EPRU Stadium
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The Boet | |
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Full name | Eastern Province Rugby Union Stadium |
|---|---|
Former names | Boet Erasmus Stadium |
| Location | La Roche Drive Summerstrand Port Elizabeth South Africa |
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| Owner | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality |
| Operator | Eastern Province Rugby Union |
| Capacity | 33,852 |
| Surface | Grass |
Field size | 100m X 70m |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1958–1960 |
| Opened | 1960 |
| Closed | 2010 |
| Demolished | 2019 |
| Tenants | |
| Mighty Elephants (Currie Cup) (1959 - 2010) Bay United (PSL/NFD) (2008 - 2010) | |
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EPRU Stadium, also known by its original name of Boet Erasmus Stadium, was a stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The letters "EPRU" in the name represent the Eastern Province Rugby Union, the stadium's historic primary tenants, whose team is now known as the Mighty Elephants. The original name Boet Erasmus Stadium was named after Boet Erasmus, a former mayor of Port Elizabeth.[1] It had a capacity of 33,852 people and served primarily as a venue for rugby union matches but also hosted a number of association football (soccer) fixtures.
The stadium closed in 2010 and was demolished in 2019.
Background
Music
On 6 March 2007, Irish vocal pop band Westlife held a concert during The Love Tour, in-support of their record, The Love Album.
French Canadian singer Céline Dion performed for over 17,000 people on 27 February 2008 during her Taking Chances World Tour.
Rugby
Boet Erasmus stadium was primarily used as the home of rugby in the Eastern Cape. Situated in the affluent suburb of Summerstrand, it hosted matches at Test, Super Rugby, Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup and club level.[2] It was regularly used by the Eastern Province Elephants under their previous names, the Mighty Elephants and the Eastern Province Kings and hosted their two home matches during the 1994 Super 10 season. The stadium was also the intended home of the Southern Spears, a team that was scheduled to play in the 2006 Currie Cup in preparation for its admission to the Super Rugby starting in 2007. However, the Spears were later denied entry into both competitions.
The stadium is credited for being the first stomping ground of a number of Springbok legends, included in which are Danie Gerber, Garth Wright, Frans Erasmus and Hannes Marais.[2]
The Battle of Boet Erasmus
In 1974, during the 1974 British Lions tour to South Africa, one of the most violent matches in rugby history[3][4] was dubbed the "Battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium".[5] After a 99 call by Lions, there is famous video footage of J. P. R. Williams running over half of the pitch and launching himself at Moaner van Heerden,[6] something that Williams says he is not proud of.[7] Gordon Brown hit his opposite number, Johan de Bruyn, so hard that the Orange Free State man's glass eye flew out and landed in the mud.[8]
At the 1995 Rugby World Cup on 3 June 1995, South Africa took on Canada in a clash that has also sometimes been dubbed the Battle of Boet Erasmus. The match, which South Africa ultimately won 20–0, was marred by an on-field scuffle with four players involved in a brawl. South Africa hooker James Dalton, who had come to the aid of a teammate who had been struck on the back of the head, and winger Pieter Hendriks were suspended for the remainder of the tournament for their roles in the incident and could only watch from the sidelines as the nation went on to claim its first Rugby World Cup title.[9][10]
Soccer
The stadium was used as the home ground for Port Elizabeth's, Bay United F.C. who moved to the stadium for their 2008/2009 season in the Premier Soccer League. The club used the stadium again at times during their 2009/2010 campaign in the National First Division. This was due to availability problems with their preferred home ground, the Westbourne Oval.
Closure and abandonment
The stadium was officially closed in July 2010. The Eastern Province Rugby Union has relocated all games to the new world-class Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. The last match to be played at the stadium was a friendly against the Blue Bulls on 3 July 2010.[1] The Boet hosted age-group, amateur and club rugby matches after being officially closed but has since been abandoned, with vagrants and thieves having slowly dismantled the stadium to such an extent that all that remains are the concrete structures.[1] The local municipality, who own the property, has asked for proposals from the private sector for the redevelopment of the land.[2]
The stadium was demolished on 19 November 2018.
International tournaments
1995 Rugby World Cup
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The stadium was one of 9 venues throughout South Africa used for the Rugby World Cup. The stadium was used for group games in Group A. It hosted 3 games, including the match between South Africa and Canada:
| Date | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1995 | File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada | 34-3 | File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania | Group A | 18,000 |
| 31 May 1995 |  Australia |
27-11 | File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada | Group A | 15,000 |
| 3 June 1995 | File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 20-0 | File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada | Group A | 31,000 |
1996 African Cup of Nations
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When the tournament was moved to South Africa, the EPRU Stadium was chosen as one of 4 host stadiums. A total of 6 pool games were played at the stadium, as well as a quarter-final:
| Date | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 January 1996 | File:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana | 2–0 | File:Flag of Côte d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast | Group D | 8,000 |
| 16 January 1996 | File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia | 1–1 | File:Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique | Group D | 1,000 |
| 19 January 1996 | File:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana | 2–1 | File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia | Group D | 1,000 |
| 21 January 1996 | File:Flag of Côte d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast | 1–0 | File:Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique | Group D | 500 |
| 24 January 1996 | File:Flag of Algeria.svg Algeria | 2–1 | File:Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Burkina Faso | Group B | 180 |
| 25 January 1996 | File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia | 3–1 | File:Flag of Côte d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast | Group D | 1,000 |
| 28 January 1996 | File:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana | 1–0 | File:Flag of Zaire (1971–1997).svg Zaire | Quarterfinals | 8,000 |
2010 FIFA World Cup
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was used as a logistics point for Port Elizabeth, a host city.
International matches
Rugby Union
South Africa National Football Team
| Date | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 July 2000 | File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 0–1 | File:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe | 2000 COSAFA Cup#Semi-Final | 35,000 |
| 14 June 2003 | File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 2–1 | File:Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago | International Friendly | 28,000 |
| 12 November 2005 | File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 2–3 | File:Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal | Nelson Mandela Challenge | |
| 1 June 2008 | File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa | 0–1 | File:Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier | 30,000 |
See also
References
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- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lambley, Garrin (11 July 2013). "So sad. Boet Erasmus in Ruin". Sport24. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Foster, Grant (15 November). "Former EP Rugby home in ruins". SA Promo. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 13 July 1974". Official Website of the British and Irish Lions. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Byron, George (14 May 2005). "Recalling those legendary 'Battles of the Boet'". Weekend Post. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Staff (24 November 2002). "Sports File: Caught in Time: Lions in South Africa, 1974". The Sunday Times.[dead link]
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.English, Tom. "Rampant Lions - South Africa 1974". Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. cites it is a copy an article in The Sunday Times, 20 May 2001.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Doyle, Paul (6 October 2006). "Small talk: JPR Williams". The Guardian Unlimited. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Thomas, Clem; Thomas, Greg (2013). 125 Years of the British and Irish Lions: The Official History (illustrated ed.). Random House. p. iv. ISBN 9781780577388.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."'Battle of Boet Erasmus' remembered". News24. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."1995 RWC Battle of Boet Erasmus - South Africa vs Canada". Rugby Dump. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
External links
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