Tickets sold out for Kimberley's Currie Cup final: 'Can't recall playing at a full-house'

In pandemic parlance, we talk about "Covid-19 babies", infants and toddlers born and initially raised within the confines of various lockdowns and only exposed to many outside activities recently.

Similarly, South African rugby will have a few "Covid-19 rookies" playing in Saturday's Currie Cup final in Kimberley, an occasion where almost all members of the Griquas and Pumas match squads will experience a sell-out crowd for the first time in their careers, partly down to government's stadium restrictions until recently.

Home skipper Sango Xamlashe is one of those men.

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"It's a great opportunity. I can't ever recall playing in front of a sell-out crowd and I'm sure a lot of the other guys here can relate," said the former Tuks and Bulls midfielder, who led his university side to 2021 Varsity Cup glory in a bio-secure environment.

"When the crowd is at full capacity at home, it's a dream for anybody. If someone had to say that this was how things were going to turn out at the beginning of the season, they would have been called bonkers."But we are here now. The moment and the occasion are slowly starting to present themselves. The guys are really showing great excitement. They are looking forward to it. A lot of the guys are seeing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

With government's abolishment of bans on gatherings confirmed earlier this week, the 12 500-seater Griqua Park - but better known as Hoffe Park - is expected to be filled to capacity for the first time in its existence.

1970's showpiece - memorably won 11-9 by the Mannetjies Roux-inspired Peacock Blues over the much-fancied Northern Transvaal - was played at the De