Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick was 11 years old when the Wallabies visited Port Elizabeth during Men’s Rugby World Cup 1995.
“I’ll never forget rubbing shoulders with guys like George Gregan,” Stick recalled on Friday, as young fans met some of their own rugby heroes.
World Rugby has confirmed 29 Outdoor Training Venues that will be used by the 24 teams during next year’s tournament, with state-of-the-art facilities across the seven host cities allowing teams prepare, recover and perform.
Representatives of the Springboks marked the announcement by holding a coaching clinic at UWA Rugby Club, with 40 children running around with some of the biggest names in the sport on a brisk morning in Western Australia.
Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will bring some of the world’s best right to the doorstep of Australian communities, allowing fans the chance to watch their heroes up close during open training sessions.
“I’m one of the beneficiaries of the system that World Rugby is creating behind us, getting kids involved. Look at me now, 30 years later, I’m still in love with the game,” Stick said.
“Once again, credit must also go to World Rugby for what they’re doing and hopefully we can keep promoting the game and make sure it’s a worldwide game. I’m happy to just rub shoulders with the kids.”
World Cup winners Damian Willemse, Ox Nche and Manie Libbok were among those who spent time with the children, even lifting a couple of them in a lineout. The Springboks were joined by former Western Force and Wallabies winger Nick Cummins.
Willemse was part of the South African squads that lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019 and 2023, and the full-back remains a key part of the team ahead of next year’s event. The 28-year-old recently started three of the four Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tests against the All Blacks.
“It’s great for us to be down here in Western Australia,” Willemse said. “We’ve been enjoying our stay here, spending time with the little lads and just getting to know everyone here.
“We’re looking forward to coming back to Perth. There’s obviously a big community of South Africans in Perth.”
Bringing fans closer to the action is a key part of the Outdoor Training Venues announcement, with some open training sessions to be held throughout the pool stage as teams are taken “deeper into our communities” across the seven host cities.
Teams will move between host cities in line with their match schedule but will have access to world-class facilities wherever they go. These facilities include rugby clubs, schools, universities, stadiums and training complexes.
“These Outdoor Training Venues are state-of-the-art complexes, and they are going to allow the world’s best teams to be able to prepare, recover and perform at their very best,” Michelle Enright, Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Executive General Manager of Business Operations, told reporters.
“Here in Perth, Western Australian fans will be able to get up close to the superstars of the game, and in fact they’ll even be able to attend some of the open training sessions we have during the pool play.
“The timing of this announcement is very significant, because in just a few days we will be just one year away from what is going to be the biggest Rugby World Cup ever.”
