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Abrasive but elusive, in your face but slippery, a hard man with a soft touch – David Brits is not an easy opponent, boasting a skill set that saw him help the Toyota Cheetahs win the coveted Currie Cup. Brits is also a man on a mission. And now, to the benefit of Springbok Sevens …
Wales U20s lead coach Richard Whiffin has named a 37-strong squad for the 2024 U20 Six Nations campaign. With Dragons RFC flanker Ryan Woodman ruled out with a broken thumb, his regional teammate Harri Ackerman has been named as captain. The squad contains 11 players who have represented Wales at U20 level previously – Dragons …
In 2019, Maria Tshiremba watched her first rugby match live, the Varsity Cup Sevens fittingly won by the University of Johannesburg, as this was where the speedster from Magau village in Limpopo was starting to make a name for herself in athletics. Tshiremba, then aged 24, participated in sprints and long jump, but barely a …
It was a rewarding weekend for the South African teams as all five sides qualified for the Round of 16 in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, with the Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks all earning the right to host their playoff matches thanks to crucial victories over the weekend. The …
Rory Darge and Finn Russell have been named co-captains for Scotland ahead of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. Both players have captained Scotland already this season with Darge leading Scotland to victory over Italy in the summer and the following week Finn Russell took on the mantle in a memorable comeback victory over France at …
The Welsh Rugby Union yesterday, Friday 19th January, published the first of its quarterly updates detailing progress made against the recommendations of the Independent Review into its culture completed in November 2023. The Independent Review’s chair, Dame Anne Rafferty, has already been confirmed as the chair of a new external Oversight Group (OG) which will …
Anthem Rugby Carolina to provide growth pathways for USA in advance of Rugby World Cup 2031. USA Rugby, Major League Rugby (MLR) and World Rugby are pleased to officially announce a strategic partnership to launch a new MLR expansion club in Charlotte, North Carolina, named Anthem Rugby Carolina (RC). The new club will immediately join …
Foremost South African referee Jaco Peyper has decided to hang up his whistle, with Mr Mark Alexander, the president of SA Rugby, hailing the Bloemfontein-based match official as one of the best ambassadors for South African rugby in the last decade. The 43-year-old Peyper refereed the last of his 67 Tests – third most by …
Manie Libbok will play his 50th DHL Stormers game in the Investec Champions Cup clash with Stade Francais in Paris on Saturday. The Round Four encounter kicks off at 19h30 (SAST) at the Stade Jean Bouin, with the DHL Stormers looking to secure their place in the last 16. Libbok reaches the milestone in what …
Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Renfred Dazel has welcomed back experienced campaigners Eloise Webb and Zintle Mpupha for the third tournament in the 2024 HSBC SVNS, to be played at HBF Park in Perth, Western Australia next weekend. South Africa will face hosts and series leaders Australia, Canada and Great Britain in Pool A of the …
Springbok Sevens head coach Sandile Ngcobo has made several changes to the Blitzbok squad that will travel to Australia on Saturday for the inaugural HSBC SVNS tournament in Perth, the third of eight in the series, where Selvyn Davids will again lead the team into battle. Two players, former Toyota Cheetahs midfielder David Brits and …
Edinburgh Rugby welcome the return of Scotland and British & Irish Lions winger Duhan van der Merwe for tomorrow night’s crucial EPCR Challenge Cup clash against Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets (Friday 19 January, kick-off 8pm) – live on S4C and epcrugby.tv. Van der Merwe – who was rested for last weekend’s Gloucester match – …
The South African sides will have everything to play for this weekend as they embark on the final round of matches in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, where four of the five teams will be playing for places in the Rounds of 16. The Emirates Lions – one of the three teams …
By Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, and Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa (http://www.RugbyAfrique.com)
With a current population of over 1.4 billion, Africa is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050. By 2030, young Africans are projected to constitute 42 percent of the world's youth. Looking ahead, by 2100, nearly half of the world's children will be African, and Africa will then constitute 40% of the global population. This demographic transformation presents an unprecedented opportunity for the continent and the world.
In a future where Africa's youth will constitute the majority of the global youth population, it is essential to recognize that the path of international sports bodies will be inextricably linked to Africa. With a rapidly expanding fan base, a growing pool of talented athletes, and a substantial TV audience, Africa becomes a focal point for the future of sports.
Rugby, with its core values of integrity, respect, solidarity, passion, and discipline, stands as a powerful catalyst for character development. These values extend far beyond the playing field, instilling life skills that are essential for young people as they navigate life's challenges. Integrity on the pitch translates to honesty in life's challenges, respect in victory and defeat fosters empathy in relationships, and solidarity in teamwork becomes community service, cultivating a spirit for the common good. South Africa, a triumphant four-time rugby world champion, has consistently exemplified these values, with its current captain Siya Kolisi standing as a role model for the entire African continent.
Empowering African youth through rugby is not just about playing a fun sport; it's about equipping them with the tools they need to drive continental growth and reach their fullest potential. Every young rugby player has the potential to be a future leader, an agent of positive change, and an ambassador for unity. By nurturing their talents and investing in their development, we set in motion a journey that contributes not only to the advancement of rugby across Africa but also to the progress of our societies at large.
Rugby is actively implemented in 39 countries across the continent, and Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia are among the six emerging nations that are enjoying strong growth in rugby globally, according to data published in September by World Rugby. The growth of rugby in Africa, coupled with the sport's rising global popularity, creates a promising economic ecosystem and offers immense potential to drive human development and livelihoods. Beyond its cultural and sporting importance, the rugby industry offers diverse opportunities for revenue generation, including sponsorships, broadcasting deals, merchandise sales, and event hosting. These economic benefits extend to ancillary industries, such as sports tourism and sports technology, attracting international visitors, fostering tech startups, and driving infrastructural development. Additionally, investments in youth development, infrastructure, and training programs can lead to job creation, and skills development, contributing to economic growth and community well-being. This highlights rugby's significant role in advancing economic development across Africa. In harnessing the potential of rugby, Africa can not only foster sporting excellence but also stimulate economic advancement and social progress on the continent.
However, this transformative journey requires commitment and investment. African governments, development agencies, and international sports governing bodies, such as World Rugby, need to recognise the pivotal role that rugby can play. It is a responsibility we owe to the future of our continent and the world, and Rugby Africa, the continental governing body of rugby in Africa, is eager to collaborate with global stakeholders to strengthen the rugby value chain on the continent. Together, we aim to leverage the attributes of rugby in addressing social challenges and enhancing individual and community well-being.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Head coach Gregor Townsend has today named a 39-player squad for the upcoming 2024 Guinness Six Nations, with four uncapped players among the selection. Props Alec Hepburn and Will Hurd, winger Arron Reed and back-three operator Harry Paterson have all earned a first call-up to Scotland duty, ahead of the championship opener against Wales in …
Wales senior men’s head coach Waren Gatland has named a 34-player squad for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations campaign. Dafydd Jenkins will captain the squad for the championship and is in line to become the second youngest men’s player to lead Wales in a match. Five uncapped players are selected among the 19 forwards and …
Five women – the most ever – have been included on the national match official panel for 2024, announced by SA Rugby on Tuesday. Aimee Barrett-Theron, the 2021 and ‘22 Outsurance Referee of the Year, leads the list of women on the national panel, where she is joined by Ashley Murray-Pretorius, Sinesipho Foloti, Giana Viljoen …
Wales kick off the new year and their men’s 2024 ‘Guinness Six Nations with a sell-out for Scotland’s round-one visit to Cardiff. Warren Gatland’s squad play their first home clash, and opening game of the tournament in front of a full capacity, 74,000, Principality Stadium crowd. This marks Gatland’s second six nations competition since returning …
The Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers produced impressive performances over the weekend for an encouraging double for the South African teams in the Investec Champions Cup, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks were the only local team to win their EPCR Challenge Cup match in a weekend of mixed fortunes. The matches marked the penultimate round of …
For Billy Burns, life at No 10 is a complex mixture of pressure and privilege. He has been a top-flight fly-half for more than a decade now, first with Gloucester and then, for the last six years, with Vodacom URC outfit Ulster, while there have been seven Ireland caps along the way. It’s the pivotal …
At the end of three days of intense, high quality competition it was the Kenyan men and China women who took top honours at the opening round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 in Dubai. At the end of three days of intense, high quality competition it was Kenya men and China women …
Fans at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai witnessed a great advert for the continuing global growth of rugby sevens as teams from four different continents qualified for the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger semi-finals following a sequence of hotly contested quarter-finals. Argentina are the only unbeaten team in the women’s competition as they backed up …
Sean Everitt today penned a new two-year extension with Edinburgh Rugby as the club’s Head Coach. The new deal keeps Everitt in the Scottish capital until June 2026, with the announcement coming ahead of tonight’s sold-out European clash against Gloucester at Hive Stadium (kick-off 5.30pm). Everitt has enjoyed a promising start to life at Edinburgh …
Willis Halaholo has five daughters, aged 15, nine, six, four and ten months respectively. So what’s life like at home for the Cardiff Rugby centre and his wife? “It’s carnage, mate! It’s full on,” he replies. “I am pretty much running my own nursery in my house. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. …