The leading sponsors of South African rugby announced on Monday the appointment of former cricket supremo Dr Ali Bacher to represent their joint interests on the board of SA Rugby.
The agreement between Sasol, team sponsor of the Springboks, and SA Rugby includes a provision that the main sponsors of the game be entitled to representation on the board.
According to a joint statement released on Monday, the appointment of Bacher by Sasol and co-lead sponsors Vodacom, Absa and Canterbury will ensure that the views and requirements of the sponsors are properly communicated, considered and managed in a coordinated manner.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Trevor Munday — deputy chief executive of Sasol — said: ”Ali Bacher is an internationally respected sports administrator with an admirable sporting pedigree and significant skills and experience in sports administration, governance and sponsorship.”
Louis von Zeuner, group executive director at Absa, added: ”Ali’s experience in cricket and his achievements in unifying sporting people from diverse backgrounds are well known. He is ideally equipped to represent our interests and to play an important influencing role in the future of SA Rugby.”
The president of SA Rugby, Brian van Rooyen, welcomed Bacher.
”Ali’s wealth of experience and wisdom offers considerable value and we look forward to his contribution to our deliberations at the board. The role and support of our lead sponsors underpin the success of rugby in our country and it is important that their views are properly represented,” he said
”Ali also has experience in organising a world cup, albeit in a different sporting code, and on behalf of the sponsors should provide valuable insight to the administration of SA Rugby in terms of the country’s 2011 IRB [International Rugby Board] World Cup bid aspirations,” Paul Zacks, MD of Canterbury, commented. — Sapa