Sportingbet, the Western Cape licensed sports betting website have announced a kit sponsorship deal with the Natal University Maritzburg Alumni (NUMZAN) rugby team. The Numzans will be competing in the veterans division of the Cape Town Tens in early February.

According to Sportingbet Marketing Manager, Scott Canny, the Numzans concept fits in well with the values and integrity Sportingbet is trying to promote. "These are educated, fun-loving globetrotters, whose following extends way beyond their squad. Varsity rugby is flourishing in South Africa and we expect a similar boom in the alumni old crocks teams. Sportingbet has been working closely with the Western Cape authorities to promote responsible gaming through education and we try to promote sports betting as a fun activity rather than a way to make money.

When we heard the Numzans were coming to the Cape Tens again, we immediately wanted to get on board and be associated with the fun that surrounds this tournament and the Numzans Rugby team" said Canny.

Sportingbet is one of the biggest online sports betting brands in the world and is best known for their sponsorships of UK football teams Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United as well as rugby league outfit Hull Kingston Rovers.

The brand is fairly new to the South African market and although the Numzans' sponsorship is Sportingbet's first tie-in with a rugby union team they have plans to move into the professional arena soon!

Two former University of KZN and Blue Bulls loose forwards, Craig McIntosh and Ryno Combrinck have been recalled to the Natal University Maritzburg Alumni (NUMZANs) touring party to travel to the Cape early next month. McIntosh will captain the team in the veterans division of the Cape Town Tens tournament.

The squad has been further boosted by the availability of two former Varsity stalwarts, Chris "Rapper" Pearson and Errol Stewart, both Natal and Sharks regulars in Currie Cup and Super 10 / 12 competitions of yesteryear.

Players are to meet at Ashanti Lodge, Gardens at 11.30am on Friday 3 February.

NUMZANs: Craig McIntosh (c), Frank Goedeke, Chris Pearson, Mark Schulze, Dave Heenan, Mark Fredericks, Hilton Nagel, Moon Lister, Leon Venter, Sean Temple, Tom Jankovich, Giles Calenborne, Ryno Combrinck, Russell Chalmers, Colin van Heerden, Craig Hind, Hubert Goedeke, Mike Mallett, Gavin Wood, Udo Goedeke, Errol Stewart, Ali Urquhart, Dave Champion, Phil Bradford, Leo Janssen, Andy Dahl, Robin Knott, Stu Porrill