Boks' victory tour mapped out
25 October 2007
South Africa's World Cup winning Springboks have been given only a few days in which to catch their collective breath before they take part in a World Cup victory tour, starting in Pretoria on Friday.
SA Rugby has released a detailed itinerary which will allow the Boks' fans the opportunity to salute the team's players and support staff as the Webb Ellis trophy makes a whirlwind tour of the Rainbow Nation.
President Thabo Mbeki, it seems, cannot get enough of the Springboks. He hosted the squad before their departure for France, urging them on to go and win the World Cup. Then, he was at the Stade de France to celebrate their victory with them, and now he'll be first on their list as the Boks undertake their victory tour.
Formal congratulations
On Friday, the players will meet the President at the Union Buildings in Pretoria at 10:00, where they will be formally congratulated.
An hour later, the
Springboks will depart the Union Buildings. The victory parade busses will meet at the Southern Sun Pretoria, on the corner of Beatrix and Church Streets at 11:10. Ten minutes later, a ticker-tape parade will begin.
The busses will exit down Leyds Street before turning right into Church Street. That will be followed by a left turn into Prinsloo Street before another right turn into Pretorius Street.
From there, after taking a left into Schubart Street, which leads onto the Ben Schoeman Highway (N14), the busses will head along the N14 before turning onto the M1 South.
The World Cup winners will proceed past Vodaworld in Midrand and then back onto the M1 South.
Johannesburg
On reaching Johannesburg, the busses will exit at the Glenhove offramp, turning right towards Rosebank and over Oxford Road.
At 13:15, the busses will arrive at the office complex of the Springboks' sponsors, Sasol, where a team lunch will be
held.
Just 45 minutes later, the squad will be on its way again, heading towards the Johannesburg Central Business District.
The route will go through the CBD, past Absa headquarters in Rissik Street.
After that, the busses will take the N12 (Bloemfontein) highway until the N3 (Pretoria) highway.
They'll head back towards Pretoria before exiting at the William Nicol off-ramp in the north of Johannesburg. Once there, the route will follow William Nicol for about two-and-a-half kilometres before turning right into Montecasino, which hosted Absa Boktown while the Springboks were in France.
The squad's arrival at Montecasino has been scheduled for 16:30. At 17:00, a special victory show will be hosted by television channel Supersport. It will last for an hour.
Meeting with Mandela
On Saturday, the squad departs for Houghton at 09:00, heading for the Nelson Mandela Foundation. A half-hour later they are expected at the
former President's residence.
"Madiba" will meet the squad at 10:00. At 11:00, it's off to the O.R Tambo International Airport for the players. A British Airways chartered flight will then fly the Boks to Bloemfontein, with departure set for 12:30. An hour later, they'll touch down in the Free State capital.
At 14:00, the squad will arrive at Grey College, where five members of the World Cup winning squad did their schooling.
Bloemfontein's mayor will deliver an address whereafter a question and answer session will be held with Springbok coach Jake White and captain John Smit.
Currie Cup final appearance
The squad will leave for Vodacom Park at 15:30, where the home town Free State Cheetahs will be hosting the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup final. The World Cup winners will make an appearance at the game and parade the Webb Ellis Trophy.
That evening, at 19:30, they will fly to Durban, arriving in the coastal city at
20:30.
The following day, Sunday, the players will leave their hotel at 09:00 to take part in a ticker-tape parade through the city, starting from City Hall.
A route has yet to be finalised.
A team lunch is scheduled at 11:30 back at the team's hotel before the players depart for the airport.
Whirlwind visit
In a true whirlwind visit, the Boks land in Port Elizabeth at 14:00 and head for the Greenacres Shopping complex 15 minutes later. At 15:15, they'll be airport-bound once more. Their flight for Cape Town departs at 17:15.
They'll touch down in the Mother City at 18:30 and leave for their hotel at 19:00.
On Monday, from 06:15, radio interviews will be conducted with some of the players on the national broadcaster, SABC. At 07:00, this will be followed by television interviews on SABC 2's Morning Live.
Later, at 10:45 the Boks will set off for the City Hall. They're expected there half-an-hour
later.
City Hall appearance
At 11:30, the players will greet their fans from the balcony of City Hall. A speech from Cape Town's mayor will follow.
A street parade will then commence at 12:00.
From Darling Street, the busses will turn right into Adderley Street. They'll head along Adderley before turning right into Strand Street. Continuing up Strand, the parade will take a left into Long Street.
From Long, the busses will turn left into Buitensingel, moving along the road until a right turn is made into Loop Street.
At Hans Strijdom Avenue, the busses will turn right, followed by a left into Heerengracht at the Fountain Circle, followed by a right turn into Hertzog Boulevard.
The procession will continue along Hertzog Boulevard before taking the Woolsack Drive turnoff.
Newlands Rugby Stadium
At 13:15, the Boks will turn right into Main Road. From Main Road, the route turns left
into Boundary Road in Newlands and arrive at the Newlands Rugby Stadium at 13:45.
The World Cup winners will enter the stadium where the Webb Ellis Trophy will be presented to their Capetonian fans.
SA captain John Smit will then hand over the trophy to South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins on the field, followed by a brief function for the team.
Springbok management has urged all fans to don their green and gold supporters' gear to once again show their support for the team.
And after the victory tour is completed... then it is time for the World Cup winning players to relax and take a well-deserved break from the game.
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