EPRU Stadium

EPRU Stadium
The Boet
Full name Eastern Province Rugby Union Stadium
Former names Boet Erasmus Stadium
Location La Roche Drive
Summerstrand
Port Elizabeth
South Africa
Coordinates 33°58′55″S 25°38′22″E / 33.98194°S 25.63944°E / -33.98194; 25.63944Coordinates: 33°58′55″S 25°38′22″E / 33.98194°S 25.63944°E / -33.98194; 25.63944
Owner Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
Operator Eastern Province Rugby Union
Capacity 33,852
Field size 100m X 70m
Surface Grass
Closed 2010
Tenants
Mighty Elephants (Currie Cup) (1959 - 2010)
Bay United (PSL/NFD) (2008 - 2010)

EPRU Stadium, also known by its original name of Boet Erasmus Stadium, was a stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The letters "EPRU" in the name represent the Eastern Province Rugby Union, the company behind the stadium's historic primary tenants, the Mighty Elephants. The original name Boet Erasmus Stadium was named after Boet Erasmus, a former mayor of Port Elizabeth.[1] The stadium held a capacity of 33,852 people and served primarily as a venue for rugby union matches but also hosted a number of football fixtures.

Background

Rugby

Boet Erasmus stadium was primarily used as the home of rugby in the Eastern Cape. Situated in the affluent suburb of Summerstrand, it hosted matches at Test, Super Rugby, Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup and club level.[2] It was regularly used by the Eastern Province Kings under their previous names, Eastern Province and the Mighty Elephants and hosted their two home matches during the 1994 Super 10 season. The stadium was also the intended home of the Southern Spears, a team that was scheduled to play in the 2006 Currie Cup in preparation for its admission to the Super Rugby starting in 2007. However, the Spears were later denied entry into both competitions.

The stadium is credited for being the first stomping ground of a number of Springbok legends, included in which are Danie Gerber, Garth Wright, Frans Erasmus and Hannes Marias.[2]

The Battle of Boet Erasmus

On 3 June 1995, South Africa took on Canada at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in a clash that has since been dubbed the Battle of Boet Erasmus. The match, which South Africa ultimately won 20-0, was marred by an on-field scuffle which saw no fewer than four players involved in a brawl. South Africa hooker James Dalton, who had come to the aid of a teammate who had been struck on the back of the head, and winger Pieter Hendriks were suspended for the remainder of the tournament for their roles in the incident and could only watch from the sidelines as the nation went on to claim its first Rugby World Cup title.[3][4]

Football

The stadium was used as the home ground for Port Elizabeth-based football club, Bay United who moved to the stadium for their 2008/2009 season in the Premier Soccer League. The club used the stadium again at times during their 2009/2010 campaign in the National First Division. This was due to availability problems with their preferred home ground, the Westbourne Oval.

Closure and abandonment

Remnants of the EPRU Stadium in 2016

The stadium was officially closed in July 2010. The Eastern Province Rugby Union have moved all games to the new world class Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. The last match to be played at the stadium was a friendly against the Blue Bulls on 3 July 2010.[1] The Boet hosted age-group, amateur and club rugby matches after being officially closed but has since been abandoned, with vagrants and thieves having slowly dismantled the stadium to such an extent that all that remains are the concrete structures.[1] The local municipality, who own the property, has asked for proposals from the private sector for the redevelopment of the land.[2]

International tournaments

1995 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1995 Rugby World Cup

The stadium was one of 9 venues throughout South Africa used for the Rugby World Cup. The stadium was used for group games in Group A. It hosted 3 games, including the match between South Africa and Canada:

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1995-05-26 Canada 34-3 RomaniaGroup A18,000
1995-05-31 Australia 27-11 CanadaGroup A15,000
1995-06-03 South Africa 20-0 CanadaGroup A31,000

1996 African Cup of Nations

When the tournament was moved to South Africa, the EPRU Stadium was chosen as one of 4 host stadiums. A total of 6 pool games were played at the stadium, as well as a quarter-final:

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1996-01-14Ghana Ghana2–0Ivory Coast Côte d'IvoireGroup D8,000
1996-01-16Tunisia Tunisia1–1Mozambique MozambiqueGroup D1,000
1996-01-19Ghana Ghana2–1Tunisia TunisiaGroup D1,000
1996-01-21Ivory Coast Côte d'Ivoire1–0Mozambique MozambiqueGroup D500
1996-01-24Algeria Algeria2–1Burkina Faso Burkina FasoGroup B180
1996-01-25Tunisia Tunisia3–1Ivory Coast Côte d'IvoireGroup D1,000
1996-01-28Ghana Ghana1–0Zaire ZaireQuarterfinals8,000

2010 FIFA World Cup

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was used as a logistics point for Port Elizabeth, a host city.

International matches

Rugby

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
1955Eastern Province20-0British LionsTour match
1955South Africa South Africa22-8British LionsTest match
1962Eastern Province6-21British LionsTour match
1968Eastern Province14-23British LionsTour match
1968South Africa South Africa6-6British LionsTest match
1974-05-25South Africa South Africa9-26British LionsTest match55,000
1974-06-13Eastern Province14-28British LionsTour match
1980-05-10Eastern Province16-28British LionsTour match
1997-05-24Eastern Province XV11-39British LionsTour match
2006-06-17 South Africa29-15 ScotlandTest match35,000

Football

Date Team #1 Res. Team #2 Round Attendance
2000-07-29 South Africa0–1 Zimbabwe2000 COSAFA Cup#Semi-Final
2003-06-14 South Africa2–1 Trinidad and TobagoInternational Friendly28,000
2006-11-12 South Africa2–3 SenegalNelson Mandela Challenge
2008-06-01 South Africa0–1 Nigeria2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier30,000

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lambley, Garrin (11 July 2013). "So sad. Boet Erasmus in Ruin". Sport24. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Foster, Grant (15 November). "Former EP Rugby home in ruins". SA Promo. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "'Battle of Boet Erasmus' remembered". News24. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "1995 RWC Battle of Boet Erasmus - South Africa vs Canada". Rugby Dump. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
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