American sports investment company Ackerley Partners is reportedly expressing interest in investing in SA Rugby’s commercial ventures.
According to a report on Netwerk24, the move comes amid significant changes in South African rugby, with SA’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus set to focus exclusively on coaching the Springboks within SARU’s new structures.
Ackerley Partners’ potential investment follows negotiations between SA Rugby and CVC Capital Partners, now redirected towards bolstering the Springbok brand internationally.
If realised, this marks the second instance of US investment in SA rugby, following MVM Holdings’ stake in the Sharks since 2021.
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Meanwhile, SARU CEO Rian Oberholzer confirmed to Netwerk24 of a company “restructuring” and outlined strategic goals until 2027, emphasising transparency in their plans.
While Erasmus is expected to resume coaching the Bok team, official announcements on coaching appointments are pending.
“We held a summit and set out our strategic goals until 2027. As part of that, we look at how we manage rugby and the business. As soon as we have talked to our members about it, we will communicate it externally,” Oberholzer told Netwerk24.
“It’s not a strategic plan that we’re going to hide in a drawer. Everything we do must be measured and we must stand up for the goals we set for 2027.”
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