SuperSport Rugby Challenge continues to empower communities

The SuperSport Rugby Challenge Festival was televised live on SuperSport 10 and Community TV Channels on DStv. The tournament ensures that rugby is taken directly to communities that would not otherwise have a chance to experience the game. It also seeks to reconnect the link between club and provincial rugby, as well as serving as a qualifier for the Currie Cup.

“We see SuperSport Rugby Challenge as a great opportunity to broadening access to professional rugby in communities who have a passion for the game, but may not always have the opportunity to attend the matches,” said Joe Heshu, MultiChoice Group Executive for Corporate Affairs.

The SuperSport Rugby Challenge also plays a critical role in MultiChoice’s stated objective of enriching lives. The tournament is vital in growing talent on and off the field.

“We are passionate about ensuring that we enrich the lives of future rugby talent, as well as growing talent in production – the cameras, producers, directors and presenters,” added Heshu.

The broadcast of SuperSport Rugby Challenge on community television channels, provides local community television stations with great opportunities to deliver high-quality, live sports content to their audiences. They also receive technical support and equipment to ensure that they can receive content and improve the quality of their overall broadcast delivery.

This year will see an addition of new voices. Former women’s Springbok player Mandisa Williams provided in-studio analysis; ex- Blue Bulls Lock forward number 5 specialist Mthunzi Mabeta looked after English commentary; former Pumas prop and now professional Chef Martin Mhlongo was also in the commentary booth; retired in Blue Bulls & Golden Lions winger Vanon Willies provided Afrikaans commentary and studio guest for the Afrikaans magazine show SuperRugby; and former Kings and Province Scrum-half Ricky Schroeder was also an Afrikaans commentator and analyst.

The challenge takes the shape of 67-match provincial tournament and features the country’s 17 provincial unions together with newcomers.

“We are proud to empower a sports and entertainment supply chain through our investments in infrastructure, technology and empowerment initiatives, which in turn supports local business and communities. For communities, this means great local content,” Heshu concludes.