It was sold to us as the best deal and the right thing to do.
The move from Newlands to the Cape Town Stadium (Green Point) was driven by Newlands’ antiquated facilities, the stadium’s failure to meet modern safety standards for internationals, as well as traffic issues and the Western Province Rugby Football Union’s financial distress, which were all cited as reasons.
They said the new stadium is offering better player amenities, enhanced spectator experience, better transport links, and a path to financial stability by becoming tenants rather than owners of a costly-to-maintain venue.
Most of this are true.
There’s just one problem.
The multi-use Cape Town Stadium surface is proving to be ‘dangerous’ for the players!
“We were promised a world-class pitch and we certainly don’t have one,” was the pointed statement of a dismayed Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson.
An apoplectic Dobson, speaking to the media from London where his team is preparing to face Harlequins in a Champions Cup crunch match on Sunday, revealed that utility forward Adré Smith has been hospitalised with an infected knee wound, caused by the disgraceful condition of the Cape Town Stadium pitch.
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The Stormers boss said the state of the stadium’s playing surface is a source of ‘enormous frustration’ for the Stormers management.
Smith, who came off the bench for the Stormers in the 13-8 win over the Bulls last Saturday, suffered a serious cut to his knee.
“There is no way to beat around the bush, or be polite about it,” Dobson said about the players’ injury, adding: He split his knee and got an infection, where the field wasn’t adequately covered with grass.
“The doctors put it [the injury] directly down to the condition of the field.”
Dobson explained the Smith had already been in hospital for two days and will spend another two day under intense medical care.
Other players have also suffered significant abrasions of a surface in a dire condition.
Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux last month described the playing surface as ‘absolutely sad’.
It is the result of the World Supercross Championship being staged in the stadium on December 13, an event that destroyed the playing surface to an extend where it is now clearly a danger to the players.
Three weeks later 53,000 fans packed the stadium to watch the big North-South derby between the Stormers and the Bulls, which the Stormers won 13-8.
The pitch had still not recovered, and the Stormers were left dismayed at the brown and bare surface.
“We’ve seen turf toe injuries, abrasions, infections and even an increased risk of concussion on an unpadded surface,” Dobson said, adding: “Player safety is the biggest concern.”
Last month Cape Town Stadium Chief Operating Officer Louw Visagie defended the pitch, saying it was fit for purpose and met World Rugby standards.
Dobson clearly disagrees.
The Stormers boss also revealed that veteran prop Ali Vermaak ruptured his Achilles and it is unclear when he will be back.
Abrasive loose forward Ruan Ackermann, meanwhile, is set to be sidelined for several months with a serious neck injury.
“Ali has ruptured his Achilles, which is a serious injury for any rugby player,” Dobson said.
“It’s incredibly disappointing because of how popular and effective he’s been for us.
“Ruan has a bulging disc in his neck.
“Those injuries can be three months if you’re very lucky, but they can also be longer.
“I’d say it’s a good few months, which is a massive blow because he was exceptional, especially on defence.”
@JanDKrugby
