Rallying behind the Springboks as they kick off the 2024 season
The Springboks’ opening fixture of the 2024 season against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday sees five Springboks continuing their “Grassroots to Greatness” journey with FNB.
The five Springboks who have attended FNB Classic Clashes schools, before progressing to play the FNB Varsity Cup or Shield and on to the Springboks, proudly sponsored by FNB, are:
- Eben Etzebeth: Tygerberg High School and UCT
- Franco Mostert: Brits High School and UP-TUKS
- Bongi Mbonambi: St Alban’s College and UP-TUKS
- Malcolm Marx: King Edward VII School and UJ
- Jordan Hendrikse: Glenwood High School and Stellenbosch University
Help is core to FNB’s business, and we know that real change is driven by help. FNB continues its long-standing support of South African sport with a commitment to helping sporting development not just at the top of the performance pyramid, but also from the ground up. Our Grassroots to Greatness approach in rugby starts at high school with the FNB Classic Clashes tournament which identifies and gives opportunities to young sporting talent. It moves from high school to university with FNB Varsity Cup and Shield, where players are exposed to a high standard of rugby competition which prepares them for the pressures and rigour of professional franchise rugby.
From the FNB Classic Clashes Eben, Franco, Bongi, Malcolm and Jordan progressed to the FNB Varsity Cup and Shield where they continued to showcase their exceptional talent on a national stage and were given the opportunity to make the transition from amateur to professional rugby.
Brad Guymer, Sponsorship Marketing Lead at FNB says: “Helping South Africans to change and develop themselves is central to who we are at FNB. Our Grassroots to Greatness initiative is a perfect representation of this belief in action, where we create the stage for rugby players at school and at university to show what they can do in front of a large TV audience, and help shape their sporting futures.”
Guymer adds this partnership with rugby shows FNB’s continued commitment to helping every South African help themselves, through its sponsorship of grassroots rugby development.
“The ultimate dream for many young players is to wear the Green and Gold, and our grassroots development programmes continue to play an important role in making this dream come true. With over 100 Springboks having played in these competitions, it’s become an important part of creating the pipeline of talent from Grassroots to Greatness.
“The partnership with the Springboks is the pinnacle of our journey and as a brand, we remain committed to making a positive contribution that will take the country forward,” concluded Guymer.
INFO SUPPLIED.
