Zain Davids, co-captain of South Africa, scores a try during the SVNS in Cape Town on 8 December 2024. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images) 
Cape Town is set to host another instalment of the HSBC SVNS on 6 and 7 December. The two-day tournament will bring exciting rugby, music and fan festivities to the city, but residents and commuters should take heed of planned road closures. Spectators are also encouraged to use alternative parking and transportation options.
/file/attachments/orphans/mapArtboard1card_791669.jpg "Your guide to transportation for the HSBC SVNS weekend in Cape Town. (Graphic: Daniella Lee Ming / Yesca)")
Beat the traffic
To ease congestion and minimise time spent in traffic, the MyCiti shuttle will once again operate from specific points to the stadium, free of charge for ticket holders.
The service will operate from the Civic Centre, Thibault Square and Stadium stations on Saturday and Sunday. With the gates set to open at 9.00am, the first bus leaves the Civic Centre at 8.30am, well in time for the kickoff of the first game at 10am.
The last bus of the day leaves Stadium Station at 9.30pm on Saturday and 7.30pm on Sunday.
Parking options
Those travelling by car before they catch the bus can park at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the Civic Centre, and on-street. The Civic Centre will open 475 parking bays for rugby ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis from 7.30am each day. The parking areas are accessible from Hertzog Boulevard, incoming, and on Civic Road.
For e-hailing, there will be a dedicated drop-off area on P14 in Green Point Main Road between York Road and Wigtown Road.
Key closures and restrictions
Residents and motorists are to be advised that the following roads will be closed to traffic from 6am on Saturday and Sunday:
- Fritz Sonnenberg Road at Bay Road;
- Stephen Way at Fritz Sonnenberg;
- Vlei Road at Helen Suzman Boulevard; and
- Granger Bay Boulevard at the Green Point A-Track Parking
On home soil
The first pool match, between the women’s teams of Japan and Canada, kicks off at 10am on Saturday, 6 December. Spectators will want to stick around for the last game of the day, at 7.41pm, when South Africa play Great Britain.
The Blitzboks are in for a tough first day of the tournament as they also face Fiji and New Zealand. They finished 5th in last week’s Dubai leg and are looking to deliver a stronger showing on their home turf.
“The boys definitely weren’t happy with what we put out in Dubai,” said Tristan Leyds, Blitzboks fullback and winger. “I think one of the things that we said after the tournament was we didn’t respect our ball as much as we did last year.”
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/GettyImages-2208621126.jpg "Tristan Leyds of South Africa is tackled by Tobias Wade (left) and Marcos Moneta of Argentina during the men's pool A match on day one of the HSBC SVNS Singapore at the National Stadium on 5 April 2025. (Photo: Yong Teck Lim / Getty Images)")
The Blitzboks play Fiji at 12.44pm on Saturday in their first pool game. Last week, the Blitzboks were beaten 29-10 by Fiji.
“We’re going to have a hard look at ourselves at our performance,” said Leyds.
Their second game, against New Zealand, who were victorious in Dubai last weekend, kicks off at 4pm.
A total of 24 games are scheduled for Saturday. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the semifinals on Sunday, while the other teams will contest the minor placings.
The two finals on Sunday are scheduled for 4.10pm (women) and 4.43pm (men).
HSBC SVNS Cape Town pools
Men
- Pool A: Springbok Sevens, New Zealand, Fiji, Great Britain.
- Pool B: Australia, Argentina, France, Spain.
Women:
- Pool A: New Zealand, Fiji, Great Britain, USA.
- Pool B: Australia, Canada, France, Japan.
Pool fixtures – Saturday, 6 December
- 10am: Japan v Canada (women);
- 10.22am: Australia v France (women);
- 10.44am: Fiji v USA (women);
- 11.06am: New Zealand v Great Britain (women);
- 11.38am: France v Spain (men);
- 12pm: Australia v Argentina (men);
- 12.22pm: New Zealand v Great Britain (men);
- 12.44pm: Fiji v South Africa (men);
- 1.16pm: Japan v France (women);
- 1.38pm: Australia v Canada (women);
- 2pm: Fiji v Great Britain (women);
- 2.22pm: New Zealand v USA (women);
- 2.54pm: France v Argentina (men);
- 3.16pm: Australia v Spain (men);
- 3.38pm: Fiji v Great Britain (men);
- 4pm: New Zealand v South Africa (men);
- 4.42pm: Canada v France (women);
- 5.04pm: Australia v Japan (women);
- 5.26pm: USA v Great Britain (women);
- 5.48pm: New Zealand v Fiji (women);
- 6.35pm: Spain v Argentina (men);
- 6.57pm: Australia v France (men);
- 7.19pm: New Zealand v Fiji (men); and
- 7.41pm: South Africa v Great Britain (men). DM