Over 200 contestants pitched up at Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola park on 9 April to try out for Lady Rugga – SuperSport’s new female presenter. Lady Rugga’s first major assignment will be at the Rugby World Cup in September.
The audition drew an assortment of women, including Katie-Ann Lamb, the daughter of South African-born England cricketer Allan Lamb, who flew in especially from London. Earlier in the week, auditions took place at Wits and in Bloemfontein.
Lady Rugga producer Ryan Toerien said that new standards were set at Coca-Cola Park, where contestants queued from before 7am until after 9pm. “I was blown away by the auditions. Two or three of the woman could probably start work tomorrow they were that good,’ he remarked.
The judges, among them SuperSport’s Lee-Ann Paulick and Crystal Arnold, were also impressed by the standard. “Some were outstanding,’ said Paulick, “and I found their rugby knowledge remarkable’.
Among the 16 finalists to emerge from Bloemfontein were a researcher at the Free State legislature and a cashier, while the Johannesburg finalists included models, journalists and actresses.
Other finalists were actress-cum-singer-cum-dancer Natasha van der Merwe, freelance sports writer Kate Nokwe and Babalwe Rasane, a freelance TV presenter and handbag designer.
The Lady Rugga roadshow moves to Pretoria, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth this week. The first insert of auditions to date will be broadcast on Boots and All on Thursday (SS1, 8.30pm), to be followed by weekly highlights.
Lady Rugga can be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SuperSportLadyRugga#!/ and on Twitter: @Ladyrugga.
