SportPesa has added the Forward Foundation and its Forward Faster 7s programme to its South African rugby sponsorship portfolio. The operator is joining as a Tier 1 partner, extending its involvement beyond professional and university competitions into player development.
The arrangement backed the Forward Faster 7s tournament at the Markötter Sports Complex in Stellenbosch on 24 and 25 October. It also covers the foundation's Senior Performance Programme, according to SportPesa's partnership announcement.
Coaching clinics in the Western Cape are another part of the agreement. They will be open to players aged 18 and over, with Stormers and Springbok scrum-half Cobus Reinach set to lead sessions. Dates for those clinics have not yet been published.
The development squad has already appeared under the SportPesa Fast Forwards name at the Safari Sevens in Nairobi. A current report from iGaming AFRIKA says the team drew 21-21 with defending champion Kenya Shujaa in its opening match.
SportPesa also supports the DHL Stormers, the Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield, and the Masi Pumas. The Forward Foundation partnership connects that existing sponsorship activity with a programme intended to help community and university players move toward higher-level competition. The commitments announced so far concern funding, training and access rather than guaranteed professional contracts or selection.
