Mpumalanga’s rugby team, the Pumas, will play all their Currie Cup games at the Mbombela Stadium.

Sport24

The Pumas Rugby Union reached an agreement with the Mbombela Stadium management during a meeting in Mbombela on Tuesday.

“We have reached a verbal agreement to bring all the Currie Cup games home. What is left is for the two parties to sign on the dotted line,” said interim manager for Mbombela Stadium Roelf Kotze on Wednesday.

Kotze said the meeting was between the stadium management, and Pumas’ chief executive Koos Kruger.

He said the Pumas agreed to play eight rugby games locally, which include all seven Currie Cup games and one Vodacom game.

“The stadium management is extremely excited about the Pumas’ decision. There are other nail-biting matches just around the corner,” Kotze said.

Kruger confirmed the news, but said the agreements have to be finalised.

“Discussions are still ongoing with the stadium management, because we have to finalise the terms and conditions,” Kruger said.

He said the Pumas were ready, and also happy to move their games from their traditional home ground in Emalahleni to Mbombela.

“Last year, we played a successful match at Mbombela against the Blue Bulls. We also played another one against Western Province,” he said.

Mbombela Stadium spokesperson Ronnie Moyo said another team had shown interest in using the stadium.

“Representatives of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union visited the Mbombela Stadium on 20 January to discuss plans for the stadium’s first major rugby fixtures for this year,” he said.

He said Bulls chief executive Barend van Graan, and match promoter Willem Straus indicated they were ready for the final warm up for the Super 15 Vodacom Blue Bulls match against Premier XV, which will be played at the stadium on 5 February.

Moyo said activities planned for the whole day included the Atlantic Sevens School Series, which will begin from early morning, while there will be crowd entertainment on the B field.

Tickets for the Bulls and Premier XV game are available from Computicket, from R30 for school children who will sit in a designated block and R50 for school children who will sit elsewhere. The tickets for general stands cost between R80 and R120.