By: Lemogang Matwa
Loftus Versfeld was the venue for a groundbreaking partnership announcement between the Blue Bulls and Honor Technologies on Monday evening, 21 July 2025.
The evening kicked off with a panel discussion which included Honor South Africa’s CEO, Fred Zhou; President of the Vodacom Bulls, Willem Strauss; and the Bulls’ Currie Cup Head Coach, Phiwe Nomlomo.
During the panel, the partnership was officially unveiled. Honor CEO Fred Zhou proudly announced that the brand will equip the team with cutting-edge smart technology. He emphasized that these smart devices would support both players and technical teams, enhancing performance on and off the field.
Echoing this sentiment, Bulls President Willem Strauss said “The Bulls are chasing that one percent. In rugby, everyone is fit and strong at this level of competition. What gives you the edge is that extra one percent — and I believe Honor Technologies will help us achieve it.”
Coach Phiwe Nomlomo shared his excitement, noting that Honor’s AI technologies already play a massive role in rugby. “I can’t wait to put this technology to work,” he said.
The event concluded with President Strauss reflecting on what inspired the collaboration
“We share the same values, the same strategy, and we wanted Honor to embark on this journey with us as a rugby team.”
Both brands expressed equal enthusiasm about maintaining a strong and long-term partnership.