B&I Lions tour to SA confirmed

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SA Rugby and the British & Irish Lions confirmed on Tuesday that they were aligned on delivering the Castle Lager Lions Series in South Africa in the scheduled playing window.

The Lions Board confirmed its preference to SA Rugby on Monday evening, prior to follow-up meetings earlier today.

“After reviewing information relating to the various contingency scenarios being considered, I can confirm that the Board’s intended position is for the Tour to go ahead as scheduled in South Africa in 2021,” said Mr Jason Leonard, Chairman of The British & Irish Lions.

“We acknowledge that there is a significant amount of work still to be undertaken to deliver a robust COVID-19 countermeasure plan to ensure a successful, safe and uninterrupted Tour. SA Rugby will have our full support to help implement this plan.”

Mr Mark Alexander, President of the South African Rugby Union, said he would inform the Executive Council of SA Rugby of the alignment.

“We appreciate the Lions’ faith and share their desire to see a safe and successful tour,” said Mr Alexander.

“We have been in regular contact with our government to make that a reality against the backdrop of the pandemic and its predicted progression over the coming months.

“There are serious financial implications for SA Rugby, should the event take place without any supporters in attendance, and we cannot ignore that in our considerations. But we are determined that the eventual outcome will deliver the best occasion and experience for players, supporters and our commercial partners.”

Mr Alexander said that the original tour schedule was subject to review because of those considerations. Should any changes be required they will be communicated as soon as possible.

SA Rugby assured everyone who had purchased tickets through the ticket ballot or as part of the official hospitality programme that they would be entitled to a full refund, with the mechanic to be communicated in due course once any revised schedule was confirmed.

Those who had bought official travel packages through SA Rugby Travel would be contacted by a company representative in due course.

Mr Leonard added: “Every British and Irish player dreams of wearing the famous red jersey, and players from the southern hemisphere aspire to be part of a Lions series. We owe it to the current players vying for a place in both squads to ensure they can become part of Lions history.

“We are very much looking forward to taking on South Africa for what promises to be a highly-competitive Series against the reigning World Champions.”

Mr Alexander thanked the Castle Lager Lions Series’ commercial partners as well as the British & Irish Lions and ticket holders for their patience during the extended period of uncertainty.

“As hosts and ‘owners’ of the Castle Lager Lions Series no one has been more affected or more challenged by the current circumstances than SA Rugby,” said Mr Alexander.

“However, with the support of our government and good planning we can navigate the pandemic to nonetheless create a most memorable event for players, fans and partners.”

The British & Irish Lions have toured South Africa on 13 previous occasions, with the first Tour taking place in 1891. In that time, the Lions have won four Test series, lost eight with one drawn. Their overall record against the Springboks is played 46, won 17, lost 23 and drawn six.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

SunBet strike it lucky with WPPR

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The Treble Team is proud to announce that SunBet, the online betting arm of Sun International, has joined the Western Province Professional Rugby (WPPR) family as sponsors of the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province teams.

SunBet, which offers a secure online platform through which bettors can bet on the outcome of games, will be an associate sponsor for both teams until the end of 2023.

The deal, which was exclusively brokered by the Treble Group, sees the Cape Town-based sports sponsorship agency securing a third sponsorship agreement that includes iconic sporting brands such as the Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras, Emirates Lions and the well-supported DHL Stormers and DHL WP.

Treble MD Kyle Nel is delighted with this new development and what value it brings: “Looking ahead we foresee exciting times in the rugby market with the unprecedented proposition of the DHL Stormers playing in the Pro16, which is a competitive northern hemisphere competition aligned with the top Irish, Italian, Scottish and Welsh clubs,” he said.

“Treble is proud to have played a major role in ensuring SunBet partners with a world-class rugby franchise that comes from a long and proud tradition of rugby excellence” says Nel. “We’ve recently seen SunBet partnering with the Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras and the Emirates Lions, so we are excited to see them joining forces with a leading rugby brand beginning a new journey with a new rugby stadium, which brings other exciting opportunities”

With SunBet being aligned with one of the oldest and most iconic rugby brands in the South African rugby, and now moving to the majestic Cape Town Stadium, there will be added value to the brands it represents. DHL Stormers are a team that has plenty of support around the country, and even the globe, having produced a number of leading Springbok stars over the years with talent that is the envy of other South African rugby teams.

The sponsorship makes SunBet the official sports betting partner of the teams, while the SunBet logo will feature on the shorts of the matchday kit of both the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province going forward.

WPPR is proud to welcome a sponsor of SunBet’s standing at the beginning of an exciting new era for the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province. The teams are at the start of a new chapter and SunBet’s support has further bolstered an impressive sponsorship portfolio, which links WPPR with top brands in the ongoing quest for excellence.

Sponsorship of the teams forms part of SunBet’s plans to expand its presence in the sports arena as it increases the number of games upon which bettors can bet on its secure, online, platform.

SunBet General Manager, Nitesh Matai, said that SunBet is proud to be associated with WPPR as a sponsor.

“Now fans can enjoy game time on TV as well as on our secure platform, where they can place bets against which team they think is most likely to win,” he said.

HSBC Cape Town Sevens to be staged in December as season finale

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The HSBC Cape Town Sevens will take on a new mantle after World Rugby announced that the popular event in the Mother City will be the final leg of a revamped and shortened HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in 2021.

The South African leg of the Series will return to the Cape Town Stadium from 10-12 December after a Covid-enforced absence in 2020. Ticketing details will be announced in due course.

Treble Group is honoured to be part of this world-class event. Our operations team has successfully delivered an unmatched food and beverage solution for the past five events in a row since its move from Port Elizabeth, catering for over 100 000 rugby supporters during the course of each event, which always proves to be highly festive.

The condensed 2021 World Series includes five women’s and four men’s rounds and kicks off in Paris with back-to-back women’s tournaments on two weekends in May, before the teams set sail for the Olympic Games, scheduled for Tokyo in July.

The World Series will then recommence with men’s events in Singapore (29-30 October), followed by joint men’s and women’s events in Hong Kong (5-7 November), Dubai (3-4 December) and finally in Cape Town (10-12 December).

Detailed discussions are continuing with London and Vancouver on the viability of hosting men’s events in the window following the Olympic Games and prior to the HSBC Singapore Sevens in October and further updates to the schedule will be given when available.

SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux welcomed the announcement and said that the rugby fraternity had been waiting for confirmation of one of the most anticipated sports events in the country.

“The HSBC Cape Town Sevens has delivered a world-class event for spectators and players alike since we moved the tournament to Cape Town Stadium in 2015,” said Roux.

“We are working very hard to ensure the same high standards and expectations are met this year, given the changed environment and expected pandemic guidelines that will apply.”

Roux said the 2021 season would be a taxing one on players and administrators and applauded World Rugby’s efforts in this regard.

“We have seen the disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the last year and it was not easy to get all the moving parts together, especially as the postponed Olympic Games also impacted on the normal planning,” added Roux.

“Credit must go to those involved to make sure that we will not only have a World Series, but also one that could finish on an absolute high here in Cape Town.

“We saw a very good appetite for the dual format of the tournament in 2019 and I am convinced that the same will apply this December. The fact that we will be the final tournament of the series will add to the excitement and drama that is so closely associated with sevens rugby.

“Matches will be played over three days and with some of the world’s best athletes and the unpredictability of sevens, the HSBC Cape Town Sevens will yet again provide our spectators with hours of excellent entertainment.”

World Rugby Interim Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “Today’s announcement of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2021 schedule marks a significant and exciting moment for rugby seven’s re-emergence from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic and we thank HSBC and all Series partners for their unwavering support, and host organisations and participating unions for their hard work, patience and spirit of collaboration.

“As a key driver of game growth, particularly in emerging markets, the continued success of rugby sevens and the Sevens Series is a strategic priority for World Rugby and our US$4 million funding to support sevens programmes is a clear demonstration of our commitment. This unique Olympic year provides a huge opportunity to reach new audiences around the world and introduce them to the speed, skill and excitement of rugby sevens, encouraging them to become future fans of the Series.

“Above all, the health, safety and wellbeing of players, fans and the wider community remains our top priority and all stakeholders will continue to closely monitor global developments with the COVID-19 pandemic and work closely with host governments and health agencies to ensure a safe, secure and highly impactful return to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.”