Botswana Vultures Reveal Their Exciting New Kit Before The Rugby Africa Cup qualifier:

This marks the first kit commercially available for purchase, supporting the Botswana Rugby Union.

Gaborone, 15 November 2024 – Botswana Vultures, the national rugby team of Botswana, proudly introduced their new locally designed kit today as they gear up for their tour to Morocco. This fresh kit symbolizes the Vultures’ pride and determination, showcasing their eagerness to compete internationally. The new jersey features collaborations with new partners and sponsors, including BH Botswana, JCB Botswana, Devre Trans, JB and GR8R Than Fitness. These partnerships highlight the increasing support for rugby in Botswana, as the sponsors champion the Vultures’ quest for excellence.

The Botswana Vultures have had an exhilarating 2024, establishing themselves as a formidable competitor in African rugby. As they prepare for a series of test matches ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup qualifiers in Morocco, scheduled for 18-24 November, the team is in full swing. This tournament will feature national teams from Botswana, Morocco, Madagascar, and Cameroon. The Vultures’ journey highlights a dynamic mix of youthful talent and experienced players, and this momentous occasion, the unveiling of their new kit.

Speaking to Molibi Maphanyane of GR8R Than Fitness, the team spearheading this initiative, he conveyed, “The new shirt for the Botswana Vultures is the most iconic in the team’s history. The home jersey features a predominantly black design, symbolizing anthracite, the highest grade of coal and one of Botswana’s key exports. The away jersey showcases a GR8R Leteisi design, reflecting our rich cultural heritage and strength. For the first time ever, supporter jerseys will be available both online and at selected JB Stores across the country. Proceeds from the jersey sales will contribute to the growth and development of Botswana’s national rugby team while also promoting the Botswana Vultures brand on a global scale.”

The shirt was designed by local multimedia expert Disa Nkgowe of the Phaphata Group who will also a Coach & Rugby Coach Educator for World Rugby.

Shirts will be available from 7 December 2024 at the following:

JB: Game City, Airport Junction, Francistown, Maun, Kasane.

Online at www.gr8r.fit

In anticipation of the Rugby Africa Cup qualifiers in Morocco, where the kit will debut, the Vultures have developed their tactical approach under the guidance of a committed coaching staff, spearheaded by Andrew Paxinos. This year also marked the debut of assistant coach Tshoganetso ‘Shakes’ Katse, who expressed, “It is a tremendous privilege to contribute to the team. We are working hard at restoring Botswana rugby to its previous levels of excellence, and are showcasing this through our player selection process  concentrating on uncovering top talent, which includes players from outside Botswana, such as those based in Australia, Pretoria, and Cape Town.”

The Botswana Rugby Union is preparing for more competitions with its neighbours and plans to become a hub for rugby development in the region. That will mean more games played by national teams and more international tournaments hosted locally.

Under the leadership of head coach Andrew Paxinos, the Vultures have engaged in several notable matches this year. Some highlights include:

• Vultures vs. eSwatini (Gaborone, February 25, 2024): A dominant 111-3 victory showcased the team’s strength and skill as they played their first home test since 2014​.
• Leopards vs. Vultures (Mafikeng, September 7, 2024): In their first assignment of the season, the Vultures faced the Leopards Rugby Club. Although the Vultures lost, the match was significant as it marked a smaller margin of defeat than in previous encounters. Two sides were fielded including a development side. The scores were 27-13 and 24-21 respectively.​
• Vultures vs. Lesotho (Jwaneng, September 28, 2024): This match continued their preparation, marking a key fixture in Jwaneng winning 37-15.​

The Botswana Rugby Union and the Vultures’ management are confident that the team’s preparations efforts will lead to a strong performance at the Rugby Africa Cup.

About GR8R Fitness:

GR8R Than Fitness is committed to eliminating obstacles in sport and fitness by creating a welcoming and accessible atmosphere. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity, the brand empowers everyone—from novices to experienced athletes—to strive for health and wellness while nurturing sports development at the grassroots level. As the official equipment sponsor of the Botswana Rugby Union, GR8R Than Fitness provides clothing and equipment, oversees advertising on BRU gear and handles merchandise sales and distribution.  Follow the Radio show on RB2 Wednesdays at 2130, podcasts on all podcast platforms and blog on gr8r.fit/blog. 

The GR8R Than Fitness Application will be launched in December 2024.

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