SARU scoops three Virgin Active Sports Awards nominations
Virgin Active
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has been nominated in three categories of the annual Virgin Active Sports Industry Awards, which will be presented a glittering event at Emperor’s Palace on February 23.
In addition, four of South Africa’s leading provincial unions, The Sharks, Vodacom Blue Bulls, DHL Stormers and MTN Lions, as well as key partners Absa, Canterbury and Supersport, were also nominated across a number of categories.
SARU’s “Springbok Fans Unite” campaign, used in the lead up to and during the Rugby World Cup 2011, made the shortlist of nominations in two categories, for Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign and Best Use of Digital Communications in Sport, while the series of television advertisements “Know the Game, Love the Game”, was nominated in the category Best TV Sport Commercial.
SARU’s Bokkie animated mascot won the award for Best Integrated Sports Marketing Campaign at the inaugural Virgin Active Sports Industry Awards in 2011.
“This is a very proud moment for us, as we worked extremely hard at garnering support for the Springboks last year,” said Jurie Roux, the CEO of SARU. “To be nominated in three categories is extremely gratifying and I have to thank my colleagues and our partners, all of whom put in months of hard work to make this happen.
“People tend to judge SARU only on the results of the Springboks and our other national teams, which is understandable, but these nominations prove how much work goes on behind the scenes. SARU will always strive to be an inspirational federation for South African supporters and to be nominated is testimony to that vision.”
SARU was the only national sports federation to be nominated in the awards for a second year.
The categories in which rugby was nominated are:
Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign
- MTN – MTN8 Wafa Wafa
- Nike – Kaizer Chiefs kit launch
- NBA – NBA Basketball Without Borders Africa
- SAIDS – I Play Fair ‘Say No To Doping’
- SARU – Springbok Fans Unite
- SASOL – SASOL Banyana Banyana
Best Use of Digital Communication in Sport
- Absa – Absa Springbok ‘Team of Millions’
- SAB – Castle Lager – ‘Amajita on Tour’
- SAIDS – I Play Fair ‘Say No To Doping’
- SARU – Springbok Fans Unite
- Telkom – Telkom Knockout
- Vodacom – Vodacom Shosholoza Campaign
Best TV Sport Commercial
- Absa – Absa Springbok ‘Team of Millions’
- Garmin – Garmin Fitness Glory
- SARU – Know The Game, Love The Game
- SuperSport – New Football Season
- The Sharks – The Sharks Ultimate Rugby
Sport Brand of the Year
- Canterbury
- EFC Africa
- Nike
- SuperSport
- Blue Bulls
- The Sharks
Best Business Performance by a Sport Team
- Chevrolet Warriors
- DHL Stormers
- Vodacom Blue Bulls
Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition
- Absa – Absa Cape Epic
- Absa – Absa Currie Cup
- Absa – Absa Premiership
- Hi-Tec – The Otter African Trail Run
- MTN – MTN8 Wafa Wafa
- Sansui –Sansui Summer Cup
Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual
- Absa – Springboks
- Canterbury – SARU, including the Springboks
- DHL – DHL Stormers
- MTN – MTN Lions
- Vodacom – Kaizer Chiefs
- Vodacom – Orlando Pirates
Best Integrated Sport Marketing Campaign
- Absa – Springbok ‘Team of Millions’
- Castle Lager – Castle Lager SuperFans
- Garmin – Garmin Fitness Glory
- SAB – Carling Black Label ‘Be The Coach’
- The Sharks – The Sharks Ultimate Rugby
Vodacom – Vodacom Red Campaign
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