BrightRock joins forces with the Players’ Fund and the Springboks to raise funds for catastrophically injured rugby players

Suzanne Stevens, executive director of BrightRock.

Provider of needs-matched life insurance, BrightRock is proud to announce their partnership with the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund to host the Play the Bounce Players’ Fund Banquet.

This prestigious annual event will be taking place on 27 September 2016 and will be attended by the entire Springbok team, each of whom will be hosting a table at the banquet. All the funds raised from this event will be in aid of the Players’ Fund, which was started in 1980 to support South African rugby players who sustain disabling and life-changing head, neck or spinal cord injuries while participating in the game.

To date, the Fund has helped no fewer than 400 seriously injured players and their families by providing support and mobility equipment, vital in the transition to living life under very different circumstances. The Fund is also involved in efforts to make rugby safer and to prevent similar injuries from happening. BokSmart, the National Rugby Safety programme, is a joint initiative between the South African Rugby Union and the Players’ Fund which provides rugby coaches, referees, players and administrators with the correct knowledge, skills and protocols to ensure that safety and best practice principles are incorporated into all aspects of rugby in South Africa.

According to Players’ Fund chairman Morné du Plessis, having the enthusiastic and dynamic brand of BrightRock behind this event will take it to new heights.

“This partnership will increase the Fund’s ability to play the role of Rugby’s Caring Hands in the lives of those who would otherwise have been left on the side lines” says Du Plessis.

BrightRock executive director Suzanne Stevens, believes the sponsorship of the Players’ Fund is an extension on of BrightRock’s Play the Bounce philosophy, which positively embraces the ever-changing, unpredictable nature of life and of rugby.

“The Players’ Fund’s motivation and its recipients demonstrate that even when the ball bounces in unexpected ways (both on the field and in life), that change like this can still be navigated with surprising and life affirming results - most especially when peoples unique needs are met properly.”

BrightRock’s involvement in the Play the Bounce Banquet follows the announcement of their three-year associate-sponsorship of the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province, which kicked off in January this year. The company launched its unique needs-matched life insurance offering in 2012 and is rapidly establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing players in the intermediated individual life market in South Africa.

Stevens explains that the concept of change is central to the BrightRock’s needs-matched insurance offering, which is uniquely able to change with clients as their needs change over their lifetime. “Rugby, like life, is a game where the unpredictable is always a play away and can challenge even the best skill and preparation.”

“We hope and trust that our involvement in the Play The Bounce Players’ Fund Banquet will further enhance the positive difference the Player’s Fund makes in South African rugby.”

• Tables at the banquet seat 10 (nine guests and a Springbok host) and can be booked at a cost of R16 000 per table. Contact events@playersfund.org.za / (021) 569 5615 for more information.