After the recent 2010 FIFA World Cup, there has been much debate about what to do with South Africa’s World Cup Stadiums.

Thankfully Rugby has started showing some interest in the new stadia, ensuring they don’t become White elephants.

The Springboks will take on the All Blacks at FNB Stadium (Soccer City) on the 21st August, and there has been interest in the Cape Town Stadium, and Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit) by rugby parties too.

The decision by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) Executive Council to award a 2011 Tri-Nations fixture to the Eastern Cape is a great one! The region has produced many Springboks, and it will give the area a much needed boost, as well as spreading the game to a passionate rugby region that develops many players of colour.

The match has been awarded on condition that all three unions that make up the Southern Kings benefit from the match, and agree on a test match hosting model.

It will be the first time a Tri-Nations match will be played in the Eastern Cape, and the first visit by the All Blacks to the region since 1970.

The president of SARU, Oregan Hoskins said “Port Elizabeth now has a top flight venue in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and SARU has a long-standing commitment to assist in bringing top flight-rugby back to the region. This is a tangible proof of our commitment.”

The 2011 Tri-Nations consists of a single round only as it is a Rugby World Cup year. South Africa’s other home match against Australia has been provisionally awarded to the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, meaning a match at Kings Park or the new Moses Mabhida Stadium is likely.

It has taken a long time, but it is great to see rugby finally transforming, and utilising the new infrastructure that South Africa has at its disposal.