Column Empty Seats Cast Shadow Over Gauteng Rugby As Derbies Fail To Draw Crowds
Rugby is more than just a mere pastime in South Africa it is woven into the very fabric of the nation's identity.
Yet, a disquieting trend has emerged in Gauteng, where the once-thrumming atmosphere of rugby derbies is beginning to fade. In a time when enthusiasm should be at a peak especially with the Bulls leading the South African charge and the Lions dishing up some exciting rugby, the stands at some of the regions most revered stadiums - namely Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld - are increasingly marred by empty seats.
Even during the prestigious United Rugby Championship URC and European Champions Cup matches. Consider the recent Jukskei derby in Pretoria: Despite both teams playing some brilliant rugby as they went toe-to-toe in excellent conditions, the stands at Loftus Versfeld were more notable for their open blue seats than their filled ones. Scenes like this are becoming all too common in South Africas heartland of rugby passion. Just a month prior, the same teams clashed at Ellis Park, but the stadium, renowned for its electric atmosphere, echoed with disappointment as empty red seats greatly outnumbered fans in attendance.
The same image played out when the Lions beautifully dismantled the Stormers' defence a fortnight ago to record a well-deserved first victory over the Capetonians. This trend raises an urgent question: why are Gautengs rugby derbies, once a fierce battleground for local pride, no longer attracting the crowds they so deserve? Do you blame the teams for not being able to fill up Loftus or Ellis Park? Are their supporters just not that interested in watching their teams win or at least put up a fight to win?
In Cape Town and mostly Durban, things play out differently, especially when two local sides clash. People are hungry to watch the two South African sides go up against each other. For the Sharks' clash in Cape Town, just over 46 000 people flocked to the DHL Stadium a few days after Christmas - a time when most people have spent their money on other things.