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Cape Town - A special piece of turf to give the Springboks real #HomeGroundAdvantage will be ‘christened’ by a host of South African celebrities from television, music, sport and fashion at the Springbok Experience Rugby Museum in Cape Town on Thursday.
Singers Jimmy Nevis and Karen Zoid, Miss South Africa, Liesl Lauri, TV presenter and singer, Katlego Maboe, and Springbok legend Breyton Paulse are among the personalities who will water turf being cultivated to support the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup bid.
The grass is being grown in soil drawn from all 14 South African rugby provinces. The seed will be taken to the UK where it will be planted and grown and then placed in special trays in the Springbok dressing room.
The South African turf will be the last thing the players’ boots touch before they head for the field during the tournament.
“We wanted some way to make our #HomeGroundAdvantage campaign tangible for the players,” said SARU CEO, Jurie Roux.
“They know that back home and in the stands there will be passionate South Africans cheering them on.
“But this will be a visible and physical reminder of what they are playing for and from where they come.
The soil has been sent to us from the provinces all over South Africa; it couldn’t get more South African than this – the grass will definitely be Springbok “greener” when the team runs out.”
Media and members of the public are invited to share the occasion as more than a dozen celebrities will visit the Springbok Experience at the V&A Waterfront to water the grass.
TV and radio personalities Zoe Brown, Elena Afrika Bredenkamp, Leigh-Anne Williams and Tapfuma Makina, singers Francois van Coke, and Pierre Greeff, designer Gavin Rajah, comedian Siv Ngesi, and twice world hip-hop champion, Blake Williams, have also confirmed their attendance to show their backing for the Springbok campaign.
The visits will start from 9am and run through until noon on Thursday. The grass will be on display outside the Museum in the build-up to the World Cup kick-off.
“It’s a fun, informal occasion for South African celebrities to demonstrate their support for the team,” said Roux.
“We’re also calling on supporters to put on their green jerseys every Friday – and every other day of the week if they wish – to get behind the team and cheer them every step of the way.
“The Rugby World Cup only comes round every four years and we know how much sporting success has meant to our country. Now is the time to show the players that we have their backs and are with them every step of the way.”
