WeeklySA_AdminOLD FOES: Home calendar for 2024 includes two Tests against Ireland and a clash with the All Blacks in Cape Town
By Sports Reporter
Two of the Springboks’ biggest rivals head to South Africa in 2024 for a mouth-watering two-Test series, while a brand-new opponent will also make an appearance as the World Champions come out of a 252-day pause between matches international hibernation in July.
Old foes New Zealand – presently ranked number three in the world – are back for Tests in Johannesburg and Cape Town, while the burgeoning rivalry with Ireland, world number two, sparks the season to life in spectacular fashion in Pretoria and Durban.
The Boks’ July Test schedule will conclude with a clash against emerging nation, Portugal. It will be the first time South Africa take on Os Lobos (the Wolves) in an international match, with the venue set to be confirmed in due course. Portugal contributed to memorable matches at the Rugby World Cup with a thrilling draw against Georgia before beating Fiji 24-23 in their final pool match.
Rugby fans will also be able to enjoy a reprise of the 2022 Mbombela Test-week experience when Argentina make a return to the Lowveld for the first time in eight years to conclude the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in September.
The Springboks won that 2016 series, 2-1, but since then Ireland have won all three meetings between the teams (and five of the last seven) – most recently in a 13-8 victory in Marseille in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup. Fellow RWC finalists, New Zealand, return for a two-Test series in August and September as part of the Rugby Championship. The Springboks will be aiming for a third successive victory over the All Blacks for the first time since 2009 when the teams meet at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 31 August.
A week later the show moves on to Cape Town where the All Blacks will play at the DHL Stadium for the first time. The teams’ last meeting in the Mother City was a 25-24 defeat for the Boks at Newlands in 2017.
The home Test season concludes at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit for the visit of Argentina’s Pumas and the Boks’ fifth to the Lowveld venue. They beat the Pumas 30-23 at the ground in 2016 and have a 100% record on the outskirts of Nelspruit with wins over Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand on their other appearances.
The Springboks’ away Test schedule includes two matches against the Wallabies in Australia in August, and an away match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship in September, as well as engagements in Europe in November 2024.
Ticket sales for the Tests will open in the New Year from the service provider of the hosting union.
The Springboks’ home Test schedule for 2024:
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs. Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)Saturday, 13 July: SA vs. Ireland (Kings Park, Durban)Saturday, 20 July: SA vs. Portugal (venue TBC)Saturday, 31 August: SA vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)Saturday, 7 September: SA vs. New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)Saturday, 28 September: SA vs. Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
next year
COMRADES URGED TO SECURE ENTRIES
Closing date: Preps for the 97th edition of the 87km run in full swing
By Sports Reporter
As the deadline fast approaches, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) urges runners to secure their entries promptly to avoid any potential disappointments.
The entry cutoff date is set for Monday, December 11, and more than 80% of the 23,000 entries have already been claimed. The CMA has confirmed the sale of 19,000 across 72 countries for the 97th edition of the 87km Up Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday 9 June next year.
South African entries have reached 17 018, comprising 13 386 male and 3 632 female runners. Limited entries remain available for this iconic event. Ann Ashworth, the recently appointed CMA Race Operations Manager, encourages runners who have not yet registered for the upcoming race to do so promptly to avoid any potential disappointments. It’s worth noting that entries are free for runners who have completed the Ultimate Human Race 25 times or more. “The entries will close either upon reaching the 23 000 or selling out, whichever comes first. Runners must seize this opportunity and secure entries before it’s too late.
With entries selling rapidly, we aim to ensure that enthusiasts of the ultra-marathon don’t miss out on what is poised to be a remarkable race next year,” emphasized Ashworth, the 2018 winner of the iconic marathon. South African male runner, Tete Dijana, won the 2022 Comrades Marathon. The security guard from the North West reached Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in an incredible time of 5 hours 30 minutes and 35seconds.
Dijana’s Nedbank running club team member, Edward Mothibi, who attempted defending his 2019 Comrades title, came in second after the two dominated the marathon following the halfway point.
