future rugby talent in the Western Cape.
“Such an initiative is proof of our commitment to the development of society through sports. As a public broadcaster, we have a presence in every province and our priority is to serve and uplift the communities in which we operate,” says Ntuli.”
She notes that the youth of the Western Cape, and Cape Town in particular, face many challenges and do not always get the opportunity to showcase their talent to a national audience.
“This tournament provides a platform to both develop and showcase the skills of players and coaches,” concludes Ntuli.
Video – Cape Flats Sevens Rugby Tournament
