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STIHL COMMITS FUNDS TO KZN RUGBY DEVELOPMENT |
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Friday, 01 April 2005 |
Pietermaritzburg-based company STIHL South Africa has once again proven its commitment to developing sport in KwaZulu Natal by donating R55 000 for rugby development in the province.
 | | Dave Hutton (right) STIHL South Africa GM, handing over the cheque to Richard de Jager, transformation manager for ZwaZulu Natal Rugby. |
On the back of its recent sponsorship of the Non-Stop Dusi Canoe marathon, STIHL has extended its sponsorship agreement with the Transformation division of the KwaZulu Natal Rugby Union.
David Hutton, STIHL South Africa GM, says that this is important not only for the development of the sport in the province but it is also an example of the company’s commitment to supporting the previously disadvantaged community in the region.
 | | Training at the KZN Rugby Development. |
The KwaZulu Natal Rugby Union plans to fast track the development of its clubs, train new coaches, and advance the on-the-field skills of its most promising players. Funds from STIHL South Africa have been designated for three of the union’s programmes for 2005.
“Two of our development teams, the Young Lions and the Jaguars, will benefit from STIHL’s sponsorship and we are now in a position to send KZN Under 18 amateur head coach and Natal Sharks B Team Coach, André van Wyk, on an exchange programme in the UK. In addition, four promising players in the KwaZulu Natal Under 18 Development team will receive bursaries to the Sharks Academy,” says Richard de Jager, transformation manager for KwaZulu Natal Rugby.
 | | Training at the KZN Rugby Development. |
Last year, STIHL South Africa assisted the Young Lions, the team at the centre of rugby development in the Woodlands community close to Pietermaritzburg, as well as sponsoring coach Lincoln Xaba, of the Madadeni Township, who went on an exchange programme in the UK, and providing for ten players from disadvantaged backgrounds who toured Australia and New Zealand last year.
“Stihl South Africa’s support for rugby development is excellent. The company is doing a great job of spreading the game into the previously disadvantaged communities and we are excited to be continuing our long and close association with them,” adds De Jager.
“Transformation is at the heart of the future of South African rugby and we are pleased to be involved with the future of one of our nation’s favourite sports,” concludes Hutton.
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