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 800m
2,
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
