Sportal SA, the joint venture between JSE-listed sports marketing company SAIL and Rob Hersov's Sportal UK, relaunched the official South African Rugby Football Union Web site (
www.sarugby.net
) yesterday.
In keeping with recent changes in South African rugby and to coincide with the Springbok tour of Argentina and the British Islands, Sportal says it has significantly improved its first SARugby.net offering.
According to Sportal SA MD Oliver Power, the new site will bring rugby fans to the very heart of the sport.
"What differentiates SARugby.net from it competitors are Sportal's exclusive Internet rights to the Springbok rugby team. On the upcoming tour of Argentina and the UK fans will also, for the first time, be able to get a daily glimpse of what happens off the field of play."
Power says the increasing competitiveness of the online rugby market encouraged Sportal to rethink its strategy.
"Coverage of rugby online is staid and unimaginative. SARugby.net is the exception. While still placing much emphasis upon comprehensive news coverage, Sportal will use the medium to its optimum ability."
To this end, the new site provides a host of multimedia features. These include video clips of recent test match highlights and behind the scenes footage of the touring Springboks, as well as an interactive, three-dimensional conversion kicking game and various screensavers.
For the duration of the forthcoming tour Sportal will conduct weekly online chat sessions with one of the players, highlighted on 9 November when new coach Harry Viljoen will field questions from the public.
Rugby journalist, Sportal's Andrew Koopman, will travel with the Springboks for the duration of the six-week tour.
Sportal SA, as well as hosting the SARFU site, www.sarugbynet.co.za, is partnered to 23 other official sites covering specific teams and events in soccer, rugby, golf and motor racing.
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