The British and Irish Lions rugby tour team has arrived in South Africa, to take on various local sides as well as the Springboks in the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions series. 

The double page spread full colour ad for the Series has a banner “The Hunt for Glory”, and details the matches against the Lions team as follows:

 

30 May:  Royal XV in Rustenberg

3 June:   Xerox Golden Lions  in Johannesburg

6 June:   Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein

10 June: The Sharks in Durban

13 June:  Vodacom Western Province in Cape Town

16 June:  Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth

20 June: Springboks in Durban

23 June: Emerging Springboks in Cape Town

27 June: Springboks in Pretoria

4 July: Springboks in Johannesburg

“Boktowns” have been created, according to the ad, and in Cape Town it is La Med in Camps Bay, Montecasino in Johannesburg, the Suncoast Casino in Durban and the Springbok Bar in Pretoria.

The tourism effect of the rugby series is clear, with Whale Cottage Camps Bay close to fully booked for the two Cape Town matches.   This is contrary to the IPL, which benefit was not experienced in Camps Bay at all.