View source for EPRU Stadium

{{short description|Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa}}
{{More citations needed|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = EPRU Stadium
| nickname = The Boet
| image = 
| fullname = Eastern Province Rugby Union Stadium
| former_names = Boet Erasmus Stadium
| location = La Roche Drive <br>[[Summerstrand]] <br>[[Port Elizabeth]] <br>[[South Africa]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|58|55|S|25|38|22|E|type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground = 
| built      = 1958&ndash;1960
| opened     = 1960
| renovated  = 
| expanded   = 
| closed     = 2010
| demolished = 2019
| owner      = [[Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality]]
| operator   = Eastern Province Rugby Union
| surface    = Grass
| scoreboard = 
| construction_cost = 
| suites     = 
| architect  = 
| project_manager = 
| structural engineer = 
| services engineer = 
| general_contractor = 
| main_contractors = 
| capacity = 33,852
| record_attendance = 
| dimensions = 100m X 70m
| tenants = [[Eastern Province Elephants|Mighty Elephants]] ([[Currie Cup]]) (1959 - 2010)<br>[[Bay United F.C.|Bay United]] ([[Premier Soccer League|PSL]]/[[National First Division|NFD]]) (2008 - 2010)
}}

'''EPRU Stadium''', also known by its original name of '''Boet Erasmus Stadium''', was a [[stadium]] in [[Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape|Port Elizabeth]], [[South Africa]]. The letters "EPRU" in the name represent the Eastern Province Rugby Union,  the stadium's historic primary tenants, whose team is now known as the [[Eastern Province Elephants|Mighty Elephants]]. The original name '''Boet Erasmus Stadium''' was named after Boet Erasmus, a former mayor of [[Port Elizabeth]].<ref name="S24">{{cite news |last= Lambley|first= Garrin (11 July 2013) |url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/So-sad-Boet-Erasmus-in-ruin-20131106|title=So sad. Boet Erasmus in Ruin|website=Sport24|access-date=11 May 2016}}</ref> It had a capacity of 33,852 people and served primarily as a venue for [[rugby union]] matches but also hosted a number of [[association football]] (soccer) fixtures.

The stadium closed in 2010 and was demolished in 2019.

==Background==
===Music===
On 6 March 2007, [[Ireland|Irish]] vocal pop band [[Westlife]] held a concert during ''[[The Love Tour]]'', in-support of their record, ''[[The Love Album (Westlife album)|The Love Album]]''.

[[French Canadian]] singer [[Céline Dion]] performed for over 17,000 people on 27 February 2008 during her ''[[Taking Chances World Tour]]''.

===Rugby===

Boet Erasmus stadium was primarily used as the home of rugby in the Eastern Cape. Situated in the affluent suburb of [[Summerstrand]], it hosted matches at Test, [[Super Rugby]], [[Currie Cup]], [[Vodacom Cup]] and club level.<ref name="SAP">{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Grant (15 November)|url=https://www.sapromo.com/former-ep-rugby-home-in-ruins/4023|title=Former EP Rugby home in ruins|website=SA Promo|access-date=11 May 2016|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613085332/https://www.sapromo.com/former-ep-rugby-home-in-ruins/4023|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was regularly used by the [[Eastern Province Elephants]] under their previous names, the Mighty Elephants and the Eastern Province Kings and hosted their two home matches during the 1994 [[Super 10 (Southern Hemisphere competition)|Super 10]] season. The stadium was also the intended home of the [[Southern Spears]], a team that was scheduled to play in the [[2006 Currie Cup Premier Division|2006 Currie Cup]] in preparation for its admission to the [[Super Rugby]] starting in 2007. However, the Spears were later denied entry into both competitions.

The stadium is credited for being the first stomping ground of a number of ''Springbok'' legends, included in which are [[Danie Gerber]], Garth Wright, Frans Erasmus and Hannes Marias.<ref name="SAP" />

====The Battle of Boet Erasmus====
In 1974, during the [[1974 British Lions tour to South Africa]], one of the most violent matches in rugby history<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/feature9.html |title=Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 13 July 1974 |publisher=Official Website of the British and Irish Lions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022071708/http://www.lionsrugby.com/feature9.html |archive-date= 22 October 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=George |last=Byron |url=http://www.weekendpost.co.za/main/2005/05/14/sport/st01_14052005.htm |title=Recalling those legendary 'Battles of the Boet' |newspaper=Weekend Post |date=14 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803104218/http://www.weekendpost.co.za/main/2005/05/14/sport/st01_14052005.htm |archive-date=3 August 2009}}</ref> was dubbed the "Battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium".<ref>{{cite news|last=Staff |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article834762.ece |title=Sports File: Caught in Time: Lions in South Africa, 1974 |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=24 November 2002}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>  After a [[99 call]] by Lions, there is famous video footage of [[J. P. R. Williams]] running over half of the pitch and launching himself at [[Moaner van Heerden]],<ref>{{cite web |first=Tom |last=English |url=http://www.2005lions.net/tour_1974_article_01.shtml |title=Rampant Lions - South Africa 1974 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027204433/http://www.2005lions.net/tour_1974_article_01.shtml |archive-date=27 October 2007}} cites it is a copy an article in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', 20 May 2001.</ref> something that Williams says he is not proud of.<ref name=Guardian-2006>{{cite news|first=Paul |last=Doyle |url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/smalltalk/story/0,,1888496,00.html |title=Small talk: JPR Williams |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] Unlimited |date=6 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120133505/http://sport.guardian.co.uk/smalltalk/story/0%2C%2C1888496%2C00.html |archive-date=20 January 2008 }}</ref> [[Gordon Brown (rugby union)|Gordon Brown]] hit his opposite number, [[Johan de Bruyn]], so hard that the Orange Free State man's glass eye flew out and landed in the mud.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Clem  |last2=Thomas |first2=Greg|year=2013|title=125 Years of the British and Irish Lions: The Official History |edition=illustrated |publisher=Random House |isbn=9781780577388 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FdcFm9LG4ewC&pg=RA1-PR4 iv]}}</ref>

At the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]] on 3 June 1995, [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] took on [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]] in a clash that has also sometimes been dubbed the Battle of Boet Erasmus. The match, which South Africa ultimately won 20–0, was marred by an on-field scuffle with four players involved in a brawl. South Africa hooker [[James Dalton (rugby player)|James Dalton]], who had come to the aid of a teammate who had been struck on the back of the head, and winger [[Pieter Hendriks]] were suspended for the remainder of the tournament for their roles in the incident and could only watch from the sidelines as the nation went on to claim its first Rugby World Cup title.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/Battle-of-Boet-Erasmus-remembered-20150603|title='Battle of Boet Erasmus' remembered|website=News24|date=3 June 2015|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rugbydump.com/2007/07/167/1995-rwc-battle-of-boet-erasmus-south-africa-vs-canada|title=1995 RWC Battle of Boet Erasmus - South Africa vs Canada|website=Rugby Dump|date=4 June 2015|access-date=16 August 2016|archive-date=8 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508223209/http://www.rugbydump.com/2007/07/167/1995-rwc-battle-of-boet-erasmus-south-africa-vs-canada|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Soccer===
The stadium was used as the home ground for Port Elizabeth's, [[Bay United F.C.]] who moved to the stadium for their [[2008-09 Premier Soccer League|2008/2009]] season in the [[Premier Soccer League]]. The club used the stadium again at times during their [[2009-10 National First Division|2009/2010]] campaign in the [[National First Division]]. This was due to availability problems with their preferred home ground, the Westbourne Oval.

==Closure and abandonment==

[[File:Boet Erasmus Stadium.jpg|thumb|Remnants of the EPRU Stadium in 2016]]

The stadium was officially closed in July 2010. The Eastern Province Rugby Union has moved all games to the new world class [[Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium]] in Port Elizabeth. The last match to be played at the stadium was a friendly against the [[Blue Bulls]] on 3 July 2010.<ref name=S24 /> ''The Boet'' hosted age-group, amateur and club rugby matches after being officially closed but has since been abandoned, with vagrants and thieves having slowly dismantled the stadium to such an extent that all that remains are the concrete structures.<ref name=S24 /> The local municipality, who own the property, has asked for proposals from the private sector for the redevelopment of the land.<ref name="SAP"/>

The stadium was demolished in 2019.

== {{anchor|International tournaments}}International tournaments==

===1995 Rugby World Cup===

{{main|1995 Rugby World Cup}}

The stadium was one of 9 venues throughout South Africa used for the Rugby World Cup. The stadium was used for group games in Group A. It hosted 3 games, including the match between South Africa and Canada:

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"
|-
!Date
!Team #1
!Res.
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|26 May 1995||{{ru|CAN}} ||style="text-align:center;"|34-3||{{ru|ROM}}||[[1995 Rugby World Cup|Group A]]||style="text-align:center;"|18,000
|-
|31 May 1995||{{ru|AUS}} ||style="text-align:center;"|27-11||{{ru|CAN}}||[[1995 Rugby World Cup|Group A]]||style="text-align:center;"|15,000
|-
|3 June 1995||{{ru|RSA}} ||style="text-align:center;"|20-0||{{ru|CAN}}||[[1995 Rugby World Cup|Group A]]||style="text-align:center;"|31,000
|}

===1996 African Cup of Nations===

{{main|1996 African Cup of Nations}}

When the tournament was moved to South Africa, the EPRU Stadium was chosen as one of 4 host stadiums. A total of 6 pool games were played at the stadium, as well as a quarter-final:

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"
|-
!Date
!Team #1
!Res.
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|14 January 1996||{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]]||style="text-align:center;"|2–0||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]||[[1996 African Cup of Nations#Group D|Group D]]||style="text-align:center;"|8,000
|-
|16 January 1996||{{flagicon|TUN}} [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]]||style="text-align:center;"|1–1||{{flagicon|MOZ}} [[Mozambique national football team|Mozambique]]||[[1996 African Cup of Nations#Group D|Group D]]||style="text-align:center;"|1,000
|-
|19 January 1996||{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]]||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{flagicon|TUN}} [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]]||[[1996 African Cup of Nations#Group D|Group D]]||style="text-align:center;"|1,000
|-
|21 January 1996||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]||style="text-align:center;"|1–0||{{flagicon|MOZ}} [[Mozambique national football team|Mozambique]]||[[1996 African Cup of Nations#Group D|Group D]]||style="text-align:center;"|500
|-
|24 January 1996||{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]]||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{flagicon|BFA}} [[Burkina Faso national football team|Burkina Faso]]||[[1996 African Cup of Nations#Group B|Group B]]||style="text-align:center;"|180
|-
|25 January 1996||{{flagicon|TUN}} [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]]||style="text-align:center;"|3–1||{{flagicon|CIV}} [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]||[[1996 African Cup of Nations#Group D|Group D]]||style="text-align:center;"|1,000
|-
|28 January 1996||{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]]||style="text-align:center;"|1–0||{{flagicon|ZAI}} [[Congo DR national football team|Zaire]]||[[1996 African Cup of Nations#Quarterfinals|Quarterfinals]]||style="text-align:center;"|8,000
|}

===2010 FIFA World Cup===

During the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], the stadium was used as a logistics point for Port Elizabeth, a host city.

==International matches==

===Rugby Union===
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"
|-
!Date
!Team #1
!Result
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|30 April 1960
|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|align=center|18-10
|{{ru|SCO}}
|[[1960 Scotland Rugby Union Tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|24,000
|-
|27 August 1960
|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|align=center|8-3
|[[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]]
|[[1960 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|53,000
|-
|12 August 1961
|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|align=center|23-11
|[[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]]
|[[1961 Australia rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|26,000
|-
|30 June 1962||[[Eastern Province Elephants|Eastern Province]]||style="text-align:center;"|6-21||[[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]||[[1962 British Lions tour to South Africa|Tour match]]|| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
|7 September 1963
|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|align=center|22-6
|[[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]]
|[[1963 Australia rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|48,600
|-
|29 May 1968||[[Eastern Province Elephants|Eastern Province]]||style="text-align:center;"|14-23||[[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]||[[1968 British Lions tour to South Africa|Tour match]]||style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|22 June 1968||{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]||style="text-align:center;"|6-6||[[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]||[[1968 British Lions tour to South Africa|Test match]]||style="text-align:left;"|70,000
|-
|29 August 1970
|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|align=center|14-3
|[[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]]
|[[1970 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|55,000
|-
|25 May 1974||{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]||style="text-align:center;"|9-26||[[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]||[[1974 British Lions tour to South Africa|Test match]]||style="text-align:left;"|55,000
|-
|13 June 1974||[[Eastern Province Elephants|Eastern Province]]||style="text-align:center;"|14-28||[[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]||[[1974 British Lions tour to South Africa|Tour match]]||style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|10 May 1980||[[Eastern Province Elephants|Eastern Province]]||style="text-align:center;"|16-28||[[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]||[[1980 British Lions tour to South Africa|Tour match]]||style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|28 June 1980
|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|align=center|12-10
|[[1980 British Lions tour to South Africa|British Lions]]
|[[1980 British Lions tour to South Africa|Test match]]
|45,000
|-
|2 June 1984
|{{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
|align=center|33-15
|[[England national rugby union team|England]]
|[[1984 England rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|46,000
|-
|8 October 1994
|{{ru|RSA}}
|align=center|42-22
|[[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]]
|[[1994 Argentina rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|28,000
|-
|3 June 1995
|{{ru|RSA}}
|align=center|20-0
|[[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]]
|[[1995 Rugby World Cup|Test match]]
|31,000
|-
|24 May 1997||[[Eastern Province Elephants|Eastern Province XV]]||style="text-align:center;"|11-39||[[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]||[[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa|Tour match]]||style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|12 June 1999
|{{ru|RSA}}
|align=center|74-3
|[[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]]
|[[1999 Italy rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|35,000
|-
|30 June 2001
|{{ru|RSA}}
|align=center|60-14
|[[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]]
|[[2001 Italy rugby union tour|Test match]]
|35,000
|-
|28 June 2003
|{{ru|RSA}}
|align=center|26-25
|[[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]]
|[[2003 Argentina rugby union tour of South Africa|Test match]]
|25,000
|-
|25 June 2005
|{{ru|RSA}}
|align=center|27-13
|[[France national rugby union team|France]]
|[[2005 France rugby union tour of South Africa and Australia|Test match]]
|35,000
|-
|17 June 2006||{{ru|RSA}}|| style="text-align:center;" |29-15||{{ru|SCO}}||[[2006 mid-year rugby test series|Test match]]|| style="text-align:left;" |25,844
|}

===South Africa National Football Team===
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;" width="100%"
|-
!Date
!Team #1
!Res.
!Team #2
!Round
!Attendance
|-
|29 July 2000||{{fb|RSA}}||style="text-align:center;"|0–1||{{fb|ZIM}}||[[2000 COSAFA Cup#Semi-Finals|2000 COSAFA Cup#Semi-Final]]||style="text-align:left;"|35,000
|-
|14 June 2003||{{fb|RSA}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–1||{{fb|TRI}}||[[Exhibition match|International Friendly]]||style="text-align:left;"|28,000
|-
|12 November 2005||{{fb|RSA}}||style="text-align:center;"|2–3||{{fb|SEN}}||[[Nelson Mandela Challenge]]||style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|1 June 2008||{{fb|RSA}}||style="text-align:center;"|0–1||{{fb|NGR}}||[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier]]||style="text-align:left;"|30,000
|}

==See also==
* [[Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium]]
* [[List of stadiums in South Africa]]
* [[List of African stadiums by capacity]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://cafe.daum.net/stade/Dlwn/25 Photos of Stadiums in South Africa] at [https://cafe.daum.net/stade/ cafe.daum.net/stade]

{{1995 Rugby World Cup Venues}}
{{1996 African Cup of Nations Venues}}
{{Super Rugby stadiums}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eprfu Stadium}}
[[Category:Soccer venues in South Africa]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in South Africa]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Gqeberha]]
[[Category:Sport in Gqeberha]]
[[Category:Sports venues in the Eastern Cape]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2019]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in South Africa]]