South Africa’s popular Premier Interschools rugby series on Wednesday received a massive boost with the announcement that leading short term insurer Mutual & Federal had signed a three-year contract as the title sponsor, with Cell C and G4S as associate sponsors.
Premier Interschools is a series of 12 matches, which will feature the highest profile and most traditional interschool rugby rivalries, from South Africa’s top rugby schools, broadcast live on SuperSport from April to August.
Schoolboy rugby has served as one of the cornerstones of domestic rugby dating back more than a century, and true to its slogan “Honouring Heritage. Playing for the Future”, Premier Interschools is about History, Heritage and Tradition. The series, now in its second year, is expected to grow even stronger.
The Premier Interschools stories will further be captured in 12 magazine shows which will preview all the games and provide historical overviews of these traditional schools and highlight other academic, cultural and sporting achievements.
Commenting on Mutual & Federal signing up as the title sponsor, former Springbok Captain and Premier Interschools Director, Tiaan Strauss said: “It is a privilege for Premier Interschools that Mutual & Federal, as one of the oldest companies in South Africa, has joined as a sponsor. Premier Interschools is all about the traditions and heritage of the participating schools and that goes hand in hand with a brand like Mutual &Federal.
“I would further like to thank Cell C and G4S for coming on board as associate sponsors to make Premier Interschools a great success.
“I am very proud to be involved with Premier Interschools as I experienced some of my most memorable and passionate moments during my school rugby career, and Premier Interschools would like to bring such special moments to the public by broadcasting these games.”
Mutual & Federal Executive: Brand, Customer and Transformation, Vuyo Lee, was equally delighted with the deal and said it was an easy decision to sponsor the series as schoolboy rugby formed a vital cog in the development of future Springbok heroes. Lee said: “The Premier Interschools series embodies the proud heritage of rugby in South Africa while also providing a platform to nurture future rugby heroes. These principles resonate with the Mutual & Federal brand and our proud heritage which dates back over 180 years.”
Cell C Chief Commercial Officer Jose Dos Santos echoed the sentiment that the series could have a big influence in paving the way for some players to achieve their dreams of becoming Springboks in future, and said this inspired them to support the series as associate sponsors.
“We are proud to be associated with Premier Interschools Rugby,” said Dos Santos. “This event will ultimately change the lives of many of these young, aspiring sports stars and Cell C will be a part of that magic, this is why we do what we do, to change lives.”
Albert Erasmus, Managing Director, G4S Cash Solutions added: “Globally, G4S has invested in the development of youth through the sponsorship of sport. G4S is particularly proud to be associated with sport in South Africa, and the Premier Interschools series is yet another example of G4S’s commitment to the communities in which we operate. We are grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank all those involved in arranging this event. Good luck to all the schools.”
The Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools series will see 15 of the top schools in the country being pitted against each other over weekends namely:
• Affies
• Bishops
• Glenwood
• Grey College
• Grey PE
• Jeppe
• KES
• Maritzburg College
• Monument
• Outeniqua
• Paarl Boys High
• Paarl Gymnasium
• Paul Roos Gymnasium
• Rondebosch
• Waterkloof
Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools fixtures 2013:
Saturday, 20 April – KES vs. Jeppe (KES, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 27 April – Outeniqua vs. Paarl Gimnasium (Outeniqua, George)
Saturday, 11 May – Paul Roos vs. Paarl Gimnasium (Paul Roos, Stellenbosch)
Saturday, 18 May – Maritzburg College vs. KES (Maritzburg, Pietermaritzburg)
Saturday, 25 May – Grey College vs. Paarl Boys High (Grey, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, 01 June – Glenwood vs Monument (Glenwood, Durban)
Saturday, 08 June – Bishops vs. Rondebosch Boys’ High (Bishops, Cape Town)
Saturday, 20 July – Paarl Boys High vs. Paul Roos (Paarl Boys High, Paarl)
Saturday, 27 July – Grey College vs. Grey PE (Grey Bloem, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, 03 August – Paarl Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys High (Faure Street Stadium, Paarl)
Saturday, 10 August – Outeniqua vs. Affies (Outeniqua, George)
Saturday, 17 August – Paul Roos vs. Grey College (Paul Roos, Stellenbosch)
