YesPlay Named as Title Sponsor of Barbarians vs Springboks with YesPlay Cup launched

Gary Emmerson

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Last updated: 2 hours ago

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Gary Emmerson 2 hours ago

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YesPlay sponsors the Barbarians vs. Springboks match
The two teams will play for the YesPlay Cup
Scheduled for June 20, 2026, the event kicks off the Springboks' international season

Barbarians and South Africa will play for the YesPlay Cup (Getty Images)

South African betting brand YesPlay has been unveiled as the title sponsor for this year’s high‑profile clash between Barbarian F.C. and the world champion Springboks.

South Africa take on the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday 20 June 2026 and the two teams will play for the newly named YesPlay Cup.

As well as the naming of the YesPlay Cup, the South African betting site will also have front‑of‑jersey branding on the Barbarians' shirts.

The exclusive deal is part of YesPlay's broader push into premium sports sponsorship to expand their presence in the South African betting market.

YesPlay Cup Sponsorship

“This is exactly the kind of moment YesPlay stands for,” said Dmitry Oberzhitsky, Founder of YesPlay. “The YesPlay Cup is about bringing fans an unforgettable experience, world-class rugby, incredible energy, and a shared passion for the game.

"We’re proud to be a South African brand supporting an event that showcases the very best of the sport on home soil.

"Games like this don’t come around often. When they do, they create something special, not just on the field, but in the stands and across the country. It’s the kind of occasion that reminds you why people love rugby.”

John Spencer, President of Barbarian F.C., added: “Barbarian F.C. prides itself on its values and ethos and it is important our partners embody the same.

"We are delighted to be working and partnering with YesPlay when we take on the World Champions, the Springboks in the YesPlay Cup this June.

“YesPlay are a proud South African company and in addition to the title sponsorship of the match we are proud to have them on the front of our jersey for this exciting international clash.”

Barbarians vs Springboks

The match forms the curtain‑raiser to the Springboks’ 2026 international season and marks the second successive year South Africa open their campaign against the star‑studded invitational side, following last year’s Qatar Airways Cup showdown in Cape Town.

The world champions used last year’s fixture against the Barbarians in Cape Town as a launchpad to an impressive international campaign, dismantling the visitors 54-7 in wet conditions to lift the Qatar Airways Cup in front of a 45,000‑strong crowd.

A similar festival atmosphere is anticipated in Gqeberha as local supporters get a rare chance to see both the Boks and the Barbarians in their city.

The Barbarians, coached once again by Robbie Deans and backed by an international coaching group, are expected to assemble another multi‑national squad packed with Test experience and attacking flair.

The fixture is squeezed into a busy global calendar and comes just two weeks before the Boks’ inaugural Nations Championship meeting with England at Ellis Park.

It offers coach Rassie Erasmus and his staff a valuable opportunity to experiment with combinations while still delivering a spectacle tailored for fans at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.