Johannesburg - The rand may have hit an all-time low against the pound, but this hasn’t stopped SA fans from travelling to the UK to cats the Boks in action in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Fans from all corners of the world began descending on the UK this week and the six-long spectacle kicked off in Twickenham, south-west London, on Friday.
The Springboks begin their World Cup campaign later on Saturday as they take on Japan at the Brighton Community Stadium in England’s south-east.
Other than those for host nation England, tickets for Bok games have sold out more quickly than for any other participating nation.
The Boks’ games against Japan, Samoa, Scotland, and the US are sold out.
Edusport Travel, one of the accredited agents for the cup, has said that interest from South Africans for this year’s World Cup has been far higher than that for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
“There seems to be more interest in England, but perhaps that’s due to its accessibility,” said Nicky Bell, one of the directors at Edusport Travel.
Bell said her company had sold a few hundred World Cup packages to South Africans in the past few months.
“Fortunately most of our sales were concluded before the big dip in the rand.”
According to EduSport Travel, a Rugby World Cup package, which includes match tickets, flights, and accommodation, can cost R60 000. The starting price of a ticket to the final is R20 000.
With the rand at a low and prices high at the Rugby World Cup, South Africans will have to dig deep into their pockets at match venues.
The UK’s Telegraph newspaper revealed this week that ticket holders faced being hit in the pocket when they arrived at stadiums, with a premium being placed on everything from refreshments to match-day programmes and Ref!Link radios.
The newspaper reported that the prices of food and drink were being increased for games in defiance of tournament organisers, who had appealed to venues not to cash in on the once-in-a-generation staging of the event in England.
Despite World Cup packages costing a fortune, Springbok fans like Rafael Gomes said he couldn’t miss the opportunity to see his team in action at a World Cup.
Gomes will attend two of the Bok games with his brother – one against Samoa and the other against Scotland.
“The trip cost me a fair amount, and the exchange rate didn’t help at all.”
Gomes, who hails from Cape Town, paid more than R5 000 for a match ticket and about R12 000 for flights, but will save some money by staying with relatives in the UK.
The 32-year-old has been a Bok fan for at least 21 years, and is excited to be attending his first World Cup.
“The Boks performance depends largely on the amount of ‘transformation influence’ exerted by the South African Rugby Union. I think we will reach the quarters and possibly the semis,” he said.
“Based on the lack of availability of tickets for the Springbok games, it seems the Boks will have great support at the World Cup.”
Guy Coleman is another South African who will be jetting off to catch the Boks in action.
His company booked tickets for Coleman and several other employees.
“I am excited to be going to see the Springboks play against Scotland and hope the Boks win the game,” said Coleman.
It was his first trip overseas.
“My employer is paying for all the accommodation, flight and match tickets. It is a nice gesture from my boss and makes one feel appreciated for the hard work done.”
Coleman said the Boks had a good chance of going all the way and lifting the trophy.
“We have had some strong teams in the past and with this cup we see a new team. It all depends on how the players play as a team. If they work together and focus on the goal points they will go all the way.”
For those who may get homesick, there are plenty of restaurants and drinking holes in the UK that cater for South Africans.
Top of the list is the Jungle Braai, which its website claims came about after chef Ammo bu Ray spent years learning the art of braaiing with the “Mbtumbu tribe”.
There’s the Shaka Zulu in Camden, which serves a vast selection of exotic meats, such as crocodile and springbok.
GJ’s Bar and Restaurant in Wandsworth is a meeting place for South African expats. The bbar in Victoria is also full of treats for the homesick, such as boerewors, Cape Malay curry and springbok fillet.
Saturday Star