Boland Rugby unveil three iconic brands as new partners at the 2026 season launch

Boland Rugby officially unveiled Umbro, AfriSam and Mama’s Pies as new sponsors at the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and Sanlam Boland Dames' 2026 season launch, marking an important addition to the union’s growing commercial portfolio.

The portfolio has grown substantially over the last three seasons, with existing sponsors continuing their backing of this proud union. Headline sponsor Sanlam, along with Santam, Vumatel, Rainbow Chicken and Heineken Beverages, have committed to backing the Boland Rugby Union.

The new partnerships and the 2026 playing kit were officially revealed at the season launch held at the Sanlam Head Office on Wednesday.

The announcement formed part of a broader season launch programme that highlighted Boland Rugby’s continued progress across governance, commercial partnerships, and high-performance rugby environments.

As part of the partnership, Umbro was confirmed as the official technical supplier of playing and official apparel for the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (men), Sanlam Boland Dames (women), Sanlam Boland U21 (men) and Boland Rugby’s junior teams. The agreement ensures consistency in kit quality and branding across all levels of the union.

The partnership was positioned as a key step in reinforcing professional standards within Boland Rugby, ensuring players and staff are supported with performance-focused apparel aligned to international benchmarks.

Umbro have been a sponsor of the prestigious Sanlam Boland Top 12 competition since its rebrand in 2023, while Mama’s Pies joined the Boland Rugby family at the start of the 2025 Sanlam Boland Top 12 competition.

AfriSam will be on the front of the playing jersey for both the senior men’s and women’s sides.

President of Boland Rugby Union, Bennie van Rooi, said the announcement reflected growing confidence in the union’s direction.

“The announcement of Umbro and AfriSam as partners was a strong endorsement of the direction Boland Rugby has taken,” said Van Rooi.

“These partnerships, along with our existing sponsors including Sanlam, Santam, Vumatel, Rainbow Chicken and Heineken, reinforced our commitment to professionalism and to ensuring that all our teams are properly supported.”

CEO of Boland Rugby (Pty) Ltd, Quintin van Rooyen, said the partnerships were the result of deliberate relationship-building and a clear commercial strategy.

“The addition of Umbro, AfriSam and Mama’s Pies reflected increasing belief in the Boland Rugby brand and the progress being made across the organisation,” said Van Rooyen.

“These partnerships strengthened our ability to operate sustainably and to support high-performance environments.”

Umbro representative Byron Mulholland affirmed the brand's belief that it aligns with Boland Rugby during a period of growth and momentum.

“Umbro is proud to be announced as the new apparel partner of Boland Rugby,” said Mulholland.

“We have been part of the Boland Rugby at the Sanlam Boland Top 12 level since 2023 and to grow the partnership to this level is a testament to the mutual understanding that we can continue providing opportunities for all within Boland.

"There is a clear sense of purpose and progress within the union and we are excited to support that through high-performance apparel.”

AfriSam said its association with Boland Rugby is grounded in shared values and a commitment to community impact. Richard Tomes, AfriSam: Sales & Marketing Executive, said the partnership reflects the brand’s belief in the role of regional rugby.

“The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers is synonymous with dedication, grit and a community-centric vision - values that strongly resonate with AfriSam,” said Tomes.

“As a proudly South African brand, this sponsorship allows us to support the growth of regional rugby while contributing to the development of talent and strengthening the communities we serve through continued opportunities at the grassroots level.”

Mama's Pies also reaffirmed its support of Boland Rugby’s ongoing efforts.

“Supporting Boland Rugby is about backing people, communities and the pride that comes with representing the region,” said Job Mpele, Commercial Director at RFG Foods.

“Mama’s Pies featured prominently during the 2025 Sanlam Boland Top 12 competition, with one of the standout campaigns for the brand being the honouring and support of all Boland ‘Mama’s’ across the region.”