MTN SA Sadly Ends 8-Year Sponsorship Relationship with Boks

(The Post News)– Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) SA has decided to part ways with the South African National Rugby team, the Springboks. This comes after eight years of MTN’s logo being on the front of the Springbok’s jersey.

MTN, a JSE-listed company, disclosed on Tuesday, March 25, that they are pulling out their sponsorship— that started in 2017—from the Springboks. The telecommunication company described the sponsorship relationship as eight years of “record-breaking” excellence.

Under MTN’s sponsorship, the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup two times: in 2019 and 2023. Additionally, last year, they won the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and the Freedom Cup and retained the Qatar Airways Cup, the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate, and the Prince William Cup. The Springboks are currently no. 1 on the Rugby World Rankings.

MTN SA CEO Charles Molapisi remarked that for MTN, the collaboration with the Springboks has been the most “awe-inspiring” and fulfilling after MTN joined in as the head sponsor during a very challenging period for rugby in 2017. MTN partnered with the Springboks after they had last won the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

Molapisi emphasised that for MTN it not just about the branding—it was beyond that— they wanted to redefine transformation by bringing rugby to back to the people and instilling the concept of Ubuntu. According to Molapisi, they displayed leadership and dedication to SA sport and they are quite pleased with the results. Based on the solid foundation of transformative success, devotion, support, and quality that has been evident over the last eight years, Molapisi believes that the development of rugby is poised to reach even greater heights.

Meanwhile, the president of SA Rugby Mark Alexander has released a statement thanking MTN for its support over the years. Alexander sated that MTN partnered with the Springboks during a very challenging time and together they have enjoyed what will one day be regarded as “a golden age” for SA sport. Currently, it is unclear if SA Rugby has found a new sponsor to replace MTN. While MTN has parted ways with SA Rugby, it will continue to invest in soccer via its MTN8 sponsorship.

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Nomfundo Ngobese

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An experienced journalist who believes that giving voice to the voiceless can lead to constructive social change. For me, journalism is more than just writing stories; it is about enlightening, educating, and entertaining people of all ages, rich and poor, literate or illiterate. As a news editor at TPN, my responsibility is to guarantee people encounter all of these features through well-written, properly structured, and easy-to-understand stories, while also ensuring that our agency adheres to the essential principles and values of journalism.

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