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More than 100 islanders – and a themed bus – welcomed the rugby world-champion Springboks as they touched down in Jersey yesterday.
The entire South African national rugby union men's squad will be on the island and staying at the L’Horizon Hotel and Spa until Sunday 3 November while they take part in a training camp to help them prepare for the upcoming Autumn Internationals.
Planned activities during the week will see the team use the island’s state-of-the-art sports facilities at Strive, as well as taking part in community events.
It’s yet another coup for Strive, which welcomed the British and Irish Lions through its doors in 2021 when Warren Garland’s side chose Jersey as their preferred location for a training camp ahead of a pre-tour fixture in Japan.
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“The Springboks represent more than just rugby and this visit is not only huge for Strive,” said Managing Director Ben Harvey, who added that the trip was “another wonderful endorsement of our facilities and staff, but also for the island as a whole”.
Visit Jersey boss Tricia Warwick said the visit marks an “important opportunity to strengthen the island's position as a sports tourism destination, building on the previous visits from professional sports teams, and the fantastic work being done by Strive in opening the door to future opportunities for sports training camps and sporting events”.
Islanders will be able to watch the Springboks train during an open session at Jersey Rugby Club on Saturday 2 November at 10:30.
The Springboks and Jersey Rugby Club will also be hosting a three-day youth training camp at the JRC from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 October from 09:00 to 12:30.
Led by their professional coaches, the camp will be open to children aged nine to 12 years and is hoped to inspire future sporting stars.
Islanders will also be given the unique opportunity to meet and dine with the players and their coaches during an 'Evening With the Springboks' charity gala dinner at the Royal Jersey Showground on 2 November.
The event will be raising funds for the Jersey Sporting Association for the Disabled (JSAD) and hosted by former international players and current rugby pundits Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode.
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