CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) – South Africa have moved next month’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina from Bloemfontein to Soweto as part of a unique double-header that will also see the national soccer team play at the same venue.

The August 17 matches will take place at the 94 700-seater Soccer City complex and are part of an initiative spearheaded by the South African government to honour former president Nelson Mandela, who remains critically ill in hospital.
The South Africa soccer team will take on Burkina Faso, losers at the same venue in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February, in a friendly at 1130 GMT with the rugby match to follow at 1500 GMT, two hours earlier than originally scheduled.
“I cannot think of a better way for us as sportspeople to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela than putting two of South Africa’s most popular sports, with contrasting cultural heritages, on to the same field on the same day,” South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins said in a statement yesterday.
SANZAR, who control the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship event which also involves New Zealand and Australia, have given their backing to the initiative.
“SANZAR are supportive of the forthcoming Nelson Mandela Sports Day and believe it will prove a momentous occasion for the Republic of South Africa,” CEO Greg Peters said.