Springboks celebrates three decades of partnership with longest serving sponsor ahead of incoming series

Castle Lager, South Africa’s beloved ‘Homegrown’ beer, has over the years solidified its position as a stalwart partner in South African sport, with 2024 marking three decades of Castle Lager’s remarkable partnership with the Springboks.

This unique South African product has always brought people together around the things they love, with every braai and every try. Being sponsors of the nation’s largest sporting codes plays an undeniable role in uniting fans around the country and building national pride.

History is often only recorded, but a legacy is always built through the trust of continued dedication.

Castle Lager’s long-lasting partnership with the Boks has witnessed some of the world’s greatest sporting achievements. Castle Lager was around when Nelson Mandela lifted his arms in celebration with Bok skipper Francios Pienaar holding aloft the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time in 1995. That was true once again when the Boks lifted ‘Bill’ in 2007, 2019 and, most recently for a record-breaking fourth time, in 2023.

In 2008, when Ricky January chipped and chased his way to glory against the All Blacks in Dunedin, and when Marius Joubert scored at an elated Ellis Park to record only the second hat-trick against New Zealand in Johannesburg in 2004, Castle Lager could proudly state they were already time-honoured partners.

Before the dawn of the 21^st century, when Jannie de Beer’s boot crushed the resistance of England with five drop goals in Saint Denis, the Boks had the support of Castle Lager. Ten years later when Morne Steyn stood calmly beyond halfway to slot over the winning penalty against the British and Irish Lions, in front of an anxious Loftus Versfeld, Castle Lager held the torch of celebration.

When Steyn repeated the feat 12 years later against the B&I Lions – with the world held captive by Covid-19 – Castle Lager’s sponsorship was enduring, as they were the official sponsor of the series.

Castle Lager stood by the Boks through the tough times – the home loss to New Zealand in 1996; the following year’s BI Lions series defeat; the barren years that pock-marked the Boks’ illustrious record in the early 2000s; and the shock 57-0 defeat by New Zealand in 2017.

In 2011, when South Africa despaired due to a quarter-final exit in the Rugby World Cup, and when the Boks were stunned by the Brighton Miracle four years later, Castle Lager lamented with the nation.

“Castle Lager has been sponsoring rugby for three decades in an unbroken partnership. It is the beer that brings people together around the things that they love the most. We want to facilitate bonds of friendship, belonging and good times. That is what we stand for,” said Castle Lager Marketing Director Thomas Lawrence, ahead of the upcoming Ireland test series this week.

When Ireland play the Boks in the next few weeks, and Portugal thereafter, the ‘Taste that’s stood the Test of time’ will be there, too, just as they were when the first Tri-Nations was held in 1996, when that tournament welcomed Argentina into the 2012 Rugby Championship, and when they will contest the competition this year and beyond.

“We are excited about this year. Playing against Ireland is the first real test as back-to-back world champions. We want to give fans a something special,” Lawrence added.

Together Castle Lager and the Springboks are the partnership that stood the Test of Time.

To stay up to date with any further announcements, fans should check the official brand website and social media pages:

Website: www.castlelager.co.za

Twitter: @castlelagerSA

Facebook: Castle Lager

Instagram: @castlelagerSA

Hashtag: #CastleIncomingSeries

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram