RMB announced as name sponsor of South African National Squad for rowing

*This content is sponsored by RMB, a diversified financial services brand encompassing investment banking, fund management, private wealth management and advisory services.

RMB has announced a three-year sponsorship of rowing, becoming the named sponsor of the RMB National Squad. The sponsorship comes after a two-year association between the bank and the sport.

The sponsorship consists of a significant cash amount which is administered by the Team Powerhouse Trust (TPT). The trust works with Rowing South Africa (RowSA) for further development and inclusivity of rowing and to enable our athletes to compete and prepare internationally for Tokyo 2020 and beyond. With recent medal wins in Lithuania by RMB National Squad members Megan Hancock and Thabelo Masutha, both the diversity and medal potential of the squad was confirmed.

From left Roger Barrow National Squad Coach, James Formby RMB Chief Executive, Paolo Cavalieri TPT chairman.

In addition to the cash injection, RMB is working with various rowing schools to support grassroots initiatives. As part of the sponsorship, RMB also becomes the named sponsor of four regattas across the country.

Says James Formby, CEO of RMB: “South African rowing endorses RMB’s 30-year strong business philosophy of ‘Traditional Values. Innovative Ideas’ by being steeped in tradition and yet relentlessly innovative. Rowing was one of the founding sports of the modern Olympic movement and South African rowers have steadily grown their medal contributions over the years. With minimal financial support the squad has had to be innovative in finding, training and supporting athletes. RMB is proud to support the team as they work to make our nation proud.”

TPT and RowSA are recognised by SASCOC as valuable contributors to South African sport. Supporting the image of rowing as a “clean” sport, the financial standing, administration and management of rowing continues to be superbly rated.

Says TPT chairman Paolo Cavalieri: “The SA rowing scene has proven itself to be the David amongst Goliaths – both by winning a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012, and again by qualifying for five A finals and winning silver at the Rio Olympics last year. We are able to do this thanks to the support of SASCOC and now RMB, and we look forward to Tokyo 2020 and beyond with increased determination.”

RowSA president Sean Kerr says the sponsorship has come at just the right time and helps set us up for the next Olympic cycle.

“Having RMB as a long-term sponsor is a huge shot in the arm for our training efforts,” he says. “We will also be allocating some of the funds to take the sport to underprivileged communities throughout the country through our established development programmes.”

Formby concluded the announcement of the sponsorship, the unveiling of the RMB National Squad logo and the handing over of their national kit to the team leaving for the USA next month by saying: “RMB’s values align closely with rowing. The extremely collaborative and complex, technical nature of rowing is similar to the multi-disciplinary aspects RMB uses to deliver winning solutions to complex financial needs –  rather than self-involved mavericks pulling in different directions and losing the greatness of the whole. We are excited to be part of this national journey with the rowing community.”

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