Sponsorship overtook broadcast income in 2025

SA Rugby's sponsorship income grew steadily through back-to-back Rugby World Cup cycles, climbing from R314 million in 2017 to R425.9 million after the 2023 victory in France — interrupted only by the Covid-19 collapse to R222 million in 2021. But the appointment of global agency Wasserman (CSM) in 2024, followed by FNB taking front-of-jersey rights (est. R150 million/year) and Pick n Pay signing as back-of-jersey sponsor, drove a 51% single-year surge to R739 million in 2025. Sponsorship has therefore become SA Rugby's primary revenue engine for the first time, surpassing broadcast income of R678 million and propelling total group revenues past R2 billion — a structural shift the Destination 2027 plan targeted at R800 million to R1 billion per annum.