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Soweto Hosting 100 Days to Rugby World Cup Campaign

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South Africa will today mark 100 days before the kick-off of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand with the campaign for the Springboks to bring home the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time.

Sports and Recreation ministerial spokesperson, Paena Galane, said the 100 days celebration event will begin with a live broadcast of SABC 2’s Morning Live at the Soweto Towers, next to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

“The South African Rugby Union (SARU), SABC and the Department of Sports and Recreation will be in Soweto to mobilise support of our rugby national team. Moving forward, we would be in full force mobilising South Africans to wear the Springbok jersey every Friday as part of our Magnificent Fridays campaign we launched before the Cricket World Cup,” said Galane.

Earlier this year, the department introduced the Magnificent Fridays campaign aimed at mobilising communities to rally behind their cricket, rugby and netball national teams participating in World Cup events and championships during the year.

Galane said until the kick-off of the Rugby World Cup in September, South Africans should wear their green and gold colours on Fridays and keep the South African flag flying high.

The 2011 Rugby World Cup will kick off with the opening match between the host New Zealand and Tonga on September 9.

Defending champs South Africa are on Pool D with Fiji, Namibia, Wales and Samoa. The Springboks will play their first match on September 11 against Wales in Wellington at 8:30pm.

SARU president Oregan Hoskins said: “Rugby’s move into the new stadiums created for the FIFA 2010 World Cup also allowed the game to make new friends and move into new markets.

“The Vodacom Bulls led the way with two memorable play-off matches at the Orlando Stadium, encouraging the Golden Lions to move the Test match against New Zealand to the FNB Stadium also in Soweto.

“The resulting crowd of 94 013 was a South African record for an audited attendance and opened new vistas for our game. The Pumas took games to a fine new stadium in Nelspruit and the genuine revival of Eastern Province rugby was confirmed when a full house attended their Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation match at the brand new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.”  – Nthambeleni Gabara, BuaNews

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.