The grandest Italian rugby festival is about to hit Loftus and its surrounding areas when the Vodacom Bulls and Zebre Parma meet in round 14 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. The #LoftusFestaItaliana will be hosted on Saturday, 29 March 2024.
The beloved fortress, the herd and the XV of the North-West will all come together to celebrate and showcase the best of Italy, giving fans a gusto [taste] of the third-most populous state of the European Union through food, drink, culture, music and fashion in a VURC clash for the ages.
Tickets to the #LoftusFestaItaliana start from R 50.00c and can be purchased from Ticketpro.
Edgar Rathbone, Chief Executive of the BBCo. says the festival presents a great opportunity to connect the community as the province builds up to the Springbok test in July.
“It is great to be able to bring two communities together and host them here at Loftus because we are tirelessly working hard to make this a sportainment destination for all. This festival is our opportunity to celebrate the Italian community, their love for the game and rich culture amongst other things,”
“We love hosting Zebre and Bennetton whenever they are at Loftus and equally; the team enjoys visiting those two Italian cities; so, to be collaborating with the embassy helps us accelerate how we can curate a unique experience for our fans.”
Rathbone adds: “This #LoftusFestaItaliana is also a great foundation into what the Springboks against Italy test match will be like which we look forward to making a huge success for the South African Italian community, here at Loftus.”
#LoftusFestaItaliana will offer an immersive experience of Italian culture, bringing together the passion for rugby with the timeless traditions of Italy. The public will have the opportunity to indulge in authentic Italian cuisine, sip on fine Italian wines and Italian espresso, and enjoy the sounds of traditional and modern live Italian music.
In true Italian fashion, the event will also showcase a stunning display of iconic Italian automobiles, symbolising the country’s excellence in design and craftsmanship. This collaboration will also open avenues for South African businesses to engage with Italian partners.
