Super 14 Rugby

One of the major professional rugby tournaments in South Africa includes teams from three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Between the three, there are 14 squads, so the league is called ‘Super 14’.


As rugby is one of the most popular sports in this country (the others being cricket and soccer), we wanted to experience it live with some friends. Since the game we chose was an evening match, we invited the others over for an early dinner beforehand. What started as a party of 4 grew to a crowd of 15! We made loads of pasta while others supplied the bread, salad and drinks. After supper we headed over to the stadium, located just a 5 minute drive from our flat. Despite the rain pouring down during the game and soaking the fans, it was a very fun event! The highlight of the game (other than seeing a stadium vendor selling “hot choc” from a large plastic container carried on his back and dispensed through a hose at his side) was when the home team, the Stormers, scored a tri by blocking the opposing team’s kick, then recovering the ball and racing it over the end line – right in front of our seats! (A tri is worth five points and is equivalent to a touchdown in American football)