The partnership between South African rugby and local businesses continues to thrive, as they announced a ground-breaking sponsorship deal with renowned retail company Pick n Pay this last week.
SA Rugby and Pick n Pay have signed a four-year contract as a Tier 1 sponsor of the Springbok jersey, as well as other junior and women’s national teams.
The company’s logo is set to feature in gold on the back of all the rugby national team jerseys, replacing banking giant FNB (First National Bank), with their logo now taking centre stage on the front of all team jerseys.
Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said: “Through this partnership, Pick n Pay and SA Rugby unite to uplift, empower, and inspire.
“Just as the Springboks and our other national teams play for the pride of the nation, Pick n Pay’s people have made a difference every day for over 50 years.
“FNB has been an outstanding partner to the Springboks and rugby for many years, and we are delighted that we have aligned to take the relationship to the next level.”
The Pick n Pay logo will also appear on the front of all national teams’ training apparel, a new departure for SA Rugby’s sponsorship model.
“This sponsorship is about more than just a logo on a jersey—it’s about celebrating the values that unite us as South Africans,” said Sean Summers, Pick n Pay CEO.
“We are incredibly proud to back the Springbok teams as they push forward on their journey of excellence, and we are excited to help grow rugby from grassroots to the professional stage, ensuring that our customers and supporters can be part of this journey.”
The South African retail giant’s logo made its debut on the green and gold at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, when the Blitzboks took on Uruguay on Friday.
According to reports, the value of the Springboks’ sponsorship has skyrocketed from around R78 million to R160 million in the past six years.
