Newland Rugby Stadium. (Supplied)
- Ex-Springbok Wynand Claassen responded to suggestions that declaring Newlands Rugby Stadium a heritage team would mean the end of WP rugby.
- Claassen is the face of a foursome who applied to the Heritage Western Cape to make Newlands a heritage site.
- Although WP would foot the maintenance bill, Claassen suggested that the stadium could become what he called a “Living Museum”.
Former Springbok Wynand Claassen has rejected suggestions that declaring Newlands Rugby Stadium a heritage side would mean the end of Western Province rugby.
This week SA Rugby administrator Rian Oberholzer, tasked with taking back the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU), said if heritage status is granted it would “kill rugby”. in the province.
READ | Newlands Saga: Western Province Will Pay Upkeep Bill If Heritage Status Is Granted
Claassen is the face of a foursome who have applied to the Heritage Western Cape, hoping to see Newlands become a provincial heritage site.
This would make selling the property, believed to be worth R360 million in book value, more difficult for Oberholzer, whose mandate it is to complete the sale.
The matter is in the hands of Heritage Western Cape, who will make a decision after receiving public submissions by January 31.
Newland Rugby Stadium. (Supplied)
Claassen, however, said that “it is a mistake” that the future prospects of WP and, by proxy, the Stormers depended on the sale of Newlands.
“It’s a misconception and it’s misleading the public,” Claassen told News24 in an emailed response.
“The Stormers (and WP Rugby) are one of the strongest brands in South Africa. Big team sponsors should be lining up to sponsor the franchise and rugby in the province.”
“The financial situation that WPRFU finds itself in has nothing to do with the historical importance of Newlands Rugby Stadium. Rugby would never die in WP.
“Therefore, a heritage application and a heritage site have nothing to do with WP’s financial problems. The union must find other means to solve its financial problems and the administrators who were responsible for this demise must be reprimanded.”
WPRFU owes, among others, Flyt Dream World R112 million in a loan they accepted, in a deal in which they linked their properties which were valued at R500 million, including Newlands.
Claassen said they did not want to get in the way of a Newlands sale and were not trying to prevent WP from escaping its financial quagmire.
“Numerous times, we have mentioned that we did not want to stop the sale of Newlands. We are also not trying to harm the WPRFU through an irresponsible reaction to its dire financial needs.”
“We also didn’t say we want the (WP) Stormers to play in Newlands again. They’ve already moved to Cape Town Stadium, so let’s move towards the positive future for Newlands Rugby Stadium.
“It is simply not true that if Newlands is listed as heritage then nothing can be done about it. The historical and social significance of the stadium is enormous for future generations.”
“Rugby activities could still take place there to strengthen the future significance of the proposed heritage site.
“We are seeking to preserve Newlands Stadium as a heritage for the wider public good, and in particular we believe that Newlands Stadium could become a very valuable tourist destination.”
Heritage Western Cape chief executive Michael Janse van Rensburg told News24 that WP would continue to own Newlands, but would have to foot the bill for its management and maintenance if heritage status were ratified.
“If it was all just about money, there would be nothing left of historical value.” – Winand Claassen.
Now that the Stormers play all of their games at Cape Town Stadium, after signing a deal with Cape Town in 2019, it’s unclear what will happen to the landmark if it becomes a heritage site.
Claassen, an architect by trade, rejected suggestions that it could be a simple museum but could be what he called a “Living Museum.”
He also admitted that he had suggestions for what to do with the site, a Conservation Management Plan (CMP), which he planned to hand over to Heritage Western Cape.
“It’s also a mistake to think that we want to turn Newlands into a museum as everyone knows it wouldn’t work – look at what happened to the SA Rugby Museum on the Waterfront,” he said.
“While there would be space for several museums, the suggestion of having a small display or commemorative plaque does not bring Newlands the value as a historical and social site that it deserves. The whole concept of the stadium is lost.
“The whole site is important to create a ‘Living Museum’, not a dusty old place. A new use as a commercial and tourist center that would be used daily and would need to be constantly renewed and updated with all kinds of uses.”
