Tickets fly off the ‘cyber shelves’ for Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town

Cape Town — Springbok Sevens captain Siviwe Soyizwapi says he can’t wait to experience the atmosphere that will hit Cape Town Stadium when the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 kicks off in September.

It will be the first senior rugby World Cup to be hosted in South Africa in 27 years, and with the Mother City last having hosted a Sevens event back in 2019, it should come as no surprise that the three-day spectacular — which will take place from 9-11 September — is one that is hugely anticipated.

SA Rugby announced on Monday that tickets flew off Ticketmaster’s “cyber shelves”, with a total of 23,817 purchased by FNB clients as part of their early bird partnership with the tournament, while another 36,183 were snatched up in the first six hours after public sales opened at 9am Monday morning. Of these, 23,247 were purchased in the first hour.

Soyizwapi was not at all surprised by how quickly fans reacted.

“That’s amazing news if it does happen (in front of a capacity crowd). I think when it comes the event in Cape Town, it always sells out so quickly. I think the record is 24 hours (for Day Three tickets being sold out). I’m really not surprised as to how quickly the tickets are going,” the skipper said during the Rugby World Cup Sevens trophy tour to the Independent Media offices.

“I think the Cape Town community and South Africa in general have been hungry to get out and get back into stadiums. So we are really excited to be back in that atmosphere.”

Another Blitzbok talent who can’t wait to get onto the game’s biggest stage is Ronald Brown.

The 26-year-old was about to make his sevens debut in in 2019 when he was suddenly diagnosed with cancer, this forced him to put his career on hold as he recovered.

He made his Blitzbok