Press release

Cape Town to stage the 11th annual Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund fundraising banquet, Bell’s Night Of The Stars Rugby Extravaganza

Joel Stransky will be the master of ceremony and the key note speaker will be another well known rugby personality, Kobus Wiese. The banquet dinner takes the form of a glitzy up-market event with a host of exciting entertainment which includes the likes of singing sensations’ Die Broers and the highly successful band, FreshlyGround, who recently won four awards at the 14th annual SAMA Awards. Other activities’ on the night’s programme includes an interactive Rugby Trivia Game Show, an award presentation by the Springbok Captain and an auction of popular rugby memorabilia and other sought after lifestyle items.

Each banquet table will have the opportunity to socialise and enjoy the evening with an Ex Sprinbok at their side.

Another prominent highlight in store for the evening will include the current World Cup Winners’ Springbok Squad, coach and management who will join the dinner for part of the evening as they will also be participating in the “Telethon” fundraiser programme which will be televised live on SuperSport 1 between 8 and 10pm. The public are encouraged to call in and speak to a Springbok or sms their pledges towards the Players’ Fund. During the telethon, there will be live television crossovers to the banquet allowing the viewer at home to feel part of the evening’s fun and activities.

The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund, a non-profit organization, pays homage to two young players who died playing the game they loved. The Fund fulfils two core objectives; firstly to assist the unfortunate victims of catastrophic/serious rugby injuries, and secondly to develop and implement initiatives that aim to educate, inform and create awareness with the purpose of making rugby safer and thereby reducing the number of injuries.

Morné Du Plessis, Chairman of the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund said: “We are excited that the event is being hosted in Cape Town this year. Our welcome to Cape Town, local is lekker trademark will surely entice a huge audience.”

“Rugby is a passion for the South African people and as we won the World Cup last year, I cannot think of a better way to celebrate rugby and its distinguished sporting history and most of all recognising and assisting the many unfortunate injured players. The Bell’s Night of the Stars Rugby Extravaganza is a milestone event that lays a solid foundation in our preparations to assist our recipients within the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund.”

For more information or booking enquiries, contact Gail Ross or Michelle Abrahams on 021 659 5615/41, email: events@playersfund.org.za during office hours or visit www.playersfund.org.za. To book a table at the premier event will cost R10 000.00 per table which includes nine guests plus one local Ex Springbok.