South African rugby stars Aphelele Fassi and Jordan Hendrikse have formally joined the Nissan household, with the duo proudly receiving the keys to their new Nissan Navara PRO-4X bakkies on the Bidvest McCarthy dealership in Durban this week.
Fassi and Hendrikse turn into Nissan’s first sports activities ambassadors for 2026. This partnership, which was facilitated by Roc Nation Sports activities Worldwide, follows the announcement of three trade ambassadors a fortnight in the past on the Nissan head workplace in Irene, Pretoria.
“The Nissan Navara is an unbelievable car,” says Ramy Mohareb, Head of Communications, Model and Buyer Expertise for Nissan Africa.
“It has proved itself in among the hardest environments possible, whereas being very various on the similar time in its software; from business to industrial to journey. Regardless of the specification, the Nissan Navara is a passport to dare, which is why it’s so fantastic to have these nice sports activities stars affirming exactly that by changing into model ambassadors.”
Fullback Aphelele Fassi, a dynamic presence within the Springbok squad, has earned 15 Take a look at caps and was a member of the nationwide workforce that received the 2024 and 2025 Rugby Championship titles. A stalwart for the Sharks since his skilled debut in 2018, Fassi’s capability on the sphere aligns with the Navara’s status for efficiency.
“I’ve at all times appeared for a car that matches the depth of the sport, and the Navara PRO-4X does precisely that,” mentioned Fassi. “It’s a privilege to companion with a model that values toughness and innovation as a lot as we do on the rugby discipline.”
Becoming a member of him is flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse, who has been a part of the Springbok squad since 2024. After beginning his skilled profession in Johannesburg, Hendrikse returned to Durban to affix his brother, Jaden, on the Sharks. In October 2024, the 2 grew to become the thirty sixth pair of brothers to play for the Springboks.
“For me, it’s concerning the journey and having the suitable help to get there,” added Hendrikse. “The Navara is all concerning the freedom to dare, and I’m excited to be behind the wheel of a bakkie that’s constructed for South African situations.”
Nissan South Africa Gross sales Director, Reichardt Groenewald, famous that internet hosting the handover in Durban was a pure selection.
“Once you purchase a Nissan Navara, you’re not simply shopping for a improbable car that permits you the liberty to dare, you’re additionally getting a right away relationship with our distinctive seller community,” mentioned Groenewald. “This provides you confidence wherever you’re in your journey with Nissan wherever within the nation, because you’re by no means additional than 25km from one in all our sellers.”
The Nissan Navara PRO-4X is a specialised 4×4 double-cab bakkie that includes a 2.5L twin-turbo diesel engine (140kW/450Nm) with a 7-speed automated transmission.
Designed for off-roading, it gives 213mm floor clearance, 3500kg braked towing capability, and premium inside options together with an eight-inch display screen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and distinctive black styling accents.
The Professional 4X set the usual for endurance and sturdiness when it undertook Daring Africa, an eight nation 8000km odyssey from South Africa to Egypt. The Stealth was launched within the Magaliesberg foothills final 12 months, whereas the Navara Warrior, by Premcar, wrote its personal world document on debut for the longest off-road journey which it accomplished in Namaqualand, a few of South Africa’s most difficult terrain possible.
Mohareb added: “The Navara was additionally adjudged Automobile of the 12 months in its section in 2022 in South Africa, in addition to Bakkie of the 12 months in its section of the inaugural competitors of the identical identify. It actually does defy abnormal and set the usual for toughness.”
Curtis Nxumalo, Head of Industrial for Roc Nation Sports activities Worldwide in South Africa, concluded by stating: “At Roc Nation Sports activities Worldwide, we pleasure ourselves on aligning our world-class athletes with manufacturers that share their drive, resilience, and native heritage.
“Aphelele and Jordan embody the spirit of recent South African excellence – dynamic, fearless, and at all times pushing boundaries. Seeing them companion with a model as iconic and rugged as Nissan was an ideal match.”
