Stormers: URC champions displaced from Cape Town Stadium for four home games due to a Justin Bieber concert and Sevens leg
The Stormers will host some of their United Rugby Championship home matches in Stellenbosch and Gqeberha due to clashes with events being held at Cape Town Stadium.
The Cape-based side will play four games at a home away from home, with three of those at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch and one at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth).
The events booked at their home stadium were done so in a year’s advance, while the URC fixtures were only announced last month.
Stadium clashes
Justin Bieber’s concert is being held in Cape Town on September 28. It requires a great deal of construction within the stadium itself, meaning games against Connacht and Edinburgh on September 24 and October 1, respectively, will take place at Danie Craven Stadium.
Meanwhile, the defending champions’ clash with the Dragons on December 3 will be held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium due to preparations for the Cape Town stop on the sevens circuit only a week later.
The final game that is displaced is the Stormers‘ clash against Benetton on April 23 next year, where Danie Craven will play host again.
The Stormers will also host two New Year’s themed derbies against local rivals the Bulls and Lions this season, it has been confirmed.
Multiple tournaments
It will be a unique campaign for the Cape Town side as their URC title defence is coupled with their first-ever appearance in the Champions Cup.
Playing in two different tournaments simultaneously will challenge the Stormers’ depth, and coach John Dobson has already made several signings, including Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba.
Given how well the South African teams adjusted in the URC it will be fascinating to see how the sides fare against Europe’s finest and most historic clubs.
The Stormers will face London Irish and Clermont in the pool stages of the Champions Cup, starting in December this year.
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