Pro Sports

Cape Town’s Pro Sports Scene: The Ultimate Guide for Fans

From the thunderous roar of the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium to the crack of the bat at Newlands, Cape Town is a city that lives and breathes sports. Whether you're here for the United Rugby Championship, the SA20 cricket league, local Premier Soccer League (PSL) heroes, or the Cape Town Cycle Tour, we've got everything you need to know about fixtures, tickets, and where to catch the action.

Cape Town is one of Africa’s great sporting cities. Set between mountains and ocean, it has hosted Rugby World Cups, Cricket World Cups, the FIFA World Cup and some of the continent’s biggest endurance events. Today, the city offers a year-round calendar of professional rugby, cricket, football, motorsport, cycling, sailing and emerging sports, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to experience South African sport at its best.

Whether you want to watch the DHL Stormers battle in the United Rugby Championship, cheer MI Cape Town in the SA20, catch a Cape Town City FC derby or discover one of the city’s fastest-growing sports, here’s everything you need to know.

Rugby

Rugby is woven into Cape Town’s identity. Match days bring thousands of supporters dressed in blue and white to Cape Town Stadium, creating one of the most electric atmospheres in South African sport.

The DHL Stormers compete in the United Rugby Championship and regularly face Europe’s biggest provincial sides, while Western Province continues to compete in domestic competitions.

Season: February to June (URC), with additional domestic fixtures.

Home venue: Cape Town Stadium

Don’t miss: Stormers vs Bulls, Sharks or European knockout matches.

Cricket

Few cricket grounds are as beautiful as Newlands Cricket Ground, where Table Mountain forms a spectacular backdrop behind the action.

Cape Town is home to MI Cape Town in the SA20 competition and Western Province Cricket, while Newlands regularly hosts international Test matches, One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.

Season: October to March

Home venue: Newlands Cricket Ground

Don’t miss: SA20 evenings and Boxing Day or New Year international fixtures.

Football (Soccer)

Football remains South Africa’s most widely supported sport, and Cape Town boasts passionate local support.

Cape Town City FC competes in the Premier Soccer League, while Cape Town Spurs continues to develop young talent through domestic competitions.

International friendlies and national team matches are also regularly staged in Cape Town.

Season: August to May

Home venues: Cape Town Stadium and Athlone Stadium.

Cycling

Cape Town is arguably Africa’s cycling capital.

The annual Cape Town Cycle Tour attracts more than 30,000 riders from around the world, while the Absa Cape Epic has become one of mountain biking’s premier stage races.

Beyond racing, visitors can hire bikes and ride scenic coastal roads, vineyards and mountain trails throughout the year.

Major events

• Cape Town Cycle Tour
• Absa Cape Epic
• Wines2Whales
• Double Century

Running & Trail Running

From road marathons to technical mountain trails, Cape Town offers world-class running events.

The Two Oceans Marathon is often called “the world’s most beautiful marathon,” while Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT) attracts elite mountain runners from across the globe.

Popular local routes include the Sea Point Promenade, Newlands Forest and Table Mountain National Park.

Sailing & Ocean Racing

With consistent winds and spectacular scenery, Cape Town has long been one of the world’s premier sailing destinations.

The city hosts numerous regattas throughout the year, while the Royal Cape Yacht Club remains the centre of competitive sailing.

Adventure seekers can also enjoy kiteboarding, wing foiling and ocean racing events along the Atlantic coastline.

Surfing

Cape Town offers waves for everyone, from beginners learning at Muizenberg to elite big-wave surfers tackling Dungeons near Hout Bay.

Competitions are held throughout the year depending on swell conditions, while surf schools operate daily at many beaches.

Golf

Cape Town is home to several championship golf courses set against spectacular mountain backdrops.

Courses such as Royal Cape, Steenberg, Clovelly and Erinvale regularly host major amateur and professional tournaments.

Motorsport

Although Cape Town no longer hosts Formula One, motorsport remains popular through regional circuit racing at Killarney International Raceway.

The venue hosts:

• Circuit racing
• Drifting
• Drag racing
• Motorcycle racing
• Historic motorsport festivals

Padel

Padel has become one of Cape Town’s fastest-growing sports.

Hundreds of courts have opened across the city, attracting everyone from casual social players to professional competitors. National tournaments are now regularly staged in Cape Town, while many clubs offer coaching and visitor bookings.

Whether you’re travelling with friends or looking to meet locals, padel is one of the easiest sports to experience during your stay.

Beach Volleyball

The beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Blouberg regularly host organised beach volleyball leagues and tournaments.

Visitors are welcome at many social competitions, making this one of the easiest sports to join while on holiday.

Adventure Racing & Ocean Sports

Cape Town’s landscape has helped create a thriving outdoor sports culture.

Popular activities include:

• Open-water swimming
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Ocean kayaking
• Paragliding
• Rock climbing
• Trail running
• Mountain biking

Many events combine several disciplines into endurance races that attract athletes from around the world.

Why Cape Town Is One of the World’s Great Sporting Cities

Few cities offer such a diverse sporting calendar in such spectacular surroundings. You can watch international rugby beneath Table Mountain, attend a sold-out cricket match at Newlands, cycle along Chapman’s Peak, surf world-famous waves, play a game of padel in the afternoon and finish the day watching the sunset from a yacht in Table Bay.

Whether you’re a dedicated sports fan or simply looking to experience the city’s incredible atmosphere, Cape Town delivers world-class competition and unforgettable experiences throughout the year.