Game Changer: BrightRock partners with the ISUZU Bulls Daisies – SA’s first professional women’s rugby team

Posted on 26 Aug, 25 by BrightRock

Johannesburg, August 2025 – Needs-matched life insurer, BrightRock, has announced an exciting new partnership with the ISUZU Bulls Daisies, South Africa’s first professional women’s rugby team and leader of the Women’s Premier Division.

Through its partnerships with the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls, BrightRock has long used rugby to reach rugby fans around the country with its #LoveChange brand message. As the new associate sponsor to the Bulls Daisies, the brand is now extending its rugby family, a reflection of its passion for the game, its belief in the growing value and visibility of women’s sport, and its commitment to driving positive change in its industry and beyond.

Raising the Game for Women’s Sport

Interest in women’s sport is on the rise in South Africa, with our national women’s teams competing at the highest levels. Just consider the recent outstanding international performances of Banyana Banyana and the Proteas Women’s cricket team, or the anticipation around the Springbok Women’s chances at the upcoming Rugby Women’s World Cup. This growing affinity for women’s sport is especially true for female fans, with 32% reporting that they’re more engaged in it than they were just five years ago.

According to research insights from Brand Finance Africa, the shift in fan behaviour presents a golden opportunity for brands to connect with new audiences through a more personal, story-driven approach that leverages women’s interest in the people behind their favourite sporting teams. This echoes BrightRock’s approach of sharing inspiring personal stories of change and access to science-backed tips, tools, and resources via its online platforms, to help people feel more confident and empowered when navigating life’s big change moments.

A Winning Combination

The ISUZU Bulls Daisies are trailblazers, not only as the country’s first professional women’s rugby team, but also as dominant leaders in the Women’s Premier Division. Their determination and pioneering spirit mirror BrightRock’s own goal of changing the life insurance market for good through solutions that precisely match people’s needs and change with them as their lives change. Rugby and the bounce of the ball, in this context, are metaphors for life’s unpredictability and the belief, shared by BrightRock and the Bulls Daisies, that with practice, skill, and resilience, it’s possible to become better at navigating change, and seizing the opportunities that all change brings.  

They share their passion and hopes for this historic collaboration:

Suzanne Stevens, CEO, BrightRock:

“Partnering with the ISUZU Bulls Daisies was an easy decision for us, as we relate to their journey and their commitment to rewriting the rules of the game. Just as BrightRock’s needs-matched life insurance product is a world-first, the ISUZU Bulls Daisies are paving the way for women’s rugby in the country – and on the world stage. Having walked a similar journey of change when we entered the highly competitive life insurance market as a start-up around 14 years ago, we understand the grit and resilience it takes to rise and be the best of the best. The ISUZU Bulls Daisies are a groundbreaking force in rugby, committed to using rugby as a tool for change. They truly embody what it means to Love Change, and we’re incredibly proud to be playing the bounce with them and growing women’s rugby together with this special partnership.”

ISUZU Bulls Daisies Vice Captain, Zintle Mpupha:  

“Being a professional women’s rugby player in South Africa is about leading with strength and inspiring change. The ISUZU Bulls Daisies are a movement for women’s empowerment in sport, built on grit and the belief that greatness is cultivated from the ground up. This partnership recognises our ambition and our purpose, sending a powerful message to young girls everywhere: that we are valued, can lead, and that we have the ability to achieve extraordinary things, both on and off the field.”

Edgar Rathbone, CEO, Blue Bulls Company:

“The growth of the women’s game is one of the most important developments in South African sport, and the ISUZU Bulls Daisies have been at the forefront of that evolution. Partnering with BrightRock, a brand that shares our vision of empowerment and seizing opportunity, equips our players with the confidence and resources to excel, while supporting us to use rugby as a tool for change and connection. I am confident that together we can inspire communities and set new standards for women’s rugby.”

As the ISUZU Bulls Daisies continue to make history on the field, BrightRock is proud to stand alongside them on this journey of change and empowerment. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England underway, BrightRock extends its best wishes to the many ISUZU Bulls Daisies who are proudly representing South Africa in the green and gold jersey, as well as the entire Springbok Women’s team as they showcase their talent on the global stage and inspire a new generation of women in sport.