The much-anticipated Springboks arrival and trophy tour schedule has been released, outlining the various stops and activities planned for the team.
Springboks arrival and trophy tour schedule: Here’s everything you must know
Fresh from their historic 2023 Rugby World Cup win, the Springboks will commence their six-day trophy tour on Tuesday, 31 October 2023, starting with their arrival at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) at 11:00.
On Day 1, the team will stay at accommodations near ORTIA. The action intensifies on Wednesday, 1 November 2023, with an appearance on SuperSport scheduled for 11:00.
The tour will proceed through Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Soweto on different days, followed by visits to Cape Town, Durban, and East London.
The convoy arrangements vary by city. In Pretoria and Johannesburg, the convoy will consist of three buses, two sponsor vehicles, a Supersport OB Unit, and an ambulance.
Cape Town will see a larger convoy, adding three more buses to the lineup. Similar arrangements are planned for Durban and East London.
The Pretoria tour on Day 2 will involve several street parades, starting from Stanza Bopape Street and winding through key locations like Loftus Versfeld and Church Square.
In Johannesburg, the parade will pass through landmarks like Nelson Mandela Bridge and FNB Stadium.
In Cape Town, the tour starts at City Hall and includes stops at several key streets before reaching DHL Stadium. The Durban leg will take the team through Umhlanga Rocks Drive, and Queen Nandi Drive, and will include a stop at Durban City Hall.
The East London tour will feature a range of local roads, ending at the Garden Court Hotel.
Security measures include bomb sweeps prior to the events. Special speeches and press conferences are also planned at different stops, allowing fans a closer look at their rugby heroes.
Here is a complete look at the Springboks arrival and trophy tour schedule:
| Date | Day | Action | Accommodation | Depart Tour Start Times | Departure Host Cities | Arrival in Host Cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct | Tuesday | Arrival ORTIA 11h00 | ORTIA | 10:00 | 18:00 | 11:00 |
| 1 Nov | Wednesday | Supersport 11h00 | ORTIA | 08:45 | 18:00 | 20:00 |
| 2 Nov | Thursday | Tour Pretoria Joburg / Soweto | Cape Town | 09:00 | 16:00 | 20:00 |
| 3 Nov | Friday | Cape Town | Durban | 09:30 | 16:00 | 18:00 |
| 4 Nov | Saturday | Durban | East London | 10:00 | 16:30 | |
| 5 Nov | Sunday | East London | Home |
Here is a detailed schedule of the trophy tour route for each city:
Day 3 in Pretoria – Thursday, 2 November 2023
- 07:15 Transfer to closed bus to Southern Sun Pretoria to transfer team into open-air bus
- 09:30 Parade starts in an easterly direction down Stanza Bopape Street
- Right into End Street
- Right into Pretorius Street in a westerly direction
- Left into Gordon Street (which becomes Jan Shoba Street)
- Right into Burnett Street
- Left into Park Street
- Left into Kirkness Street, past Loftus Versfeld
- Right into Jorissen Street (becomes Kotze Street, A Reyeng route into Nana Sita
- Right into Paul Kruger Street and around Church Square
- Right into Madiba Street
- 10:30 to 11:00 stop at Tshwane House and then depart to Johannesburg
- Players transfer in closed bus for transfer to MTN
- 12:00 – 13:00 Lunch at MTN
- 13:00 – 13:00 closed bus to Helpmekaar Kollege, team swap into open-air bus
Day 3 in Johannesburg and Soweto – Thursday, 3 November 2023
14:00: Parade starts at:
- 1 Jan Smuts Avenue in Braamfontein to Metro Centre and across the Nelson Mandela Bridge
- Onto FNB Bank City in Simmonds Street – FNB CEO to speech from Springbok Bus Roof
- Onto Nasrec Road past Riverley and to the FNB Stadium
- South to Ben Naude Street
- Left into Immink Road
- Right into Chris Hani Street past Maponya Mall
- Right into Klipspruit Valley Road
- Left into Kumalo Main Road and left into Vilakazi Street and onto the Hector Pieterson Memorial
- From approximately 15:45 to 16:15: past Orlando Stadium to FNB Stadium
- N1 Highway – 16:30 – Arrival Fireblade Aviation 17:10
Day 4 in Cape Town – Friday, 3 November 2023
- 07:00 Bomb Sweep
- 10:00 Bruch/Grand parade speeches
- 11:00 Tour starts at City Hall and bus departs along Darling Street
- Left onto Adderley Street
- Right onto Wale Street
- Left onto Long Street
- Right onto Buitensingel
- Right onto Loop Street
- Right onto Strand Street
- Left onto Adderley Street
- Left onto Hans Strijdom Ave onto Helen Suzman
- To DHL Stadium
Day 5 in KwaZulu-Natal – Saturday, 4 November 2023
- 06:30 Bomb Sweep
- 08:00 Premier to meet Coach / Captain (Khaya) – Plan to leave earlier
- 08:30: Start at Garden Court Aurora Drive – Plan to leave no later than 08:30
- Left into Centenary Blvd
- Right into Umhlanga Rocks Drive over M41
- Right into Kenneth Kaunda Drive
- Take Kenneth Kaunda Drive which becomes Blackburn Road
- Right into Chris Hani R102
- Left onto N2
- Right onto Queen Nandi Drive
- Left on Malendela Road
- Approximately 09:30: drive past KwaMashu Station
- On Malendela Road onto Inanda Road
- Right onto N2 for 800m and Left onto Umgeni Road
- Left into R102 Chris Hani Road around Roadhouse Cresent
- Right Onto Riverside Road towards the M4 Ruth First Highway
- South onto the M4 Ruth First Highway and onto Stalwart Simelane Street, which becomes Florence Nzama Street
- Right onto Anton Lambede Street
- Approximately 10:30: Mayoral visit stop at Durban City Hall This is 20Km from KwaMashu Station … Timing Feasible
- 11:30: Depart City Hall via Anton Lambede Street
- Right onto Brooke Road
- Right onto Dr Pixley Kaseme Street to OR Tambo Parade and turn left
- North via Battery Beach Road
- 12:30 Moses Mahbida Stadium for private lunch with the Premier Press conference with selected players
Day 6 in East London – Sunday, 5 November 2023
- Starting at the Garden Court Hotel
- Left into Moore Stree
- Left into John Bailie Road
- Continue along John Bailie Road
- Left into Glen Eagles Road
- Right into Old Transkei Road
- Left into Devereaux Avenue
- Left into Western Avenue
- Right into Amalinda Main Road
- Left into Woolwash Road
- Left onto Mdantsane Access Road
- Right into Alphen Road
- Right into Alphen Road
- Right into John Nash Road
- Left into Dunnoon Road
- Right into Douglas Smith Highway
- Right into Windyridge Road
- Into St Peters Road
- Right into Oxford Street
- Down Oxford Street Stopping at The City Hall.
- Depart City Hall down Oxford Street • Left into Fleet Street
- Right into Currie Street
- Along the Esplanade
- Finish at the Garden Court Hotel
