2020 turning into a nightmare farewell season for Newlands
The big farewell season for Newlands Stadium is turning out to be a disaster.
With the rugby season in limbo due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear whether we will see another rugby match at the famous ground.
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The Stormers and Western Province will be moving to Cape Town Stadium in 2021, which will be a watershed moment for the union after 130 years at Newlands.
As it stands the last match at the stadium was the Stormers’ 14-33 defeat to the Blues at the end of February.
“It is a source of anxiety for us,” said Stormers head coach John Dobson in a video conference with journalists.
“With the Currie Cup format as it was published which saw us play the Sharks, Cheetahs and Griquas at home, it’s not a great way to say goodbye to Newlands.
“We still had three [Super Rugby home games]. We should have been playing the Waratahs and Rebels during this last two weeks and we still had the Sharks to come, which is obviously not going to happen under the current structure.”
Dobson said they are hopeful they will be able to take the field at some point this year.
“The Newlands thing is a concern. There is a farewell occasion being planned and God-willing that takes place.
“It was always meant to be pencilled down for October or November, so hopefully that still happens.
“I think the players are still optimistic we will play some form of domestic rugby before then,” he added.
One silver lining to this period of lockdown is that it has given some of the players with long-term injuries a chance to recover.
Dobson gave an update on some of the key players who have been sidelined this season and when they can be expected to be fully fit again.
“Bongi [Mbonambi] and Pieter-Steph [du Toit] should be ready to play in early June, Siya [Kolisi] will be back the next time we play. Kitsie [Steven Kitshoff] and Herschel [Jantjies] might be back in the first week of July, but maybe in June,” he said.
The players all continue to be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19, but at this stage, none have been affected.
- Warren Fortune, Rugby365
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wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
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