SUNSHINE and familiar accents from back home greeted the rugby world champions as they arrived in Jersey for a week-long training camp.
South Africa’s national side, the Springboks, touched down yesterday morning a year to the day after winning the Rugby World Cup for the second time.
The visit is the latest coup for the Island’s rugby community after visits in recent years from the British and Irish Lions, the England national squad and multiple professional teams from the English top flight.
During their time in Jersey, the Springboks will be using the state-of-the-art facilities at Strive and training at Jersey RFC as part of their build-up for matches in the Autumn International series against Scotland, England and Wales.
The visitors, who are staying at L’Horizon Hotel at St Brelade’s Bay until Sunday, will also lead a three-day Youth Rugby Camp, take part in promotional activity arranged with Visit Jersey to acknowledge the tourism body’s support for the week, and host a charity gala at the Royal Jersey Showground.
Tricia Warwick, chief executive of Visit Jersey, said: “The Springboks’ visit to Jersey not only brings the excitement of world-class sport to our doorstep, but also raises Jersey’s profile on the global stage. We are confident that they will enjoy a successful training camp here, discovering why visitors to our Island feel renewed, restored, and reinvigorated.
“The visit also presents an important opportunity to strengthen the Island’s position as a sports tourism destination, building on the previous visits from professional sports teams, and the fantastic work being done by Strive in opening the door to future opportunities for sports training camps and sporting events.”
Ben Harvey, managing director at Strive, commented: “The Springboks represent more than just rugby and this visit is not only huge for Strive, and another wonderful endorsement of our facilities and staff, but also for the Island as a whole.”
The visitors were greeted by a crowd of around 100 rugby supporters, several wearing the green national shirt and including many young Islanders who had an exciting opportunity to see some global rugby icons in the flesh on the first weekday of their half-term holiday.
Saturday’s gala dinner in aid of Jersey Sports for the Disabled, for which the best tables were priced at £4,000 for ten people, is sold out, but more affordable tickets costing £10 for adults or £5 for children remain available for the open training session at Jersey RFC earlier in the day.
