Springbok deal eases South African cash crisis
Cash-strapped South African national rugby body SAR got a boost Friday with a three-year sponsorship of the Springboks by a international mobile telecommunications company MTN.
The MTN logo will appear on the national team jerseys for the first time Saturday in a season-opening Test against France at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.
No financial details of the sponsorship were announced when the deal was disclosed during the traditional pre-match team photograph.
Media speculation said the deal could be worth about 25 million rand (about $1.95 million, 1.75 million euros) a year.
The previous sponsors of the Springboks, one of the four major South African banks, was reportedly worth about 70 million rand a year.
SAR announced a loss of 23.3 million rand last year.
“It has been a tough couple of years from a financial perspective for SAR,” admitted chief executive Jurie Roux at the announcement.
“Our challenges remain, but this partnership marks the crossing of a watershed for SAR.”
South Africa and France are playing a three-Test series with the other fixtures in Durban (June 17) and Johannesburg (June 24).
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