Boland Rugby Union, a South African rugby union, has joined hands with Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS), a subsidiary of Remgro Limited, and a consortium comprising companies controlled by South African billionaires Patrice Motsepe and Johann Rupert.
This transformation equity partnership marks a significant step towards nurturing rugby talent in the Boland Union, in a move reminiscent of the remarkable rise of Stellenbosch FC in South African football.
Motsepe and Rupert, the majority shareholders of the Pretoria-based sports enterprise Blue Bulls Company, recently acquired a 74-percent stake in the Boland Rugby Union. Their acquisition aims to bolster the region’s rugby development, leveraging their wealth of experience and resources in the sporting world.
The Motsepe Consortium and SAS, two well-known entities in the sports and business sectors, are united by a shared vision of fostering grassroots rugby development and advancing the sport within the Boland Union. This union boasts the highest number of rugby-playing schools of any province in South Africa, highlighting the immense potential for rugby growth.
The partnership between these influential parties is poised to redefine the future of rugby in the Boland region, both at the amateur and professional levels. The area is renowned for its abundant talent, with over 200 registered amateur rugby clubs, making it one of the largest rugby unions in South Africa.
Under the terms of this agreement, the Motsepe consortium and SAS will take ownership of 74 percent of the Boland Rugby professional division, while the Boland Rugby Union will retain the remaining 26 percent. This investment reflects a firm belief in the potential of young rugby talent and the vital role of sports in empowering local communities.
In this new partnership, the Motsepe consortium and SAS will collaborate closely to provide substantial resources and expertise supporting the Boland Rugby Union’s growth and development initiatives. This approach underscores their commitment to nurturing the region’s rugby potential and contributing to the broader community through sports.
