Why the Bulls can’t host the URC final at Loftus Versfeld fortress

The Bulls are fully focused on the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs as they prepare for the quarter-finals, but they might have to make a big sacrifice if they get to host the final.

On Saturday, the Bulls are facing Benetton in their URC quarter-final at their home ground Loftus Versfeld, which is widely regarded as one of the game’s most famous and iconic venues and a real fortress for the Bulls when they are in action there.

Need Munster to lose in URC play-offs

The Pretoria-based outfit always seem to grow an arm and a leg in front of their fanatical home fans, who will be hoping Munster, who finished at the top of the URC table after the conclusion of the competition’s regular season, will slip up at some stage during the play-offs.

If that should happen and the Bulls win both their quarter-final and semi-final encounters, it will mean Jake White‘s troops will get a chance to host the URC’s grand final.

However, according to a Supersport report, the Bulls might have to make alternative arrangements if that scenario does happen, as their beloved Loftus could be used for other purposes on Saturday, June 22 – the day of this year’s URC final.

That is due to the fact that the final will take place on the same day as the inauguration of South Africa’s State President after that country held its recent national elections.

Four alternate venues where the Bulls could host the URC final, including the 90K+ mega stadium

In 2019, the inauguration ceremony was held at Loftus Versfeld and the organisers of the 2024 event have been involved in negotiations with the Bulls hierarchy about using the venue again on June 22.

The presidential inauguration could also take place at the Union Buildings which forms the official seat of the South African Government and also houses the offices of South Africa’s State President.

That has occurred under previous administrations, but with that venue being located close to Loftus Versfeld, it will be difficult to host a major rugby event at the same time as the inauguration, so it is highly unlikely that the final will be able to take place on the Bulls’ home patch.

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Not a new situation for the Bulls

This is not a new situation for the Bulls as there was a similar occurrence in 2010 when they hosted the 2010 Super Rugby final against the Stormers. On that occasion, they had to hand Loftus Versfeld over to FIFA as the venue was hosting some matches during the Football World Cup which took place in South Africa that year.

In the end, the Super Rugby final took place at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, and the Bulls clinched a 25-17 win over their arch-rivals.

According to Supersport, the Bulls have listed another Soweto-based football ground – the FNB Stadium – as the alternative venue for a final to be hosted in documentation with the URC.

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