Paarl Boys` High, founded in 1868 will be the first engagement on school rugby level by Vodacom, South African`s best known corporate brand in rugby sponsorship.
Ruan Brits (Paarl Boys` High); Lanie Vissser (Vodacom); Sean Erasmus (Head Coach); Carel van der Merwe (WirelessG)
Cape Town, Paarl – Being one of the top five springbok rugby legend factories in South Africa, Paarl Boys’ High (1868) are among the oldest schools in South Africa with a significant pedigree of rugby history, heritage and tradition. During a prestigious event held on 18 March 2014 at a newly branded Brug Street, Paarl Boys` High announced another historic moment that they have teamed up with Vodacom, South African`s best known corporate brand in rugby sponsorship, and Wi-Fi Hotspot Specialist, G-Connect. Vodacom currently holds a stake in G-Connect who has remained the Title Sponsor of the school’s First Team for the past six years and which have now brought Vodacom onboard as their co-partner. Vodacom have once again invested in this years’ Super Rugby series in addition to providing sponsorship to the Blue Bulls team. They have also invested in Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in the National Soccer Leagues. Paarl Boys` High will be Vodacom`s first engagement on school rugby level. The Blue Bulls and the Paarl Boys High first team will be the only two rugby teams who will play with the Vodacom logo on their rugby jersey during 2014.
During the stylish event, Vodacom (represented by Lanie Visser, Executive Head of Sales) handed over the newly Vodacom and G-Connect branded kit to Boys` High`s recently appointed Head Coach, Sean Erasmus. According to the CEO of WirelessG, 70% percent of all first team players who were within the top 5 rugby schools in the country have been awarded with full contracts from established rugby unions during 2013. This indicates the movement towards a more competitive landscape for the “top five” school league in South Africa. Having one of the best coaches in the country and a partnership with a brand like Vodacom, it is definitely a move in the right direction.
Sean Erasmus presented the branded rugby kit to the senior first team members as well as a multi-stakeholder audience which included well-known springboks and influential Old Boys. The Boys` High First Team will begin their season by representing South Africa at the 2014 International SANIX rugby tournament In Japan during May 2014.
@Grasshopper:
As far as I know the private schools actually run on a very tight budget and are not profit driven ( except Curro as they have to answer to the shareholders ).
Regarding the salaries, I don’t think that the teachers get paid a great deal more than their counterparts in State schools, however the real benefit comes with the free housing ( and in the case of the MHS staff , they get to send their sons to the best school in the country
).
@Roger: I have also noticed that schools like Porterville, Malmesbury, Punt and all other at the Porterville “tournament” this weekend were heavily branded with brands like Volkswagen, SAA, Orbit and even the Local Butchery. The matter of fact is – all schools are making use of sponsorships, however, in terms of rugby sponsorships we must all admit that Vodacom is the cream of the crop…
@Roger: Jeppe are sponsored by Bruma BMW now so scratch them.
@Schalk777: KES, PBHS, Bishops, St Stithians, St Johns, Jeppe, Michaelhouse, Hilton ……… to name a few
@Playa: I am aware of that, many a private school cries poverty but I’ve seen the accounts for my moms school which is private and looking extremely healthy. Many investment funds floating around. Hilton and MHS own their estates so no real rent needed….it cost more to go there than a local B&B in the area for a year….makes one think. Those teachers must be getting a nice whack to stay there…
Show me a School Rugby Jersey without a sponsor logo on it? Whether it is the local shop or a local dealer who represents a national brand. What we in fact argue about, is the profile of the sponsor and the amount. As a top school brand, Boishaai aimed for the top corporate brand. What is wrong with that? They had the vision – congratulations to them! What school will in any way say no to a contribution like that? Let us say thanks to those companies like Vodacom who contribute millions towards communities and sport in general. Where Vodacom make an investment and with who they want to be associated with, stays their prerogative.
@Grasshopper: I have read and heard that the average private school in SA battles to break even every year.Ok, maybe not he Curro schools.Careful with assuming private schools are cash flush.
@Far Meadows: Well, it’s not as if MHS are struggling for cash at like R200k a kid per year, but I get what you saying…
@Roger:
I must admit , when I went back to watch rugby at MHS after about a 15 year absence , I was a bit sad to see numbers on the jerseys…if there was ever a corporate sponsor on the ‘House jersey a little bit of me would be chipped away.
@Maroon: whoops – apologies – I have no idea what Paul Roos’s main rugby field or cricket oval is called but you get the point?
Looking forward to our match up at Wildeklawer – should be a decent game.
@Grasshopper: I think you and I are in the minority – can’t halt progress (if that’s what it is deemed to be??)
@Roger: FYI Maroon is from Paul Roos not Kearsney. But I agree with you. There is a point where is becomes over the top and too professional. Once again schools sport is amateur as far as I am concerned, but maybe I missed something…
@Maroon: yes – very valid points. Beet pretty much said the same thing and I agreed – still don’t like the practise though. Just as I don’t like the “Bidvest” Wanderers stadium or “Vodacom” Park etc. When they re-name the Kearsney Oval the Nashua Kearsney Oval would you be jumping with joy?
@Roger: I cannnot speak on behalf of Boishaai. It must however be taken into account that running schools with the infrastructure of Boishaai taked huge amounts of money per year. Money that the government does not provide anymore. At similar sized schools the budget for a financial year exceeds 50 million. Without sponsorships and donations, the money would have to come parents via increased schools fees.
It is also my understanding that the Vodacom sponsorship is not only applicable to rugby.
Schools like Boishaai, Paul Roos etc. cannot survive in their current state without contributions like these. Well done to Vodacom and Boisdhaai!
@BoishaaiPa: you presume too much – nowhere did I say the boys would not wear the jerseys with any more or less pride or that it would make derbies etc less intense. I merely said I don’t like it and am very glad that KES and PBHS have resisted flogging their jerseys to the highest bidder. I don’t expect everyone to concur and it really doesn’t matter if you do or not.
Why should I keep quiet on imports btw – it’s a practise I detest no matter which school is involved?
@Roger: I think you are a bit naive if you think that a sponsorname on the jersey will make the boys less proud to wear it or make the local derbies less intense or less prestigous. The same ethos that determines the boys behaviour and traditions has not suddenly flown out of the window because of an economic injection!. Times change and one must transform to stay competitive in all walks of life. I would rather keep quiet on your comment about imports!
@beet: ja Beet – you make valid points – doesn’t mean I have to like it though!
As for Bishops and their jersey – good on them I say
Imagine in grade 8, Adidas supplied all boys with a pair of Copa Mundial’s they would have customers for life with one small investment, best boots ever made! I like the idea of Vodacom sponsoring a scrum machine and tackle bags for all schools…far better than cash…
I think the big corporates would be better spreading their sponsorship through a larger number of schools. Provide equipment to more schools that has their branding on it. Vodacom could provide scrumming machines or branded rugby balls. Mr Price could supply kit. etc, etc.
In some ways it is sad to see how much money goes into 1st team rugby, yet there are boys in lower teams struggling to buy jerseys and boots. (Yes Grasshopper, this even happens at Westville).
@Roger: Yeah Rog, I really like the idea of schools holding onto traditions that are worth holding onto and finding ways of modernising to keep pace with the changing world we live without causing lost the original respected identity.
For hypothetical example changing the colour scheme of a Bishops jersey to accommodate a sponsor’s design not on but putting numbers on Bishops jersey’s please please please YES. DO IT!
A few years back a Paul Roos parent told me how costly it was to send a 1st XV player on 3 tours per annum. I thought if that school’s Cell C sponsorship helped reduce that cost then what a pleasure.
Also receiving a rugby sponsorship doesn’t necessarily entail spending that money on rugby. It could well result in academic facilities being upgraded ahead of time.
So I can’t say I’m opposed to schools having sponsors as a means of collecting revenue to be used for good purposes and not sacrificing any of its culture.
I would however be a worry if schools now saw success on the rugby field as a means of obtaining more sponsorship money and started to link winning to the size of the next deal they made.
It would be equally sad if all the money was spent on rugby scholarships. Imagine the chaos if HJS now used R500 000 to lure PRG rugby junior to Paarl.
So definitely sponsors being willing to back schools have benefits but could corrupt school values if the use of the funds isn’t properly defined and managed.
@Westers: These figures are never made available to the public so any answer I give is just speculation – doing the rounds is R1.5million and I assume its for 3 seasons.
How much is huge?
@Roger: hasn’t KES just appointed a Director of Rugby? If so, that is the start of a slippery slide to professionalism. Also, KES has had their fair share of imports so are not whiter than white. I too think this sponsorship is sad. However, schools need cash to buy scrum machines etc so why would they say no. However, if these brands start including performances clauses then that is really bad. I don’t mind the local shop sponsoring but big multinational brands no. Glenwood have their local Spar, but sadly Puma and another too. The Westville vs Glenwood game last week made me smile, not too over the top professional. 25 games played hard, in good spirit and respectful spectators. Probably close to 8000 spectators and the headmasters getting along…great day out of traditional schoolboy rugby with war cries, bands, singing are more…
@Roger: ah; hear you loud and clear. Was disappointed to suddenly see a photo with Nashua shaking hands with KC captain Tristan Tedder. Nashua have their logo on our jersey after many years of the old boys disapproving of any branding. Our jersey is sacred. Albeit tiny; about 3cm long by 1cm high on right Chevy in white stripe; hardly visible if at all; just little sad…
As a traditionalist I find this rather sad – the last bastion of amateurism – schoolboy rugby – is dying and this is another nail in the coffin. What a pleasure it was to watch KES and PBHS yesterday, jerseys devoid of any branding other than the school badge, no imports causing any angst and good clean school boy rugby – long may these schools keep the wolves at bay