Cardiff Blues to tour the Free State
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The Heineken Cup team, the Cardiff Blues Wales will be playing against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs on Saturday, the 4th of August in Bloemfontein.
The game will be played in memory of Sir George Grey who would have been 200 years old this year. Sir George Grey was the founder of Grey College in Bloemfontein. He was also the Govender of the Cape Colony and later the Premier of New Zealand.
Nine players from the Cardiff Blues squad, including Wales’s captain, Sam Warburton, have been included in the Wales team who will be touring to Australia next month. The squad will also be accompanied by the IRB Player of the Millennium, Gareth Edwards. Cardiff Blues are one of the world’s most famous rugby clubs and has played against the Springboks and Wallabies on several occasions.
Mr. Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (PTY) Ltd is very excited about the prospects of the game. “This is a wonderful opportunity to host a match for our suite holders, season ticket holders and fans and to simultaneously pay respect to Grey College for their huge contribution to rugby in the Free State and South Africa. It is a great honor for us to host Gareth Edwards AND the Cardiff Blues in Bloemfontein and it will bring a lot of excitement. We want to make a big deal out of this event.”
“The match will be played in honor of Sir George Grey and Grey College and we will pay tribute to the retiring principal of Grey College, Mr. Johan Volsteedt, who has made major contributions to rugby over the years. His father was actually the president of the Free State Rugby Union when Gareth Edwards was here in 1974 when the British Lions played against the Free State.” Verster said.
The new president of the Free State Rugby Union, Mr. Lindsay Mould who is also involved with Grey College will be managing many of the activities.
This is the second consecutive year that the Free State did not get an international match and Free State Rugby is grateful to the promoter, Mr. Willem Strauss who managed to bring this match to Bloemfontein. Mr. Strauss says the game is a celebration of Grey College’s rugby achievements over many years and their contribution to Free State and South African rugby.
The Cardiff Blues coach Phil Davies said that the tour to the Free State is an important preparation for the team’s pre-season and that they are looking forward to the match against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs.
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