Former Bok, Cape Town deputy mayor Eddie Andrews pleads for full stadium in URC final

Cape Town's deputy mayor Eddie Andrews has pleaded with national government to allow full capacity at stadiums ahead of Saturday's United Rugby Championship final between the Stormers and the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium.

The Stormers qualified for the final by narrowly squeaking past Ulster 17-15 on Saturday while the Bulls laid waste to Leinster's final plans with a 27-26 win in Dublin on Friday.

Those two results set up the biggest game in the South African rugby calendar outside of the South Africa v New Zealand Test.

The Stormers' two home playoff games, along with the Bulls' quarter-final against the Sharks, were well attended.

However, the government hasn't budged on the 50 percent capacity for stadiums despite Covid-19 infection and death rates not being very high.

Andrews, a former Western Province, Stormers and Springbok prop, appealed on his Twitter page to president Cyril Ramaphosa that they're ready to host a full capacity stadium.

"Dear President Cyril Ramaphosa. The @CityofCT is ready to be completely opened; no restrictions at our stadiums, events and cultural activities. We have proven we can manage ourselves," Andrews tweeted.

"In fact, we are ready to allow 55 000 rugby-loving supporters into Cape Town Stadium/DHL Stadium to support both the @THESTORMERS and the @BlueBullsRugby as they compete for the United Rugby Championship - URC in our beloved City."

1/ OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT @PresidencyZA @CyrilRamaphosa Dear President Cyril Ramaphosa The @CityofCT is ready to be completely opened; no restrictions at our stadiums, events and cultural activities. We have proven we can manage ourselves. pic.twitter.com/asvrYc19K5