Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), is eager to “accelerate” plans to grow the game following his re-election to the role in Cape Town on Friday.
The Springboks’ return to the playing field in 2021 ensured the SARU was able to report a small surplus for the year (R8,9m), as the sport began to emerge from the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual financial statements were approved at the SARU Annual General Meeting in Cape Town at which incumbent Union president, Mark Alexander, was re-elected for a further four-year term.
“I am honoured to re-elected as president of such an important organisation in the South African social landscape,” said Mr Alexander.
“This will be my last term and there is much work to be done and important decisions to be taken while we begin the process of succession planning for the introduction of new blood.
“We are slowly coming out from the shadow of the pandemic and must now accelerate our strategic imperatives.
“There are great opportunities and exciting times ahead for our sport and for South African rugby if we stay focused on delivering on our mandate.
“The growth and potential for women’s rugby in South Africa is enormous and it was particularly gratifying to break new ground at the Annual Meeting to have female representatives from all our members in attendance. We are at the start of a very exciting journey in the women’s game.
“The relaxation of the final restrictions on venue attendance is the last piece in the short-term jigsaw. We look forward to being able to host sell-out crowds when the Springboks return to action in July.”
The return to action allowed revenue to increase by 80% on 2020’s severely impacted levels – rising from R710m to R1,283bn – recovering almost to pre-COVID levels (R1,296bn in 2019).
All South African national teams, apart from the Springbok Women’s Sevens and SA Schools sides, resumed play during the 2021 season after the wipe out of the previous 12 months. The Springboks, Springbok Women and age-group teams were completely inactive in 2020 and the Springbok Sevens team appeared only four times before the pandemic hit.
That increase in activity generated a recovery in broadcast and sponsorship revenues. Broadcast income increased from R417m in 2020 to R655m while the nett income from the Castle Lager Lions Series (R107m), when added to existing sponsorship contracts (R222m), saw sponsorship income rise to R329m (R282m in 2021).
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
