Blitzboks lose Steinhoff sponsorship

15 January 2018 - 12:33
By Craig Ray
General View during the Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby hand over of Vishuis Jerseys held at Shimla Park, UFS in Bloemfontein on February 15, 2017.
Image: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix General View during the Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby hand over of Vishuis Jerseys held at Shimla Park, UFS in Bloemfontein on February 15, 2017.

Following the collapse of its share price late last year after Steinhoff reported ‘accounting irregularities’ last month‚ their share price went into freefall.

Its market value collapsed by approximately 85%‚ or R187bn. Its chief executive Marcus Jooste resigned.

The latest development means the Springbok Men’s and Women’s‚ and SA Rugby Sevens Academy teams will no longer carry the company’s logo. “We have been kept informed by Steinhoff of their thinking and they have confirmed their intention to withdraw from their sponsorship of Sevens rugby with immediate effect‚” said Jurie Roux‚ CEO of SA Rugby.

“It has been completed amicably and by agreement. We’d like to thank Steinhoff for their commitment and support over the past two seasons.”

Roux said that the process had already begun to identify an alternative partner.

“We believe all our national teams have characteristics‚ values and a unique South African DNA that makes them highly attractive to commercial partners‚” said Roux.

“The Springbok Sevens team has added to that with consistently high standards of performance as the current holders of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title and we believe they will be an attractive proposition for potential partners.”

During 2018‚ the Springbok Sevens team will defend their Commonwealth Games title on Australia’s Gold Coast between 13 and 15 April and then challenge for the Sevens Rugby World Cup title in San Francisco between 20 and 22 July.

The Springbok Women’s Sevens team will also contest both events.

The Blitzboks are next in action in the HSBC World Sevens Series in Sydney‚ Australia‚ on 26-28 January.