Sportradar agrees deal with the South Africa Rugby Union

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has teamed up with Sportradar to release the full potential of its data and to protect the teams involved from the threat of matchfixing. 

The agreement’s data component positions Sportradar as a non-exclusive collector, processor and distributor of data from almost 300 matches played in South Africa. This figure includes the ABSA Currie Cup Qualification matches, as well as the ABSA Currie Cup Premier and First Division games.

Under the integrity component on the agreement, Sportradar will use its award-winning Fraud Detection System to monitor all the matches in Super Rugby and the Rugby Championships involving South African teams, plus matches of the South African Springboks.

Speaking about the deal, SARU CEO Jurie Roux said: “We have recently seen allegations of match fixing in other South African sports and it is a threat that SA Rugby is not complacent about. In the past few years, World Rugby has really stepped up their quest in ensuring the integrity of the game is upheld with their ‘Keep Rugby Onside’ campaign and we fully support that. All our teams and competitions count amongst the best in the world, so it’s imperative that we monitor global sport to spot the threats, on the horizon.

He continued: “Sportradar can safeguard us from these threats. Their data-related expertise will ensure that their Fraud Detection System, which is employed worldwide, will give us the most powerful tool available to spot and root out concerns.”

Sportradar’s Managing Director Rights Owners Andreas Krannich had this to say: “This is our first data or integrity partnership in Africa so I am grateful to SARU for their initiative. I found SARU’s Mission statement recently: ‘Provide strategic leadership and standards of excellence to make South Africa the best rugby nation in the world’. I think that with this partnership signed today, they have shown just that.”

He added: “Together, we will work closely to bring rugby fans closer to the action so that they can continue being captivated and inspired.”

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