The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV continue to reward their fans around the province when they take their Carling Currie Cup home clash against Sanlam Boland Kavaliers to Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
Having played Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont a little over two weeks ago, the local community embraced the opportunity to see their heroes in action in their hometown, the energy from the enraptured fans tangible.
As part of the union’s continued commitment to growing the game and deepening our roots in the communities we serve, The Sharks are excited to be able to take two Hollywoodbets Sharks XV Currie Cup pool matches into the heart of our communities this season, with our other two matches scheduled to be played at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
This past weekend Durban witnessed the Hollywoodbets Sharks defeat DHL Western Province 29-21, with their final pool match of the competition being hosted at Hollywoodbets Kings Park when they host the Airlink Pumas on Friday 5 September.
This exciting initiative of taking rugby to far-flung cities and towns forms part of our vision to inspire the next generation of rugby fans and players, while celebrating the strong support we receive beyond the walls of Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
Said Carling Currie Cup head coach JP Pietersen after the match at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, “It’s all part of promoting the game and taking it to the community, and like the Springboks inspire, I hope we can inspire future rugby players, perhaps one day another Makazole Mapimpi comes from there.
“It’s a great initiative from the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Durban Tourism.”
At the time, Pietersen was expecting, “A lot of gees, I hope they come out in numbers to support us, that will help us a lot. In return, I’ve urged the young men to play hard and put some joy on peoples’ faces.”
Afterwards, he said: “It worked and I thought it was well-run, the vibe was good and it showed the boys how privileged they are; a great way to inspire the youth.”
Traditionally, we’ve called on our fans to ‘book your seat at the stadium’, this time, we are taking the game we all love to the fans.
These matches are a celebration of the incredible spirit and passion found in our communities, and we are excited to see local fans come out in numbers to engage with our players, experience our brand, and show the strength and camaraderie of our #WarriorNation.
