MTN new headline Springbok sponsor

The company has agreed a three-year deal to back the national team.

The famous name will be carried on the Springboks' playing jersey - starting tomorrow in Pretoria in the first match of the three-Test series against France.

SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said that the agreement represented a pivotal moment for SA Rugby and that welcoming a company of MTN's size and reach was a significant moment for the sport.

"We're delighted to welcome MTN as our new headline Springbok sponsor," said Roux. "They proudly carry millions of calls across the continent every day and we're proud to carry their name on our jerseys.

"From the very first conversation we had with them they saw the power and potential of a partnership with the Springboks and SA Rugby way beyond placing a logo on a sportsman's playing kit."

The new Springbok jersey had already been launched and distributed into the market, giving ASICS no opportunity to brand replica wear with the sponsor's mark.

However, ASICS have assured supporters that they will be working around the clock with the aim of providing Springboks fans with the MTN-branded jersey for the start of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.