Profmed has partnered with Springbok loosehead prop Retshegofaditswe “Ox” Nché, bringing together one of South Africa’s most respected professional communities with one of its most recognisable rugby players.
Nché has built his reputation where it matters most, in the front row, under pressure, where outcomes are decided in inches. A Rugby World Cup winner and a central figure in the Springbok pack, he is known for his scrummaging strength, technical precision, and composure in high-stakes moments. His recent nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year placed him in rare company as a prop recognised at the highest level of the game.
There is another side to his story that sits comfortably alongside his rugby career. Nché holds a BSc in Geography and Statistics from the University of the Free State, completed while building his path in professional sport. It reflects the same discipline and consistency that define his performances on the field.
His journey begins in Thaba ’Nchu in the Free State, and his name, Retshegofaditswe, translates to “we are blessed.” Like Nché himself, the name carries weight and has given the beloved prop a clear sense of identity as his career has taken him onto the global stage.
That combination of performance, humility, and grounded perspective made the partnership with Profmed a natural decision.
“Ox represents a standard our members recognise,” says Craig Comrie, Chief Executive of Profmed. “He delivers at the highest level, he has invested in his education, and he remains connected to where he comes from. That balance is familiar to professionals across South Africa.”
Profmed has spent more than 65 years working with professionals who are building careers that require long-term focus. Doctors, engineers, legal professionals, and business leaders operate in environments where consistency matters, where preparation shapes outcomes, and where performance is measured over time.
Nché approaches rugby in the same way. His impact in a scrum does not come from a single moment. It builds through repetition, positioning, and pressure applied again and again until the result shifts. It is a process that rewards patience and discipline.
That same approach sits at the centre of how Profmed structures its offering. Healthcare is part of how professionals sustain their ability to perform. It supports long careers, changing demands, and the realities that come with responsibility.
The partnership also connects directly with Profmed’s BeRemarkable campaign. Launched as a national platform, BeRemarkable invites professionals to share their stories, not as highlights, but as complete journeys shaped by effort, setbacks, and progress over time.
Nché’s story adds a clear dimension to this. What people see on match day is the result of years of work that rarely takes place in public. Training sessions, recovery, analysis, and repetition all sit behind the performance.
“BeRemarkable gives people a way to share what sits behind their work,” says Comrie. “Ox understands that. His career has been built step by step, and that is something our members relate to immediately.”
The partnership will roll out across 2026 through a series of campaign moments, including a national shoot, digital storytelling, and long-form profiles. These will sit alongside member stories, creating a broader picture of what professional life looks like across South Africa.
Ox looks forward to walking this journey with Profmed:
“Life as a professional — whether on the field or beyond it — is filled with challenges, growth and opportunity. That’s why meaningful partnerships matter. I am incredibly proud to partner with Profmed and excited to inspire others to believe in the power of education, pursue excellence with purpose, and embrace every opportunity to live life boldly and to its fullest potential.”
Nché brings a strong sense of connection to the role. His presence off the field reflects the same authenticity seen in his playing style. He engages with supporters in a way that feels direct and grounded, often sharing moments that show pride in his teammates, his background, and the country he represents.
That connection aligns closely with Profmed’s community. The scheme operates as a restricted medical aid for professionals, which allows it to focus on a defined group with shared needs and expectations. Behind each membership is a career that carries responsibility, and a life that extends beyond the workplace.
With more than 35,000 main members and over 70,000 lives covered, Profmed continues to build on its position as a partner to professionals at every stage of their careers, from early qualification through to established practice and beyond.
This partnership adds a visible and relatable figure to that community. Nché’s career reflects what it takes to perform, to prepare, and to sustain progress over time.
As the rugby season unfolds, the campaign will continue to follow his journey, creating moments that link his experiences with those of professionals across the country. Each phase will build on the idea that performance is shaped daily, through decisions, habits, and commitment.
Profmed’s role in that journey remains clear. It provides healthcare that supports professionals as they build, adapt, and move forward in their careers.
Nché steps into the partnership with a story that already resonates. Profmed brings a community that understands what it takes to build something over time.
Together, they present a shared picture of what that looks like in practice.
SUPPLIED.
