The Spingbok Museum at Cape Town Waterfront

The Springbok Experience Rugby Museum at the V&A Waterfront

Rugby is about as central to South African culture as biltong, braaing and bakkies. So it was only a matter of time, really, before a state-of-the-art monument was launched in its honour.
The Springbok Experience, a new double-storey rugby museum that spans 800m², is billed to open at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront in the Portswood House building on 24 September 2013 (the rather appropriate date of cultural holiday Heritage Day), and, given the game’s royal Mzansi status, will surely soon take up rank alongside Table Mountain, Robben Island and Boulders Beach as a Mother City must-do.

“We are putting a world-class visitor attraction, celebrating the rich but complex history of South African rugby and the Springboks, into the middle of one of Africa’s most visited tourist destinations,” Jurie Roux, CEO of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), is quoted as saying.
As he notes, while the uber modern museum is, in part, about paying homage to the passion and fervour that surrounds the sport, it also aims to recount the tale of the game’s controversial past, which is so intimately entangled with our nation’s own political journey.
“Rugby’s story is South Africa’s story,” explains Andy Colquhoun, SARU’s general manager of corporate affairs. “So, The Springbok Experience charts the country’s history through the lens of rugby.”

Thus, one of the main features of the large rugga shrine, which replaces a much smaller museum in Newlands, is an advanced audio-visual exhibit that, through interactive touch-screen technology, invites visitors to tackle both the more well-worn account of traditional Springbok play and the often ignored tale of the development of black and coloured rugby before the union was formed in 1992.
In addition to this informative and entertaining digital display, the space will also host a number of notable artefacts, like the iconic No. 6 jersey Francois Pienaar wore when he led us to victory in the ’95 Rugby World Cup, the boots that played a part in Joel Stransky’s famous drop goal in the same match and the jersey of Philip Nel, who captained the all-conquering team of 1937. What’s more, guests can try their hands (and feet) at a series of kicking, passing, reaction and fitness tests in the downstairs Springbok Trial zone (there’s a virtual coach and all) or pick up Springbok-related clothing and memorabilia at the on-site retail store.

And as the cherry on the cake, the green and gold-adorned monument, which boasts a life-size set of goalposts on its manicured front lawn, will, in future, also be the site of a permanent display of the bronze-cast handprints of at least 43 former national captains. Based in a sculpture garden, this interesting exhibit is meant to symbolise the sport’s different histories and traditions and pay tribute to those key players who’ve helped push the game towards the try line.
In short, The Springbok Experience is set to be not just a highlight for ball fanatics from near and far but for anyone keen on learning a little more about our country and its major cornerstones.

Tip: Don’t miss the official launch of The Springbok Experience on Heritage Day – the rugby museum will be opened to the general public at the sounding of the Noon Gun and the entire Springbok squad and a number of former national captains are expected to attend the opening ceremony, which starts at 10am (plus, Jan Braai will be firing up the grills on the green in front of the museum).

The Bill: As SARU aims to make the museum as accessible and inclusive as possible, they’ve deliberately kept prices very affordable. Adults enter for R50p/p, senior citizens and scholars between the ages of 5 and 18 get in for R30p/p, and kiddies younger than 5 years of age can enjoy the experience for free; discounts are available for families, groups of 10 people or more and schools.

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10am – 6pm (only closed on Christmas Day)
Portswood House (near intersection of Portswood and Dock roads) | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 928 7000

Website: Cape Town Magazine