If you can’t be at the stadium, what’s the next best option? Gather mates together for a mega rugby stream session at home. Whether it’s the World Cup or the British & Irish Lions tour, here’s how to back the Boks with a braai. Springbok face masks recommended.

Brush Up On Braaimaster Etiquette

Hosting a braai is one thing, but being the ultimate braaimaster is another thing entirely. Aside from honing your steak skills, here are a few more tips to cement your braaimaster legacy.

• Keep things hygienic by always using braai tongs when putting food on the grid. Ensure your hands are clean and sanitised at all times. Perhaps keep a few bottles of hand sanitiser dotted around your home for guests to use. (During Covid restrictions, it’s also a good idea to take the lead in social-distance-greeting etiquette.)
• Don’t braai late. Get the fire started before guests arrive.
• Cater for all preferences, including those who prefer halaal or kosher food.
• Wear the mark of a master: the Megamaster Braai Apron, which is made of 100% cotton and equipped with a front end pocket for anything from a tong to spices.
• When it comes to prepping and sorting food, start with the vegetarian meals using a clean or separate braai grid to prevent any red or white meat from coming into contact with your veg guests’ food.
• Use a clean tray when taking cooked meat off the braai and then put a lid on top to prevent heat escaping or bugs from entering.
• If cooking chicken and meat, start with the chicken first. Once it’s half cooked, add the red meat according to the required doneness: start from well-done and end with rare and bleu. This way you’ll nail your timing.
• Never let your guests do the braaing, even if they offer. They’re there to enjoy themselves.

Plan Your Braai Recipes

Aside from ensuring you’ve got enough biltong to go around, it’s essential to plan your braai recipes in advance – especially if you’re expecting a large group with different tastes and dietary requirements. Also, if you’re marinating meat, it’s a good idea to prep your meat the day before; that way you can give the meat enough time for the sauce to soak in properly.

For groups of 10 or more, we recommend serving at least six types of starter snacks: three vegetarian and three meat and/or fish. For inspiration, browse our Spicy Asian Chicken Wings, Bacon and Blue Cheese Jalapeno Poppers, and Coconut Pineapple Shrimp Skewers.

When it comes to the main braai course, if you’ve got particularly fussy friends, you might want to impress them by dividing the meat up according to how well they like their steak done. The easiest way to do this is by wrapping each piece of steak in cling film and adding sticker tags to each with the guest’s name and preference. No-one can deny your braaimaster skills if you pull this off.

But what meat to cook? Go for the classic Fillet Steak with Mushroom Sauce or be a little fancy with our BBQ pulled Pork, bearing in mind this one takes around eight hours to cook. For kids, arrange simple hot dogs with fried red onion and tomato slices, topped with mustard or tomato sauce. Don’t forget the vegetarians: we recommend our Mexican Street Corn and Vegetarian Pizza. When it comes to dessert, our Potjie Chocolate Mud Cake is easy to prep and cook, and even includes a hint of beer (more braaimaster points).

Set Up the Rugby Stream

Since the main highlight is the rugby, you need the right size screen and quality audio equipment. Prepare for load shedding by investing in a back-up generator or battery inverter. An inverter may be a better option if you don’t want the noise of the generator drowning out the commentary. If you’re hosting more than 10 guests and don’t have adequate indoor space, you could go all out and create your own garden cinema. Hire bean bags, a screen and a projector.

Stock the Bar

Guests will most likely bring their own drinks, but be sure to have a few bottles of soda water, a stack of lemon slices and ice blocks on hand. Everyone forgets to bring these extras. If you want to go the extra mile, offer guests a Springbok shooter – a mix of peppermint liqueur and Amarula.

If you don’t have a bar fridge and need to keep the beers chilled, check out the Megamaster 51L stainless cooler, which can fit up to 80 beer or soft drink cans. This durable cooler box comes with a plug to drain excess water and retains ice up to four days.

Don’t have a bar? If you’re good with your hands, you could always build your own DIY pallet bar.

Cook on the Right Braai

You might already be sorted with your ideal Megmaster braai. But if you’re looking to buy a new braai for your rugby stream party and you’re not sure which one to choose, your final decision could depend on how much space you have available in your home and the number of guests you’re catering for.

Planning a garden gig and have space to play with? We recommend one of our patio gas braais. (Also check out our new Outdoor range – you might want to offer some gazebo shade.) If you need to keep things more compact, then our tabletop gas braais are ideal for a small (well-ventilated) patio while still giving you that satisfying sizzle.

#BILions Competition: Win a Weekend Getaway with Springbok Kwagga Smith!

Planning a British & Irish Lions rugby stream at home? Follow us on Facebook and look out for our #BILions competition posts during July. Tag the friends you’re inviting to your stream party and you could win a two-night stay with Kwagga at his brand-new Dullstroom guest lodge.