SA Rugby has opened an official Springbok retail store in the country’s richest mall, Sandton City, alongside the launch of an online shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the group, the physical store is just the first to open, and further store openings are planned elsewhere in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The store will feature the official Nike replica teamwear as well as a new range of off-field supporters’ clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group said the opening marks the successful completion of a goal set by SARU\u2019s Executive Council at the start of 2024 to answer South Africa\u2019s hunger for the Springbok brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President of the SA Rugby Union, Mark Alexander, said that the store has been a long time coming, given that \u201cwe have not had such an offering before now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore today, if you\u2019d asked the question \u2018where is the Springbok shop?\u2019 you\u2019d have been met by blank faces,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alexander said that the store follows the tradition around the world of famous sports teams having club shops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If you\u2019re in the Champs \u00c9lys\u00e9es in Paris, you can visit the Paris St Germain club shop; if you\u2019re passing through Munich airport, you can visit the Bayern Munich club shop, and if you\u2019re in the Old Trafford area of Manchester, you can visit United\u2019s megastore,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut if a visitor to South Africa wants to take home with him or her a memento of one of Africa\u2019s most famous sports teams, where was the Springboks store? Now we have an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new store\u2019s offering is also available online for fans both in South Africa and overseas and can be found at www.springbokretail.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rian Oberholzer, SA Rugby CEO, noted that there has also been an “explosion” of counterfeiters and imitators since 2019, which has flooded e-commerce channels with fake products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Exco recognised there was a gap in the market that others were exploiting and that there was an opportunity and a need for SA Rugby to meet that demand and retain the value for the benefit of rugby,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe intention is that this store will be followed by others in due course with a range of clothing that will allow rugby fans to show their support for the Springboks in many different items of clothing.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The store is located at Protea Court in Sandton City and can be most easily reached from the Rivonia Road entrance. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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