This week sees the 2022 Rugby Championship kick off, which is notable for three reasons. One is the fact that fans will be in stadiums once again and two is the return of the Springboks to the tournament following a forced hiatus due to the pandemic. 

The third reason has more of a tech spin as SA Rugby and Dell Technologies, which is its IT partner, are rolling out an immersive fan VR experience for the tournament. 

It will see said VR fan experiences available at all international games played in South Africa until 24th September. This will start with two back-to-back fixtures against New Zealand, the first of which is happening on 6th August at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

“We place enormous value on Dell’s ongoing support and guidance to help us achieve our digital transformation goals,” noted SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux. 

 “As South Africans, we can be successful on the world stage and give our nation a unifying source of hope by combining our hard work, adaptability and use of the latest technologies,” he added as the brand looks to find new ways to engage with Springbok fans. 

In terms of the experience itself, it will allow fans to don a VR headset and controllers to take on some rugby-related challenges. There is also the ability to snap pictures alongside your favourite Springbok. 

With Dell Technologies citing a Deloitte report regarding the use of VR in upping interest in sports events, hopefully more experiences are planned down the line, particularly for those who cannot afford to purchase game day tickets. 

“SA Rugby has recognised that it needs to accelerate its digital transformation efforts to realise the opportunities that technology offers and is working to embed digital throughout the organisation,” emphasised Doug Woolley, GM for Dell Technologies in South Africa.