/ 24 July 2003

SA rugby marketing on the ball

SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd has confirmed that three of its major sponsors –Absa, Energade and Nike — will support the marketing and promotional campaign that will be launched in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup.

Whilst the Rugby World Cup campaign, which aims to rally support behind the Boks in the lead-up to the event, will be launched on 23 August, SA Rugby today unveiled the logo that will be associated with all of the campaign elements.

The logo has been unveiled in advance of the campaign as it will begin appearing in pre-campaign promotional activities in early-August. This will allow media and public to familiarise themselves with the logo in advance of the campaign breaking.

”As in 1999, the Rugby World Cup campaign will aim to get the Nation behind the Springboks ahead of the Rugby World Cup in October and November,” says SA Rugby Marketing general manager, Gary Grant.

The campaign, including its official slogan, kicks- off with the first in a series of three television commercials on Saturday 23 August. This coincides with the launch of the Springbok RWC kit at an event in Johannesburg. An array of other promotional activities and events will take place over the following weeks, culminating in the departure of the team on October 4.

SA Rugby will also soon announce details of an initiative that will carry the campaign across to Australia and ensure a strong South African presence wherever the Boks play.

Springbok team manager, Gideon Sam thanked the sponsors for their continued support of South African rugby and for their investment in supporting the Springbok effort at Rugby World Cup 2003. -Sapa