Travel

Springboks vs Wales in Durban: My First Boks Game

The stars aligned ever so beautifully for me this July with a Springbok vs Wales rugby match taking place in my hometown just one day post arrival. After my years of declaring to everyone who’d listen that South Africa has the best rugby team in the world I figured it was about damn time that I see our boys play in a live game…and, boy, what an experience!

Booking Tickets to the Springboks vs Wales Game

We weren’t certain we’d have the time to make it to the game which meant we couldn’t book tickets in advance. But we finally made the call about 3 hours before kick-off. We paid somewhere around R750 per ticket—these were the cheapest ones available at the time—and were super stoked about our seats! The first half had the Boks scoring tries mere metres in front of us, it was incredible. For the second half the big screen was directly in front of us and we still had a really good view of the opposite end of the field.

The Fan Vibes at a Springboks Game

There’s really nothing like a stadium full of Springbok supporters. Being away from home for as long as I have means moments like that one are all the more special. By this point—at the risk of sounding a little cocky—we know before the game starts that our Boks are winning and that energy is crystal clear. You can almost taste the excitement and confidence in the air. Our celebrations are an unmatched kind of joy. The songs, the shouts, the chants…if you ever wanna know what it means to be a South African, go to a Boks game.

Post Game Celebrations in Durban

Unfortunately we didn’t have the time to hang around and enjoy what looked like a proper jol (i.e. party) after our fantastic win against Wales. The tents were filled with people, drinks and food, the music was vibing and the crowds were in great spirits. The best part about South African rugby is the diverse array of people it brings together, it’s always beautiful to see.

What a welcome home. I deeply wish I could experience these wholesome moments more often but I guess the bitter sweet thing is that their rarity makes them all the more special.