Stormers Rugby CEO Johan le Roux says they struggled to get supporters to leave Cape Town Stadium after the north-south derby on Saturday.
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The Stormers edged the Vodacom Bulls 13-8 in a tense, hard-fought encounter that capped a memorable evening in front of a packed house.
Coach John Dobson’s men extended their perfect start to the season to 10 matches, which includes eight wins in the Vodacom URC – where they lead the standings after nine rounds – and two in the Investec Champions Cup.
And some fans were keen to stick around long after the final whistle.
“They just wanted to keep partying,” Le Roux told reporters.
The match was an incredible advertisement for the URC. It had all the right elements: a stadium packed with fans, sunshine, a Test rugby atmosphere, a fierce opponent and of course the drama of the winning try at the very end.”
A crowd of 53,682 turned out for the derby, the biggest attendance of the URC season so far.
“There is nothing better for our sport and our team than a big, passionate crowd. It was so much fun on Saturday that we struggled to get our fans out of the stadium after the game,” said Le Roux.
“There is something very special happening in Cape Town rugby and everyone who was at the match could feel it.
“If we continue to send our fans home happy, as was the case on Saturday, our fan base will continue to grow as people return to watch and bring friends.”
If confirmed, the extension would be a major coup for the Stormers, securing the services of one of the most in-demand young playmakers in the global game and reinforcing their long-term plans around a player widely viewed as a generational talent.
While the franchise is yet to confirm the deal, all indications suggest the waiting game is nearly over.
