The Springbok Experience Rugby Museum, designed by leading museum design consultancy, Mather & Co is celebrating its first birthday with a record 41,000-visitor attendance in its first year, and a new exhibit for the museum.
The Springbok Sevens team who took home Gold from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow helped celebrations by making a special donation to the collection at a public ceremony. Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell and his team presented one of their Team SA Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning jerseys to Jurie Roux, CEO of the South African Rugby Union, to go on display at the museum at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
“We have had a terrific first year of operation at the Springbok Experience,” said Roux. “We opened it with the current Springbok squad and former national captains and we have had visits from the Junior Boks and Springbok Women. It seemed only natural that we should invite the Springbok Sevens squad to mark our first birthday, particularly as they have added to our rugby heritage this year.”
The home of South African Rugby Union, an 800m², two-storey state-of-the-art museum, brings to life the compelling but complex history of rugby in South Africa, including the largely untold story of pre-democracy black rugby.
The museum has had a number of events in its first year of opening, with various teams visiting during the course of the year as well as famous players. TripAdvisor also shows a 96% approval from visitors to the museum.
“The Springbok Experience has been an overwhelming success for South African Rugby Union and it continues to be a project we’re very proud of having played a significant part in,” explains Chris Mather, Chief Executive, Mather & Co. “To have achieved 41,000 visitors from a standing start is an excellent achievement for the museum, and I’m pleased it continues to capture the imagination of those who visit it.”
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