06 Mar 2013
South African Rugby Union to open themed visitor attraction
BY Tom Walker
South African Rugby Union (SARU) has announced plans to open the Springbok Experience - a themed visitor attraction - at its new headquarters in Cape Town.
SARU, the country's national governing body for rugby, is establishing a new 'home of rugby' at Portswood House, a two-storey, 800sq m stand-alone building on Cape Town's V&A Waterfront.
As part of the plans, the building's ground floor will be divided between an 'Experience' taster, a retail store and 'Springbok Trials', an interactive game zone area.
The second storey will be devoted entirely to a museum and will cover the rich history of Springbok rugby, including the overlooked story of black rugby history, to give 'ownership' of the game back to all South Africans.
UK-based design consultancy Mather & Co has been appointed to create the visitor experience, which is expected to open to the public in September this year.
Andy Colquhoun, GM Corporate Affairs at SARU said: "We want to create a modern, interactive and up to date museum experience, befitting a massively powerful and popular national icon in the Springbok for what is a young and forward-looking country.
"However, we're also expecting to surprise visitors with some of the untold stories and forgotten heroes from a fascinating and, at times, neglected past."
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