The Springboks honoured leading Sisonke Covid-19 trial principal investigators Professor Glenda Gray and Professor Linda-Gail Bekker for their commitment to fighting the pandemic and assisting South African Sport through the height of the crisis by including them in the traditional pre-match team photo in Cape Town on Friday.
The Springboks wrapped up their preparations for the vital Castle Lager Incoming Series decider against Wales on Friday. The match will be hosted at the DHL Stadium on Saturday at 17h05 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Professor Gray, the president of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and Professor Bekker, Executive Director at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, were the principal investigators of the South Africa’s Phase Three B Sisonke study and played a vital role in ensuring that the Springboks were able to participate in their triumphant Castle Lager Lions Series victory in August 2021. The series victory ensured back-to-back series wins in 2009 and 2021 in the historic tournament that is hosted in South Africa every 12 years.
The Springboks made the short journey from Hermanus – where they have been preparing for their final test against Wales – to Cape Town on Friday where they had their captain’s run ahead of the match.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber expressed his gratitude to Professor Gray and Professor Bekker for assisting the team in the period before their three-test series against the British & Irish Lions last season. He said: “The Castle Lager Lions Series was vital for the team after a hiatus from rugby in the 2020 season and few months in the 2021 season, and we are delighted to pay tribute to them not only for assisting the team but also for their massive contribution to South Africa in fighting the pandemic.
“The pre-match photograph is a very special occasion for the match-day squad and to have Professor Gray and Professor Bekker join us is a small gesture to show how much we appreciate their contribution to the team and nation.
“Our team slogan is #StrongerTogether and with such remarkable women being such loyal servants to the healthcare industry and getting our population vaccinated in a time when the entire world faced such a crisis, we hope this gesture is as important to them as it is to us.”