SportPesa Backs Forward Foundation & Faster 7s South Africa
SportPesa has become a Tier 1 partner of the Forward Foundation and the Forward Faster 7s tournament in Stellenbosch, strengthening its investment in South African rugby.
The partnership is part of SportPesa’s broader “SportPesa Effect” framework, which aims to build sustainable pathways from grassroots and university rugby to professional teams and international tournaments. The initiative reflects the organization’s belief that sport can create opportunity, foster unity, and strengthen community pride.
The two organizations fully realized their synergy on the international stage at the 2026 Safari Sevens tournament in Nairobi, Kenya. Competing as the SportPesa Fast Forwards, the South African developmental squad drew 21-21 against defending champions Kenya Shujaa in their opening match.
A core component of the tier-1 partnership is structural skills transfer. Aspiring local players aged 18 and older will gain direct access to elite professional development via the SportPesa Effect Coaching Clinics. It also powers the foundation’s Senior Performance Programme and a dynamic series of regional development initiatives.
These high-performance training sessions will be led directly by world-class South African talent, featuring Stormers and Springbok scrum-half Cobus Reinach. The clinics aim to bridge the gap between community-level athletics and premier professional clubs.
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This corporate commitment builds on SportPesa’s active investment in South African rugby, spanning the sport’s elite, academic, and community levels. The company supports URC side DHL Stormers, backs university development through the Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield, and sponsors the SportPesa Masi Pumas. The Pumas’ three operational squads each won their local leagues and earned promotion.
By aligning with the Forward Foundation, SportPesa cements a sustainable pathway for emerging South African players to progress from grassroots fields all the way to international competitive arenas.
