Western Province Rugby has launched an application to obtain a venue safety certificate for Newlands Stadium.

SA Rugby has confirmed that Cape Town will host the Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in October, but the venue is yet to be determined, because Newlands does not have the necessary paperwork proving that the stadium is compliant in terms of the Safety at Sports and Recreation Events Act.

WP has to submit a stadium security certificate by June in order to host the Test, but if the union fails to do so, the game will likely be played at the Cape Town Stadium in Greenpoint.

'We have been in regular contact with both the City and SA Rugby regarding the new application requirements, and have been working on meeting the new requirements for some time in consultation with our health and safety advisors,' said WP CEO Paul Zacks. 

'This is an ongoing process. The matter is now in the hands of the relevant assessors at the City of Cape Town, and we have offered our full support and commitment in engaging with them to meet the various requirements.

'As per SA Rugby’s constitution, all international matches involving the Springboks must be staged at a stadium which falls under the control of, or is approved by, the provincial union. It goes without saying that WP Rugby is excited to be able to host the All Blacks at Newlands and we have therefore done everything we can to make the necessary application.'

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