EXCLUSIVE: Newlands approved for Springboks v All Blacks!

All Black stars such as Sonny Bill Williams will play at Newlands against the Springboks in October. Photo: @AllBlacks via Twitter

All Black stars such as Sonny Bill Williams will play at Newlands against the Springboks in October. Photo: @AllBlacks via Twitter

Published Jun 22, 2017

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The All Blacks are coming to Cape Town this year!

Local rugby fans will thrill to the performance of the haka on October 7, when the world champions New Zealand play their first Test in the city since 2008 in a Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks.

A highly-placed source in local rugby confirmed late on Thursday that Newlands rugby stadium had received the required security certificate for the Rugby Championship match against Allister Coetzee’s team.

SA Rugby had awarded the match to Newlands in May, but the venue was subject to the outcome of an application for a safety certificate for the grand old ground.

Had clearance not been granted, the choice clash could have been moved to another city, or possibly to the Cape Town Stadium.

Councillor Alderman JP Smith, the mayoral committee member responsible for safety, security and social services in the City of Cape Town, confirmed that Newlands rugby stadium was granted the safety certificate on Thursday.

Smith said: “I can confirm that the safety certificate has been signed. The senior engineer in the city signed off on it, as well as the most senior safety and security (official) from Disaster Management.”

Shukran for all the support here in Cape Town. Win or lose Me and the boys have always had a special time here ❤️🙌🏽 🏉 pic.twitter.com/TT6ZvaPujI

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) May 20, 2017 The last time the All Blacks played in Cape Town was in 2008, when they beat South Africa 19-0 in a Tri-Nations game at Newlands.

In their other home Rugby Championship fixture, the Boks face Australia in Bloemfontein on September 30.

* This story has been updated.

@WynonaLouw

IOL Sport

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