Global sports agency representing Springboks rebrands after Epstein files controversy

A major international sports agency that represents some of South Africa’s top rugby talent has quietly changed its name following a global controversy tied to the so-called Epstein files.

The agency formerly known as Wasserman has now rebranded as The•Team, marking a significant shift for a company that manages athletes, musicians and entertainers around the world, including Springbok rugby stars like Eben Etzebeth and Thomas du Toit.

The decision comes after the company’s billionaire founder, Casey Wasserman, announced plans to sell his stake in the firm after his name appeared in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

While the controversy has triggered exits from several high-profile clients internationally, the agency’s South African rugby operations say they are staying put.

The controversy that sparked a global rebrand

The scandal traces back to the wider release of documents associated with Epstein’s criminal network.

Epstein, a financier accused of running a large sex-trafficking operation involving underage girls, first pleaded guilty to prostitution-related charges involving a minor in 2008. Years later, he was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges before dying in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial. Authorities ruled his death a suicide.

His longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted in New York for helping recruit underage girls for Epstein and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Among the documents released in recent years were emails exchanged between Wasserman and Maxwell dating back more than two decades. The messages included flirtatious and personal correspondence.

Wasserman has denied having any relationship with Epstein and says he regrets the communications.

“I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them,” he said in a public statement after the emails resurfaced.

Despite the apology, the revelations caused reputational damage for the company, with several artists and athletes choosing to end their professional relationships with the agency.

 

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Several global clients walk away

The fallout has already been felt in entertainment and sports circles.

Former US football star Abby Wambach and musicians such as Chappell Roan and Orville Peck were among the first high-profile clients to distance themselves from the agency.

Other performers and music acts also reportedly ended or reconsidered their relationships, reflecting how reputational crises can ripple through the celebrity representation industry.

For agencies whose core business revolves around image and branding, such controversies can quickly become a distraction.

South African rugby clients staying loyal

While the situation sparked departures overseas, the reaction in South Africa’s rugby circles appears far calmer.

The agency’s South African client manager, Ronnie Cooke, said both the players and local team remain confident in the company’s stability.

According to Cooke, none of the rugby players he represents have raised concerns about the issue, and the company’s local operations have already adopted the new branding.

Agents in the South African office echoed that sentiment, saying they reviewed the situation internally and were satisfied there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Wasserman.

For now, their message is simple: business continues as usual.

How rugby agents operate in South Africa

In South Africa, the work of player agents is regulated by South African Rugby Union (SARU).

Agents must be officially accredited before they are allowed to represent professional rugby players in negotiations, sponsorship deals or transfers between clubs.

The system is designed to protect athletes and ensure fair practices within the sport’s commercial side an increasingly important factor as rugby becomes more global and financially complex.

Currently, several agents linked to the company remain registered and active within the local system.

Springbok stars respond briefly

When approached for comment, Etzebeth said he was unaware of the controversy and responded briefly.

Du Toit also declined to comment on the matter.

Etzebeth is currently nearing the end of a 12-week suspension for an eye-gouging incident and is expected to return to action later this month meaning his focus is likely back on the rugby field rather than off-field agency politics.

The Olympic question still hanging over the story

The controversy has also spilled into global sports administration.

Wasserman plays a major role in preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and some politicians and activists have called for him to step down from that leadership position.

However, an independent legal review reportedly found no undisclosed connections between Wasserman and Epstein beyond the already known communications. The organising committee ultimately voted to keep him in place.

A reputation reset for the agency

The rebrand to The•Team appears aimed at creating distance from the controversy and shifting attention back to the company’s core mission representing athletes, entertainers and brands.

In a statement, the company said its work, people and belief in the power of sport and entertainment remain unchanged.

For South African rugby players, the story may ultimately have little impact on their careers.

But globally, it’s a reminder of how quickly reputations, even in the business of sport, can be reshaped by controversies far beyond the field.

{Source: IOL}

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