YesPlay backs South African Deaf Rugby on the road to Tokyo

Big things are happening for South African Deaf Rugby, and YesPlay is proud to be part of the journey.

YesPlay has been announced as the Tier 1 Partner and official front-of-jersey sponsor of the South African Deaf Rugby National Team as they prepare to take on the world at the 2026 World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

It’s a partnership that goes well beyond putting the YesPlay logo on a jersey. It’s about backing talent, creating opportunities and helping make sport more inclusive at every level.

Following an impressive fourth-place finish at their international debut in Argentina in 2023, where they narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, Team South Africa will be looking to go one better in Tokyo. The 16-strong touring party, made up of 12 players and four management staff, will leave for Japan on 28 October, with the tournament taking place from 31 October to 3 November 2026.

And this team has already shown what’s possible when determination meets opportunity.

For YesPlay, supporting South African rugby is nothing new. The brand is already part of the game through its partnership with the Toyota Cheetahs and its title sponsorship of the historic YesPlay Cup fixture between the Springboks and the Barbarians earlier this year.

But the partnership with South African Deaf Rugby adds something particularly meaningful to that story.

“At YesPlay, we believe that the true power of sport lies in its ability to create opportunity, inspire hope and bring people together,” says Tebogo Makamo, Chief Executive Officer of YesPlay. “Our partnership with the South African Deaf Rugby Association reflects those values. This is about far more than helping a team get to the World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championships. It’s about investing in people, championing inclusion and helping to build a future where talent, commitment and character, not circumstance, determine what’s possible.  We are honoured to stand alongside SADRA on this journey and look forward to seeing Team South Africa inspire the nation on the world stage.”

Because inclusion shouldn’t be a once-off campaign. It should be part of how sport is built.

And now, it’s your turn to get behind the team too.

Follow South African Deaf Rugby, show them your support and help get the nation behind Team South Africa as they take on the world in Tokyo. Every message of support, every share and every gesture of encouragement helps remind the players that they’re not making this journey alone.

To find out more about South African Deaf Rugby and how you can support the team, visit sadeafrugby.co.za or contact [email protected].

About South African Deaf Rugby

The South African Deaf Rugby Association (SADRA) is the official governing body for Deaf Rugby in South Africa. Founded in 2015, SADRA is affiliated with SA Rugby and World Deaf Rugby and is a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO 226-833) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO).

SADRA develops Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing players from school level through to provincial and national representation. In 2023, the organisation was recognised by SA Rugby as its Best Associate Member.

Today, SADRA continues to build a more inclusive national rugby pathway, creating opportunities for Deaf athletes and helping change perceptions around disability in sport.

Tokyo is the next chapter.  And YesPlay is proud to be there for it!