Xavier Radio Ug News 24 7
Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein has officially been elevated to Class B – Tier 2 Test status, restoring its ability to host top-tier international rugby matches.
The announcement follows months of collaboration between rugby authorities, the Mangaung Municipality and the provincial government.
This after South African Rugby Union (SARU) downgraded the Toyota Stadium to a Class C venue in February 2025.
The upgrade confirms that Toyota Stadium now meets the national standards set by the South African Rugby Union.
The elevation follows earlier concerns that the stadium would not host major test matches, triggering public concern across the Free State.
Free State Cheetahs, Rory Duncan, outlines what was required to secure the upgrade.
“SARU sent a delegation to come and assess the stadium, and the feedback that we got from them was two-fold. Number one, there were cosmetic changes that needed to take place, and the second thing was we needed to have some sort of working arrangement with the municipality. One of the challenging parts was getting some sort of cooperation agreement with the municipality because obviously it is a negotiation that takes place between the two parties. But we worked very well together. We all had the same goal in mind. We wanted the stadium to be upgraded.”
-Report by Tiisetso Mokoena
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/toyota-stadium-in-bloem-can-once-again-host-international-rugby-games/
