The past weekend saw Cape Town host the first Rugby World Cup (RWC) Sevens event since 2018. This was not only the first time the event had been held on African soil, but also the first time the event had been hosted since the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, Cape Town Stadium played host to a truly world-class event, which saw passionate crowds, exciting men and women’s rugby, and record attendance.

The previous iteration of the RWC Sevens was held in San Francisco in 2018, where it broke viewing and attendance records. However, despite the effects of the pandemic in intervening years, Cape Town was able to eclipse San Francisco’s attendance record, with an unprecedented 105 000 spectators descending on Cape Town Stadium over the course of the weekend. Proceedings at Cape Town Stadium ran smoothly, with careful planning ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all present. Over three days, 32 women’s and 52 men’s matches were played, with Fiji emerging victorious in the men’s tournament, and Australia winning the women’s title.

Gillion Bosman MPP said: “I congratulate the City of Cape Town and the organisers of the Rugby World Cup Sevens on hosting such a spectacular event, especially while the provincial economy is in the process of recovering from the Covid 19 pandemic. The ability of the City and the Province to continually attract, plan, and execute world-class sporting and cultural events is testament to the Western Cape’s globally-recognised good governance. It is clear that the Western Cape continues to retain its status as a preferred destination for international events and investment.”

“The success RWC Sevens marks another step in the rejuvenation of the Western Cape economy’s tourism and event sector, and seems set to mark the start of one of the Western Cape’s best tourist seasons of recent years.”

 

Issued by Gillion Bosman, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Cultural Affairs and Sport