Cape Town is one of the cities competing to host the Champions and Challenge Cup finals in 2025 or 2026, according to European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) chairman Dominic McKay.
Speaking at a media roundtable on Thursday afternoon ahead of this year’s finals weekend, McKay said there was strong interest in hosting the premier club rugby finale outside of Europe, including from South Africa and the United States.
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According to News24, the tournament will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next year, the home of the English Premier League team that gained notoriety in this country due to a botched near-billion-rand SA Tourism endorsement deal.
The United Rugby Championship (URC) final between the Stormers and Munster (27 May) has already sold out its 55 000 capacity seats at Cape Town Stadium, the home side’s second home final in two years.
Tickets sold out in less than three hours after they went on sale on Thursday.
According to News24, McKay explained that EPCR is in the process of gathering expressions of interest from the rugby family and beyond for the 2025 and 2026 finals.
‘We’ve been genuinely blown away by the level of interest, both from across Europe but also across South Africa and into the United States as well,’ he said.
McKay explained that there are a number of cities, countries and stadiums vying to host the world’s premier club rugby competition and that they have received over 23 bids, which they will review in the coming weeks before making a decision.
This season, South African franchises participated in EPCR tournaments for the first time.
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All four teams advanced to the knockout stages of their respective tournaments, with the Stormers and Sharks reaching the Champions Cup quarterfinals the furthest. The Lions also advanced to the Challenge Cup quarterfinals before losing to the eventual finalists in Glasgow.
With demand for home matches increasing, Cape Town could capitalise on the positive energy generated by their successful team by bringing the European Cup finals south.
According to News24, McKay disclosed that while he was in South Africa at the end of last year, the Mayor of Cape Town (Geordin Hill-Lewis) and the government encouraged him to think about bringing the final to the nation.
‘It was really pleasing to hear the level of interest and enthusiasm. I’m sure that as part of our big process for 2025 and 2026, we may well see some great bids from countries like South Africa coming to the fore,’ he said.
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