Whether you’re a live-and-die fan of rugby, or simply a South African, rugby culture has its place in your world. That place might be the biggest and most important, or a place of slight confusion and curiosity. If you fall part of the latter, this post is for you.
I, like many other locals, am not a rugby encyclopedia, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt. I can’t tell you what the exact trajectory of Siya Kholisi’s most epic kick was, nor can I recall the intricacies of some of the matches I’ve watched (after being persuaded) the way that sports fanatics can and do. I’m fascinated by the trait of being able to weave rugby into any conversation the way that some fans skillfully can, and I admire the zest of their passion even though it may not be my forte. I may be no rugby whizz, but I do know one thing – the unified gees that an epic match unfurls is something like no other, and one which even the least sporty of us have gotten goosebumps from at one point.
Maybe it’s something to do with sports building a nation as Madiba dreamed, or maybe it’s the feeling of us all rooting for the same thing for once. Whatever the source, the feelings from those nail-biting, TV screeching and stranger-hugging moments are always memorable.
As most of us know, the Springboks are rallying up against Wales this Saturday, 16 July. Facing off in Cape Town, the match is set to be an edge-of-your-seat, grab the beer in anticipation and get ready for the city to roar kind of stand-off.
We might not all live and breathe rugby, but we can still appreciate the vibes and want to be a part of them. Here’s how to enjoy the upcoming, and every match, when you aren’t a rugby die-hard:
1. Know who’s who in the zoo
It helps a lot to catch onto who exactly is representing the team you will, for well over an hour, be watching in anticipation. It’s way more fun to pick your fighters than to simply watch abstract numbers. For the upcoming game, we’ve got a lot of Western Cape support set to aid the Springboks to victory, as well as the rest of the all-star team. Meet the team.
2. Get a rugby die-hard to give you cheat codes
You may not be rugby’s biggest supporter, but it’s likely someone you know is. Piggyback off their knowledge by successfully inserting yourself as the friend who asks too many questions. Ask what the current developments of the match are at appropriate times (ie: not when they’re standing up and screaming for victory) and get them to give you the rundown on how the game works. You don’t need to pretend that you’re an expert, a lot of the fun is actually in the learning process. Warning: if you ask for their guidance too far in advance, you might be sent podcasts explaining the ins and outs of the game.
3. Chasing The Sun and other ways to connect with the game
Creating a connection with the game seems like an important step in following it. One documentary that’ll do the trick is Chasing The Sun, which tracks the emotional journey of the Springboks to the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Warning: if you watch this with a rugby fan, there will be tears and you should never question them.
It’s also always a good idea to embrace the energy from other fans and see how much the game impacts them, like the biltong vendor who stole the show at the Stormers versus the Bulls match a few weeks ago. Or the dancer from Stellies who took over the internet with his Beyoncé moves during another Stormers’ showdown.
4. Choose your vibes wisely
Rugby culture is all about unity. We watch together, we turn into unofficial coaches together, and we take the wins together (if we lose, however, that’s all on the team). Jokes aside, choosing your vibes is a pivotal part of the rugby experience. If you can’t get to the DHL stadium, you can still get pretty close to the feeling in Cape Town, and here’s where to head:
The Fireman’s Arms
- Location: 25 Buitengracht St & Mechau St, De Waterkant, Cape Town
The Hollow Tree at Old Oak
- Location: 12 Old Oak Road, Bellville
Devil’s Peak Taproom
- Location: 150 Cecil Rd, Salt River
Foresters Arms Restaurant and Pub
- Location: 52 Newlands Ave, Newlands, Cape Town
Speakeasy Saloon Durbanville
- Location: Shop 10, Spiro’s Corner, Vrede Street, Durbanville
Buckley’s pub & pool Bar & Foosball
- Location: 76 Edward Road, Bo Oakdale
MOJO Market
- Location: 30 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town
Rascal’s Pub
- Location: 2 Meyer St, Kenilworth, Cape Town
The Dubliner
- Location: 251 Long Street, Cape Town City Centre
5. Your Stadium Survival Guide
If you’ve decided to dive in head first to the ultimate rugby experience, you’ll need a guide to all things stadium. Road closures, shuttle information, getting there and where to grab a burger after, are all essentials for your epic test as a rugby newbie. Don’t worry, we’ve got the details.
6. Follow fan etiquette
You may be rallied up a few times or even feel a little uninterested. I’ve learned through observing the avid rugby supporters that there are a few vibe checks to pass as a fan in training – something even those who eat rugby for breakfast forget every now and again. Pouring a drink over fans of the opposite team? Not a vibe. Hugging strangers when things go well? Certified vibrance. Getting into a fight because you’re angry? Never a vibe. Lifting up fellow supporters when things are looking sticky? Forever a vibe.
Happy rugby adventures.
Also read:
Free MyCiti shuttles and a safe Fan Walk for Saturday’s Rugby fans
Picture: Get Moving
