Where Legacy Lives On: Rugby Legends as a Celebration of Sport, Community and Culture”

As one of the official sponsors of Rugby Legends, EQTY is proud to support an event that so powerfully reflects our values of leadership, legacy, and meaningful connection. Taking place on 7 June 2025 at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota in Estoril, Rugby Legends is more than just a sporting event — it’s a celebration of purpose through play.

The event brings together some of the greatest names in national and international rugby — past and present — for a day filled with high-level play, storytelling, and community engagement. More than a match, Rugby Legends is a powerful platform where passion meets purpose. It celebrates the spirit of the game while connecting generations and cultures through shared values — making it a highlight in Portugal’s sporting calendar.

To better understand the heart and vision behind the event, we spoke with Tim Vieira, co-organiser of Rugby Legends, about its origins, impact, and what makes this edition truly special.

1 - What inspired the creation of Rugby Legends, and how has the event evolved since its inception?

"The inspiration came from the deep love of rugby that both Lorne King, Co-Founder of Rugby Legends, and I share—particularly for the Springboks. We started wondering how we could bring that passion to Portugal and share it with a rugby-loving public, one that has a rich yet often overlooked history with the sport. At the same time, there’s a growing South African community here, and we saw an opportunity to build something meaningful.

That’s how it all began. We reached out to SARLA, and the rest, as they say, is history. They came, and they truly captured the hearts of both South Africans and Portuguese fans. We also involved some of the Portuguese legends who played in the 2007 World Cup—one of the most iconic moments in Portugal’s rugby story. From there, it just kept growing, going from strength to strength.

For me, it’s like a bridge—what I like to call the bacalhau bridge—connecting Portugal and the South."

2 - What message or legacy do you hope this event leaves behind, both locally and internationally?

“In today’s world, it’s about friendship. It’s about coming together and celebrating our differences while recognizing that we’re actually far more alike than we are different. It’s about showing people that we can overcome any adversity. It’s about inspiring the future—bringing legends closer to the people, and helping them dream and believe that they too can achieve.”

3 - How do you select the legends who participate, and what makes this year’s lineup particularly exciting?

“Well, we have our favorites who’ve been with us from the start and keep coming back to support us—people like Butch James and Percy Montgomery, who’ve been on every tour. We’ve had John Smit captaining the team, Mac Masina, and players like Jean de Villiers coming through. But it’s really about having a few names that people recognize—and then a few blasts from the past like Rob Louw, and of course Chester Williams, Mark Andrews, Danie Gerber—those guys.

At the same time, it’s also about bringing in players who may not be as well-known, but who are still giving so much to the Legends. They might be less of a name, but they’ve got the same heart for rugby, and they play just as important a role in taking the game forward. So we’ve brought in a few different guys who’ve come here and made an impact—like Willie Britz, Dries van Schalkwyk, and Quintin Geldenhuys—who’ve all left their own mark here and in the country.

We’ve also had international legends like Walter Little and Frank Bunce. And then, of course, our favourites again—Ally Hogg and Kelly Brown—who’ve come through and shown their commitment to Portugal and to the game of rugby after rugby.

4 - What makes the Estoril setting unique for hosting an event like this?

"We’re super excited—this is the first time we’re hosting the event in a first division football stadium, which carries a lot of history. It’s set along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, and it’s a real privilege to bring these amazing players to play in Estoril for the very first time. It also means bringing rugby even closer to Cascais, a city that’s supported us right from the beginning."

5 - How does the event engage with local schools, youth programs, or charities?

"Yes, we’ve had the Legends visiting various schools and running coaching clinics—they’ve been to Agronomia, Direito, and now they’ll be heading to Cascais. We try to spread the experience around. The Legends have also visited prisons to promote rugby, and they’ve spent time with 'Oh Gui', a amazing project by Cascais Rugby (GDS Cascais) launched in 2012. 'Oh Gui' is a social inclusion initiative offering regular rugby training to individuals with disabilities, promoting physical and mental well-being while teaching key values like teamwork, loyalty, discipline, and self-esteem. It’s all about supporting social integration and personal development through sport.

We’ve also made it a priority to support charitable causes. The memorabilia brought over by the Legends is auctioned off, with proceeds going back to the SARLA, which does incredible work back home. At the same time, we’ve been able to support local charities here in Portugal—and this year, we’re proud to be supporting BRAVE FUTURE."

6 - In your view, how does rugby — and this event in particular — bring people together beyond sport?

Rugby is a great equaliser. When you have the chance to mix with and get to know these Legends more personally, you realise that we all face challenges—and that we all have to overcome them in our own way. What’s special about our Legends is how good they are at making people feel welcome. They’re incredibly authentic, and rugby helps with that too, because the bounce of the ball is unpredictable.

Rugby—and the Legends themselves—are a reminder that life isn’t always straightforward. Each of them has had to adapt to life after rugby, finding new paths and new purpose. And that’s what’s so interesting when you spend time with them, hear their stories, and listen to what’s really going on. You begin to understand that, while our journeys may be different, we all have a ball that can bounce in unexpected directions.

7 - What kind of experience can attendees expect this year, especially those coming from abroad?

"Again, you’re going to see an incredible match, contribute towards some wonderful initiatives, and get the chance to mix with the Legends—so overall, it’s just a beautiful celebration of friendship, a great time of being together. And of course, there’ll be some delicious food, some incredible cold beer, and we’re even planning for some great weather. It all just comes together and works on Legends Day."

8 - Looking ahead, where do you see Rugby Legends in 5 years? What’s the bigger vision?

"We want to keep this authentic, and we know it’s not always easy to bring all the Legends together at the same time—but we’re now speaking to different Legends from abroad, from countries like Ireland, France, and the UK. The goal is to bring even more interest and energy to the event. We also hope that these Legends will help promote Portuguese rugby, because the truth is, most of them end up falling in love with Portugal—it becomes their second favorite team after their own. It’s exciting to see that happen. Once again, it’s about building bridges. We want to keep building those bridges and taking this event to the next level, improving it year after year."

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this unforgettable day. Secure your tickets now and join us at Rugby Legends Estoril on 7 June 2025.
👉 Buy your tickets here