Sale Sharks star Faf De Klerk has been snapped up as the latest brand ambassador for healthy hydration brand iPRO as part of a new two-year partnership.
De Klerk, a World Cup winner with the Springboks at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will now represent iPRO and its range of wellness drinks in the UK and his home nation of South Africa.
Having first partnered with Sharks in 2016 as the team’s official sports drink provider, the new deal enhances iPRO’s involvement with the club at a time when they are riding high in the Gallagher Premiership, occupying second spot.
iPRO is targeting domestic and international growth for its healthy hydration drinks and hopes to use the power of the Sale Sharks brand to help reach even more people worldwide.
The partnership will focus on the iPRO Hydrate range of wellness drinks, which promote healthy hydration with low sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and are 100 per cent recyclable as part of iPRO’s commitment to sustainability.
De Klerk said: “I’m really pleased to be joining iPRO as an ambassador in a role which will allow me to reach rugby fans in the UK and South Africa.
“iPRO recognises the importance of helping people stay healthy through hydration, and I’m excited to be playing a bigger role in the partnership for the future.
“Sale are a big club with a really strong fanbase in England and we’re competing for domestic and European success right now. The club is also popular in South Africa because alongside me, we’ve got the likes of Lood de Jager, the Du Preez brothers, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Akker Van Der Merwe, so there’s a really strong following back home.”
Mark Cueto, Sale Sharks’ Commercial Director and former player said: “At Sale Sharks we have a great track record of successful and long-running commercial relationships, so we’re delighted to have iPRO sign up to a new deal.
“Faf is one of the world’s best players, so it comes as no surprise that an exciting and fast-growing brand like iPRO have come calling for him.
“As a hugely popular name both here in the UK and South Africa, he’s the perfect player to help promote the benefits of healthy hydration.”
iPRO is already established in several markets around the world including Africa, Europe and Asia. The brand will be launching in South Africa later this year on the back of the new Sale Sharks deal with plenty more high-profile announcements expected soon.
iPRO Commercial Director, Sophie Christy, added: “As a club partner of Sale Sharks for the past four years, we’re excited to have finalised this new deal which sees Faf de Klerk become our latest brand ambassador. He joins some big names in the world of sport already working with iPRO and we felt that his personality and profile were the perfect match for us.
“As a company, we’re dedicated to supporting health and wellbeing, and our iPRO Hydrate range is all about helping people hydrate – from professional athletes like Faf, to those simply wanting to make healthy choices.
“We can’t wait to get going and support Faf and his teammates as they prepare to resume their season with everything still to play for in the Premiership.”