Ten minutes of rugby and netball at a time, live entertainment, good food and a close community vibe are just some of the things to look forward to at the Nelson Mandela Bay 10’s tournament later this year.
Start saving the dates of Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1 for a three-day fun-filled festival at the De Wet Stadium in Despatch.
This is the second edition of the tournament, with the first having been held in 2023 at Daniel Pienaar Technical High School.
A team was also selected from the players who participated in last year’s NMB 10’s to participate in the Cape Town 10’s earlier this year. They came in at fourth place overall.
According to one of the tournament organisers, Lance van Aardt, more than 1 000 athletes will be competing for the R150 000 in prize moneys this year.
Van Aardt added that they will be looking to expand the tournament again next year if this one turns out a success.
On the rugby field, there will be 10 teams competing in the schools’ division, 10 teams in the veterans 35+ division, eight teams in the female division and 20 teams in the male semi-pro divisions.
While all the school teams will receive a participation fee, the female teams will be fighting for the R4 000 prize, the veterans for the R10 000 (first place), R6 000 (second place) and R4 000 (third place) top prizes, and the male semi-pros for the R60 000 (first place), R25 000 (second place) and R15 000 (third place) top prizes.
The netball teams will be facing each other on the cricket fields for the R2 000 prize money to be won in the men’s division, and the R8 000 (first place), R5 000 (second place) and R3 000 (third place) up for grabs in the ladies’ division.
Van Aardt said that while music will be heard throughout the day while the netball and rugby matches take place, there will be a not-to-be-missed entertainment line-up after the action takes place.
The line-up includes fan favourite Early B, The Rockets New Generation and Clint L.
The Nelson Mandela Bay 10’s tournament promises to be fun for the whole family with food stalls, a beer garden and a kiddies entertainment area on offer.
Tickets to the Nelson Mandela Bay 10’s tournament will be sold in phases.
During the early bird phase, which opened on August 22, tickets are R100 per adult for a weekend pass.
In the second phase, tickets will be R150 per adult and in the third phase it will be R200.
Tickets are R30 for juniors aged 6 to 12 and free for children under 6 in all phases.
There are a limited number of tickets available at Computicket, and Checkers and Shoprite stores.
