Latest news with #SARU
The South African
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Loftus 'empty' seating causes stir amid Springboks ticket backlash
As was seen at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town a week earlier, 'empty' scenes at Loftus during the Springboks game have left many rugby fans talking… This comes amid the public backlash about the exorbitant ticket prices for home games. South Africa beat Italy 42-24 in their first test match of 2025. On TikTok, a rugby fan shared a clip of 'empty' seating areas at Loftus that had reportedly failed to sell ahead of the game. @ posted: 'So many empty seats at Loftus due to high ticket prices by money-hungry SARU'. According to others, the areas were actually suite rentals that had likely been sold to corporate companies. Others commented how Loftus was technically 'full' as it reached over 80% of their 51 000 seater capacity. A few even complained about Springbok ticket prices to home games, which they claimed were not affordable for ordinary South African rugby fans. @ So many empty seats at Loftus due to high ticket prices by money-hungry SARU #springboks #rugby #SARU ♬ original sound – Kamal Rugbar Meanwhile, rugby fans have called on SA Rugby to drop their ticket prices for the Springbok home games. This follows countless social media posts of South Africans complaining about refusing to fork out thousands for a single ticket. The South African contacted SA Rugby for comment amid the public backlash. The organisation shied away from commenting on the public call. It did, however, note that every Springbok test match on home soil was sold out last year. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
SABC to broadcast second Test between Springboks and Italy
SABC will televise the second Incoming Series Test match between the Springboks and Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha next weekend. This comes after Saru, SuperSport and the SABC confirmed a broadcast agreement to ensure the match, which marks the 30th anniversary of the Springboks' historic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory, is available on the national broadcaster. 'The 1995 triumph was a moment that captured the attention of the world — revealing unmatched power of sport to bring people together, to heal deep wounds and to inspire a country that was still finding its feet as a young democracy,' said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander. 'As Saru, we are working closely with our broadcasters to ensure that all South Africans can be part of this historic occasion.' SABC Group CEO Nomsa Chabeli said it was important for South Africans to watch key sporting events.
News24
03-07-2025
- Sport
- News24
30-year RWC celebration: SABC will cover 2nd Test between Boks, Italy live
Mike Hewitt/Allsport/Getty Images In honour of the Springboks' first Rugby World Cup win in 1995, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will broadcast the second Test between the Springboks and Italy live on 12 July. The news came after an agreement was reached between the national broadcaster, SuperSport and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Thursday. The match will take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, kicking off at 17:10. 'The 1995 triumph was a moment that captured the attention of the world – revealing the unmatched power of sport to bring people together, to heal deep wounds and to inspire a country that was still finding its feet as a young democracy,' said SARU president, Mark Alexander at the announcement. 'As SARU, we are working closely with our broadcasters to ensure that all South Africans can be part of this historic occasion.' Nomsa Chabeli, the SABC's Group CEO, said: 'The public broadcaster extends its appreciation to SARU and SuperSport for the spirit in which negotiations took place to enable us to broadcast this historic match. 'It is important that the SABC is not left out of key national sporting events, which bring the nation together, and rugby has been very instrumental in doing that. 'This agreement also highlights the reach that the public broadcaster has in universal access to the nation through its TV and radio platforms, as millions of South Africans will have an opportunity to witness this historic moment. 'We call upon all South Africans to tune in as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our Rugby World Cup win in 1995.' SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha said his company was honoured to be involved in the agreement. 'SuperSport is pleased to be able to contribute to the country's celebration of 30 years of Springbok excellence since that unforgettable moment in 1995,' Ramovha said after the announcement. 'That moment united the whole country, and we are honoured to be involved in helping unite the country once more around the Springboks. 'This year also marks 30 years of SuperSport as a stand-alone channel, and we are proud to share this milestone with the most successful rugby nation in men's Rugby World Cup history – the Springboks.'
The South African
05-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
SA Rugby reports R93m group loss, but...
Although SA Rugby confirmed on Friday that the organisation has largely continued to run at a loss, there was a decisive statement that revealed that clarified that the R93m group loss in 2024 had already been wiped out with a strong start to 2025. The loss was predominantly put down South African rugby's continued investment into membership of northern hemisphere rugby competitions, but SARU is reportedly set to buck the global trend and report a profit of more than R100m for 2025. In the last reporting cycle other international federations had lost as much as R913m with five other Tier One nations reporting losses of between R588m and R181m. The next 'best' performance after South Africa's was a loss of R126m, members were told. Overall, in 2024, Group commercial revenues exceeded R1,5bn for the first time (R1,552bn), up from R1,440bn in 2023. Total income with the addition of grants (principally from World Rugby of R186m) took total income to R1,76bn. Revenues for 2025 are forecast to exceed R2bn. The 7,8% increase in revenues was attributable to increased broadcast revenues in a non-Rugby World Cup year, competition sponsorships and a strong performance in merchandising receipts which more than doubled from R30m to R62m. Expenses increased from R1,816bn to R1,871bn. The 2,9% increase was put down to investment in hosting three World Rugby tournaments (R133m), a R24m increase in player image rights (to R148m), and the costs associated with the mooted private equity transaction (R13m). Total expenditure attributable to the northern hemisphere international franchise competition was R446m while SA Rugby was still able to make a full distribution to member unions. Spending on the world ranked number 1 team, the Springboks, and other national teams, was R433m, a reduction of R27m on the Rugby World Cup winning year of 2023 (R460m). Oberholzer said the financial outlook beyond next year was equally healthy with strong revenues forecast for 2026 with new competition formats in the pipeline. 'The income that SA Rugby generates all goes back into supporting the growth and promotion of rugby in the country,' he said. 'It allows us to fund Springbok campaigns, expand women's rugby programmes and fuel our other national teams. It pays for our members' activities in their communities as well as their professional teams. It underwrites our rugby safety programme BokSmart; supports referee and coaching development and our age group competitions as well as development programmes and allows us turn on sell-out Test match entertainment and our domestic competitions. 'Ultimately, every rand that we earn goes into powering the game in some shape or form and after a challenging 2024 we have a good news story to tell our South African rugby community as we look ahead.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Tygerberg RFC's Kiewitz crowned new WP Rugby president
Kevin Kiewitz has reportedly been elected as the new president of the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU). According to Netwerk24 , he secured 54% of votes at Wednesday's meeting at Cape Town Stadium, edging out Ronald Bantom and Ruben Machelm. It is understood that Moneeb Levy won the deputy president position with 63% of votes against Machelm, Eugene Andries and Mario Williams, while Shamila Sulayman claimed the vice-presidency with 57% support. And according to a reporting on Rugby365 , the elections proceeded without observers and were overseen by SARU-appointed administrator Peter Jooste as moderator. Former Western Province Rugby Football Union president Zelt Marais, who faced nominations for four positions, was reportedly barred entry by security after an independent appeal panel upheld his 10-year suspension from rugby activities for misconduct violations. He had been charged with misconduct following various statements made in communications to SA Rugby members and in public forums in 2022 and 2024. In upholding the sanction, Marais was suspended for 10 years from any and all positions in the South African Rugby Union (SARU), or any other rugby body, and from any and all rugby activities for breaching the SARU Code of Conduct. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
