Rugby heroes honoured at For the Love of the Game Banquet
Last night, the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players Fund lit up the Montecasino Ballroom in pomp and splendour, as the annual “For the love of the Game” banquet aptly honoured rugby and its heroes.
This year, Presenting Sponsor Seartec SA, the full Springbok squad and their management team, celebrated their heroes and recipients of the Players’ Fund. To date, the Fund has helped over 400 rugby players in SA since its inception. Currently there are 105 recipients, five of whom were in attendance tonight. Dan Lombard, Anthony Stearns, Erich Small, Pierre Lamont and Gerhard Swarts joined in the celebrations of the night.
Since 1980, the Players Fund has been supporting victims of serious head, neck and spinal cord injuries sustained whilst playing rugby and is not limited to professional players. Founded in 1980 by its current Chairman and past Springbok player and team manager – Morné du Plessis and his fellow Western Province team mates, the Fund has become a household name and this standing event has become the highlight of the rugby social calendar. Through an annual grant from SA Rugby, partners such as SA Rugby Legends, Tsogo Sun, Supersport, as well as the two fundraising events in a year, which have typically been an annual golf day and the banquet with the Springboks, recipients of the Fund can helped according to their needs.
Over 400 guests attended the world-class ceremony, among them Springbok captain Jean de Villiers. “It is a privilege as the Springboks, to be part of this laudable initiative. This Banquet has historically been one of celebration and honour to the game, as well as its heroes. It is humbling to witness the reach and respect that it has earned over the years, and we’d like to thank each partner and sponsor for spurring that on,” de Villiers.
With a keynote address from rugby legend Ashwin Willemse, to second to none entertainment from the popular electrical string quartet, The Muses and modern day swing trio, Swing City, the Fund hosted an evening that will long be included in the tour-bus banter and the on-field chirps.
Media partner Supersport carried a live stream from the event between 20h00-22h00, to ensure that friends of the fund did not miss a thing.
Morné du Plessis, Chairman of the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Fund, said, ”The Banquet’s theme is For the Love of the Game. Thank you to our many sponsors and suppliers. It really is about the love of the game.”
You can still pledge your support by SMSing “My hero” followed by the name of your all time Springbok hero followed by your own name to 40776. R20/SMS (Network and Admin fees apply). All proceeds will be donated to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.
Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund
Fact Sheet
- Established in 1980 by the current Chairman Morné du Plessis and his Western Province Rugby team mates.
- The Fund is a registered Non-Profit Organization (NPO 003-140) and a Public Benefit Organization (PBO 930012744).
- In-keeping with our constitution, we offer support to rugby players who have sustained a catastrophic head, neck or spine injury while on
the rugby field. In some instances if death occurs, we contribute towards funeral costs.
- Support is provided for anyone with a serious head, neck or spinal injury sustained whilst playing rugby and is not limited to professional
players.
- To date the Fund has helped approximately 400 rugby players in SA since its inception.
- We currently have 105 recipients.
- The Fund is managed under the guidance of a board of Trustees – who include:
Morné du Plessis (Chairman), Frikkie Naudé (Vice Chairman), Chester Williams, Ismail Jakoet, Joel Krige, Yufuf Abrahams, Wayne Fyvie,
Anton Engelbrecht, Norman Mbiko, George Rautenbach, FC Smit, Jurie Roux and John Smit. Honorary Financial advisor: Neil Strybis.
- Recipients of the Fund are helped according to their individual needs.
- All requests are passed through to the Assistance Committee (made up of 5 Trustees) who make day to day decisions.
- The Fund hosts two fundraising events in a year, which have typically been a golf day and the banquet with the Springboks.
- Other Funds are raised by other organisations which see value in contributing to the cause.
- The Fund receives an annual grant from SA Rugby.
- The BokSmart national rugby safety programme is a join initiative between the Players’ Fund and SA Rugby and it aims to make the game of
rugby safer for all who play it.
- Partners of the Fund include: SA Rugby, SA Rugby Legends, Tsogo Sun and SuperSport.
- The Fund also received funding from the National Lottery Board of SA.
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