GEORGE NEWS - Two of the powerhouses of club rugby in the Southern Cape, Progress RFC and Evergreens RFC, will be squaring off against each other at Outeniqua Park on Saturday 7 April as a prelude to the historic Guinness PRO14 championship clash between the Southern Kings and Munster from Ireland.
"Progress and Evergreens are perennial rivals who between them have dominated club rugby in the region in recent times and matches between the two sides are always hard-fought affairs," said Hennie Baartman, president of South Western Districts Rugby.
"Progress won the SWD Premier League in 2017 whilst Evergreens took the title in 2016 and 2015. Their inclusion on the bill will truly turn the day into a festival of rugby.
"We expect a huge crowd to turn out. I advise everyone to get their tickets early."
The two teams also have a rich tradition of producing great players who have not only gone on to represent South Western Districts and the Southern Kings, but also other franchises, as well as the Springboks.
Names like Zane Kirchner, Heynie Adams, Darryl Coeries and Devon Raubenheimer spring to mind.
The Progress and Evergreens second and third teams will compete on Outeniqua Park's B field on the day, whilst the clash between the first teams will be the curtain raiser to the Southern Kings vs Munster clash on the main field.
"We see this as a fantastic opportunity to showcase our two flagship teams in the George area before international guests. Both teams have done incredibly well with limited resources and have been ranked among the top 10 club sides in South Africa," said Baartman.
"We are extremely proud of them. This is not only going be a huge boost for our city but also for the sport of rugby in the area. It will inspire our young players to see icons of the game from up close."
Chief operating officer of the Southern Kings Charl Crous was equally excited by the news.
"It's always been part of the Southern Kings' mission to bring international rugby to all our people, and seeing the enthusiasm with which the people of George have embraced this occasion is quite amazing.
"South Western Districts has always been a key component of our franchise and to have clubs of the stature of Progress and Evergreens together with their supporters join us on the day is the absolute cherry on top.
"We look forward to rewarding them with a good performance on 7 April," he said.
George Mayor Melvin Naik was confident of the city's hosting abilities.
"George has a proud history of hosting successful international sporting events and we've pulled out all the stops to ensure this one will be no different. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our beautiful part of the world and have no doubt they will enjoy their stay," he said.
In true George tradition, the festival air of the occasion will be complemented with a beer tent and food vendors on site to ensure spectators remain refreshed at all times.
AlgoaFM will be broadcasting live from the venue between 12:00 and 15:00 on the day.
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