The Blue Bulls Company and STADIO Higher Education have officially begun their life-changing partnership which is dedicated to offering academic opportunities and support to Vodacom Bulls players. In a signing session at Loftus Versfeld, 7 Vodacom Bulls juniors officially joined the 2023 academic cohort, which will see them begin their higher education.
The partnership will see players afforded the opportunity to further their tertiary ambitions, through dedicated bursaries that allow them to undertake study programmes that are aligned with their interests outside of the game, providing them with the necessary support and means to help them successfully complete their courses which run concurrently with their busy rugby schedules.
Blue Bulls Company Chief Commercial Officer, Stefan van der Merwe, said the partnership with STADIO will help nurture and ready players for life after rugby and that the signing session was a full-circle moment.
“As the Vodacom Bulls family, we know that there is more to life than rugby and that is why we do not only wish to develop the best rugby players in South Africa but wish to develop academic stars who can go on to add value into the corporate ecosystem of rugby, once they are done with their playing days,”
“As a company, we strive to ensure that our players have a backup to their playing careers so that success will always be a part of their journey, wherever life may take them,”
“We remain grateful to STADIO, who is quickly becoming a benchmark of tertiary education, for offering our players this incredibly perfect opportunity, especially being aware of how costly further education can be in our beautiful country. We are confident that they will see great rewards for the investment they are making into the future of South Africa, today.”
As the Blue Bulls Company and the Vodacom Bulls family, we are honoured to be able to partner with them on this journey” van der Merwe concluded.
STADIO’s Chief Executive Officer, Chris Vorster said that the partnership was part of their commitment to helping grow South Africa through educational excellence.
“At STADIO, we believe in the future of our nation and our message has resonated profoundly since our launch two years ago,”
“We have made a difference by offering wide-ranging and affordable access to private higher education and equipping our students to become the most empowered version of themselves,”
“The Vodacom Bulls must be applauded for prioritising their players’ education outside the sport and we are proud to facilitate this process.”
Vorster explained that STADIO places its students at the heart of its ethos and will assist the Vodacom Bulls cohort to complete their qualifications amidst the rigours of their stringent training programme.
“We take a profound interest in what our students need. We offer higher education specially designed to meet industry requirements and to accommodate our students’ diverse lifestyles. We pride ourselves in providing excellent support and service. We ensure that our students are important and valued while keeping things simple and focusing on what’s important,”
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to assist these players,” he concluded.
The seven Vodacom Bulls players who are enrolling with STADIO for the 2023 academic year are Johan Lombard, Liam Koen, Campion von Ludwig, Merwe Olivier, Logan Opperman, Juan Smal and Ben Heydenrich.
Asked about the opportunity to further their studies, some of the players said:
Merwe Olivier: “I am going to study towards a BA Project Management and after rugby, I want to enter the business world, preferably as a business owner. So, the opportunity to study with STADIO will help tremendously in the future and it is a big privilege to be given the opportunity.”
Compion von Ludwig: “After rugby, I plan to transition into the business world and this is why I am going study towards a BCom Law. This opportunity will allow me to further my education while also continuing to pursue my passion for rugby at a high level.”
Johan Lombard: “One’s rugby career, unfortunately, cannot last forever, once the time comes, I would like to pursue a career in either the financial industry or legal fraternity and this is why I am going to be studying BCom Law at STADIO this year. I am grateful to STADIO for giving me the opportunity to study and obtain a qualification, through distance learning, while I pursue my rugby career, to ensure a successful life after rugby!”
