The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund

What The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund does

The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund is a South African non-profit charitable organization founded in 1980 by Morné du Plessis and Western Province rugby teammates following the on-field death of Chris Burger. Headquartered at SARU House in Plattekloof, Cape Town, the Fund provides lifelong emotional, physical, and psychological support to catastrophically injured rugby players (primarily spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations) across all South African provinces. Its service portfolio includes monthly subsistence payments, medical consumables, mobility equipment, home accessibility modifications, transport for medical appointments, life coaching, and structured partnerships with the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) and the Walking with Brandon Foundation for rehabilitation and community reintegration. The Fund currently supports 85–89 active recipients and has supported more than 500 players cumulatively since inception.

The organization operates entirely on a donation-funded model with no commercial products. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (one-time and monthly), corporate sponsorships (Tsogo Sun, Betway, BrightRock, DHL Stormers, Pick n Pay, Absa Cape Epic), event fundraising (DHL Stormers annual dinner, golf days, auctions), and cause-marketing merchandise (e.g., the 140,000-unit Pick n Pay Springbok face mask campaign). Section 18A tax-deductible status is enabled by PBO No. 930012744 and NPO No. 003-140 NPO registrations. The Fund is the official charity of the Springboks and has a 6-person staff led by CEO Anne Dobson (appointed July 2025) and Chairman Jean de Villiers, with founder Morné du Plessis continuing as Chairman (Founder). Operating IT footprint is minimal — a WordPress website, social media presence, Quicket event ticketing, GivenGain/SnapScan/EFT donation rails, and no proprietary technology platform.

Name

The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund

Legal name

Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund

Website

https://playersfund.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund is a South African non-profit founded in 1980 that delivers lifelong financial, medical, rehabilitative, and psychological support to catastrophically injured rugby players across all provinces, funded via donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Disability Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Health and Welfare Funds (52512), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Catastrophic injury support
• Rugby player welfare
• Charitable fundraising events
• Spinal cord rehabilitation
• Nonprofit disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through donations, annual fundraising dinners, golf days, online auctions, and event sponsorships. Corporate sponsors and individual donors contribute to support recipients.
2. Sponsorship and Partnerships: Value-in-kind sponsorships from hospitality partners (Tsogo Sun), sports teams (DHL Stormers), and corporate sponsors (Betway, BrightRock) provide operational support and event hosting.
3. Merchandise and Product Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including the limited edition Springbok supporters face masks through retail partners, with profits donated to the fund.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund is a non-profit organization that provides lifelong emotional, physical, and psychological support to catastrophically injured rugby players in South Africa. Services include monthly subsistence payments, medical consumables and equipment, home accessibility modifications, transport to medical appointments, rehabilitation access (Walking with Brandon Foundation), life coaching, and community integration through QASA partnerships. The Fund raises funds through donations, fundraising dinners, golf days, online auctions, corporate sponsorships, and branded merchandise sales.

Product overview

The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund (also known as Rugby's Caring Hands or Players' Fund) is a charitable non-profit organization that provides lifelong emotional, physical, and psychological support to catastrophically injured rugby players in South Africa. The organization does not offer commercial technology products; rather, it delivers support services to recipients including financial assistance, rehabilitation support, home modifications, medical consumables, transport arrangements, life coaching, and community programs. Founded in 1980, the Fund partners with recipients from the moment of injury through rehabilitation and homecoming, continuing support indefinitely. The organization operates primarily as a fundraising entity, hosting events and managing donations to support its recipient network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lifelong catastrophic injury support program Comprehensive lifelong support for catastrophically injured rugby players from the moment of injury through rehabilitation and homecoming, continuing indefinitely. Includes monthly subsistence payments, medical consumables, equipment, transport, rehabilitation access, life coaching, and community integration. Provided to approximately 85-89 active recipients across all South African provinces.
• Annual DHL Stormers Fundraising Dinner Annual ticketed fundraising dinner hosted at Kelvin Grove in Newlands, Cape Town, featuring DHL Stormers players and rugby legends. The 19th annual dinner (March 2026) raised R434,950 for lifelong care of catastrophically injured rugby players. Individual tickets and corporate tables available via Quicket.
• Players Fund Golf Day with rugby legends Annual fundraising golf day featuring rugby legends, sponsored by Betway, supporting the Fund's recipient care programs.
• Walking with Brandon Rehabilitation Programme 8-week intensive rehabilitation programme for spinal cord injury recovery, delivered at SSISA in Newlands through the Walking with Brandon Foundation. Provided to Players' Fund recipients as a coordinated rehabilitation service.
• Limited Edition Springbok Face Masks (Pick n Pay partnership) Limited edition branded Springbok supporters' face masks sold through Pick n Pay retail stores nationwide, with all profits donated to the Players Fund. Featured all three World Cup winning Springbok captains for the 25th Anniversary RWC campaign.
• Section 18A Tax-Deductible Donation Programme Donation programme enabling South African individuals and corporates to make tax-deductible donations to the Fund, via GivenGain, EFT, SnapScan, or monthly debit. Section 18A tax certificates are issued, and the organization is registered as a PBO and NPO.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ catastrophically injured rugby players supported since 1980
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Anne Dobson (CEO)coreOthers · 1 July 2025Anne Dobson appointed as new CEO starting July 1, 2025, bringing 30+ years of non-profit sector experience in financial sustainability, fundraising, governance, and community development.
• South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSA Rugby provides organizational support and recognition, with the Players Fund designated as the official Springbok charity. The Fund operates from SARU House headquarters and maintains close working relationships with SA Rugby leadership.
• DHL StormersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual fundraising dinner partnership. The DHL Stormers rugby team participates in annual fundraising events hosted by Kelvin Grove, with the 19th dinner in 2026 raising R434,950. The Stormers provide players and management presence at events.
• Kelvin GrovecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner hosting the annual DHL Stormers fundraising dinner. Located in Newlands, Cape Town, Kelvin Grove provides the ballroom for the flagship annual event and has been a consistent host for multiple years.
• Tsogo SuncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium hospitality partner providing value-in-kind sponsorship for 6+ years with annual renewal. Tsogo Sun provides bed-nights for staff, trustees, and recipients which is essential for maintaining the Fund's national reach. Also hosts annual fundraising events.
• Pick n PaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail partnership for the 25th Anniversary Rugby World Cup face mask campaign. Sold 140,000 limited edition masks at stores nationwide with all profits going to the Players Fund. Featured all three World Cup winning Springbok captains.
• BrightRockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the production of the Fund's new Impact Video for 2026. Financial sponsor enabling marketing and awareness campaigns.
• BetwayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for the annual Players Fund Golf Day with rugby legends. Partnership for fundraising event sponsorship.
• QASA (QuadPara Association of South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for recipient support and community integration. QASA provides the Work Readiness Programme and Life Coaching Programme that the Fund connects recipients with. Collaborative approach to supporting quadriplegic and paraplegic community members.
• Walking with Brandon FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeurological and Rehabilitation Programme partner based at the Sports Science Institute of SA (SSISA). Provides intensive rehabilitation training for recipients including the 8-week Walking with Brandon Programme for spinal cord injury recovery.
• BokSmartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSA Rugby's injury prevention and safety programme. The Players Fund supports the BokSmart programme as part of its mission to make rugby safer and support injured players.
• Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at Newlands, SSISA provides facilities for the Walking with Brandon rehabilitation programme and hosts trustee meetings. Founded by Morné du Plessis and Professor Tim Noakes.
• Western Province RugbyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided suite 301 in the Danie Craven stand at Newlands to the Players Fund for 37+ years, enabling recipients to watch live rugby matches from accessible wheelchair positions.
• Absa Cape EpicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial charity partner for the 2025 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race (8 days/700km). CEO Mark Kritzinger participates as rider. Tax rebate certificates available for South African donors.
• SA Rugby Legends AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRugby legends who participate in Fund events and serve as ambassadors. Involvement in annual Day in the Country and other fundraising activities.
• MyPlayers FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional rugby players' foundation that visits recipients and provides support. Players including Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit have visited recipients' homes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Right To Play: International charity that uses sport and play to improve education and health outcomes for children. Comparable fundraising model (athlete ambassadors, corporate sponsors, event-based income) and non-profit operational structure.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global sport-for-development charity that uses sport to address social issues; Jean de Villiers is a Laureus ambassador. Comparable as a sport-anchored charitable foundation leveraging athlete ambassadors for fundraising and program delivery.
• Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Charity: UK footballers' union with charitable arm providing financial and welfare support to former professional players suffering serious injury or hardship. A broader, more established sport-player welfare body but operates a similar charitable support model.

Regional players

• Australian Sports Foundation: Australian not-for-profit that channels tax-deductible donations to sport-related causes including athlete welfare. Comparable as a tax-advantaged funding intermediary for sport welfare and injury-related causes in a different geography.
• QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA): South African non-profit serving quadriplegics and paraplegics including Players Fund recipients through Work Readiness and Life Coaching programmes. Operates in the same geography and shares beneficiaries, making it both a partner and a peer in disability welfare delivery.

Direct peers

• MyPlayers Foundation: South African professional rugby players' foundation that engages with former injured players and supports welfare initiatives. Direct peer in the rugby-player welfare space with similar athlete-ambassador and event-fundraising model.
• Injured Jockeys Fund: UK charity providing financial, medical and rehabilitative support to jockeys injured in horse racing. Highly comparable structure: sport-specific catastrophic injury welfare charity with lifelong support and event-led fundraising.
• Wooden Spoon: The official children's charity of British rugby, funding projects that support disadvantaged and disabled young people, many of whom have sporting injuries. Comparable as a rugby-anchored charitable foundation reliant on the rugby community and corporate partners.
• The Matt Hampson Foundation: UK-based charitable foundation set up after a former rugby player sustained a catastrophic spinal injury; provides support, rehabilitation and welfare to seriously injured rugby players. Closely mirrors the Players Fund's mission, beneficiary profile and lifelong-care model.

Emerging players

• The Shane Warne Foundation: Athlete-founded charitable foundation supporting seriously ill and underprivileged children. Comparable as a celebrity-athlete-anchored charity that uses sport fame for fundraising, albeit with a different beneficiary focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PlayersFund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-chris-burger-petro-jackson-players-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/playersfund_sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund