Within a day of opening for ticket sales earlier this week, more than 60 000 tickets for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 tournament have been sold.

“This is incredible and a clear indication that spectators are ready to return to in-person events like sports matches and concerts, among others,” said City of Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, adding that the response also showed the overall importance of the events industry and the opportunity it held for recovery and growth.

Cape Town will host the tournament from September 9 to 11.  

“Large events such as these are key for a full recovery of the tourism and events industry. As a rugby enthusiast, I am also excited that Cape Town will be hosting another major international rugby tournament and adding to its long list of World Cups held here in the Mother City,” said Hill-Lewis.

He added that Cape was ready to once again put on a world-class showpiece. “The efforts by the City of Cape Town, City Promotion Agencies, and the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism, have, over the last two years, put the tourism and hospitality industry on the road to recovery.”

The qualifying teams for the men’s event are defending champions New Zealand, England, the Blitzboks, Fiji, Argentina, USA, France, Korea, Hong Kong and Scotland. Among the women’s teams, the Springbok Women’s Sevens side will join defending champions New Zealand, France, Australia, China, Japan and the US.