The South African Rugby Union’s Champion Tour made its way from Springbok to Oudtshoorn via Upington and Calvinia over the weekend, travelling many miles in high heat, but touching the lives of thousands of rugby supporters.
More than 3,000 people had the opportunity to see all of the Webb Ellis Cup, IRB World Sevens Series trophy and Absa Currie Cup trophies first hand in remote towns such as Upington and Calvinia.
The Champion Tour made two stops on Sunday – at a shopping centre in Upington and the Hantam Park Sports Grounds in Calvinia. Monday was a rest day for the crew, although they still travelled 500km.
After leaving Concordia outside of Springbok on Saturday morning, the Tour drove through towns such as Pofadder and Keimoes on its way to Upington. The crew also had the opportunity to visit the well-known Augrabies Falls, where water levels are at their highest in years.
The Tour also travelled through Kenhardt, Brandvlei, Williston, Fraserburg and Prince Albert and while seeing these far-flung towns, the team was again touched by the passion for rugby on the “platteland”.
Going over the rugged but picturesque Swartberg Pass, the two Ford Everest vehicles, provided by associate Springbok sponsor Ford, were put through their paces.
In Upington, roughly 1,000 people braved the heat on a quiet Sunday morning to see the collection of 12 trophies on offer. This town forms part of Griquas and they are working very hard to get young kids to take up the game at the various clubs and schools.
In Calvinia, the bulk of the town turned up for an event on a Sunday evening. Meeting Springbok coach Peter de Villiers – who left the Tour on Monday morning to return to the office – was also a highlight for all the visitors.
In the next few days, the Champion Tour will be busy in Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay and George.
On Tuesday morning, the Tour stops at Correctional Services in Oudtshoorn (8:00 – 9:00) and at the Queens Mall (10:00 – 11:00). In the afternoon they travel to Mossel Bay for stops at the Langeberg Mall (15:00 – 17:00) and Van Riebeeckshof Stadium (18:30 – 20:00).
Wednesday is spent in George, home of the SWD Eagles. The three stops are at George South Primary School (09:00 – 10:30), the Garden Route Mall (12:00 – 14:00) and PW Botha College (15:30 – 16:30).