In South Africa, there is an urgent need to accelerate the empowerment of girls and women in sport; unfortunately, gender inequality is still a reality within sport around the world.
The newly implemented Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute (GWRI) is looking to make this drastic change, starting within the East Rand.
“The gender gap within rugby, between men and women, is one of the greatest,” said Jaco Coetzer, founder of GWRI. The organisation will assist in providing a significant and national pathway for women’s rugby in South Africa, specifically catering for the developmental gap from 18 until 24.
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“Women’s rugby is growing rapidly around the world, and South Africa is gaining momentum. The reality is that the areas within the country that hold the biggest pool of women’s rugby talent are within the rural and lower-economic areas.
“These women come from difficult circumstances and therefore have not been afforded the sporting opportunities that many others in the country have had access to. The time is now to provide an opportunity for those who most need and deserve it.
“GWRI will not only produce sports excellence but focus on the holistic development of women, through an on-site national academic qualification, life- and mental skills.
“It has been recognised that there is an increasing need for raw talent identification and the development of rugby as a sport in rural and underdeveloped communities, especially for women,” said Coetzer.
“Our objectives are focused to develop female rugby players through this institute, as well as address the shortage of coaches, referees, and unique skills development (video and game analysts, project managers, club administrator/managers) in the rugby world, male and female, locally and nationally.”
The high-performance rugby programme implemented is a custom-tailored on and off-field rugby programme structured around the needs and development of females within the sport.
“This rugby programme is completed by a female-rugby specific strength and conditioning programme, which is focus and implemented with the effectively development of the player, as a woman, at the forefront,” he said.
“Now is the time to stand together to develop effective and sustainable developmental pathways for women’s rugby. The programme is not just necessary, but crucial to become the future world cup rugby champions as a Springbok women’s player.”
The institution requires assistance in sponsoring the following:
• Clothing: 32 players and eight staff members
• Advertising boards: Prime location on the corner of Colliery and Wit roads intersection, Springs
• The GWRI booklet
Brand ambassador
Babalwa Latsha, the first African professional female rugby player and the female “beast” of the Springbok team, has been appointed as the brand ambassador.
“She is living proof with all the media coverage that there is still so much inequality in sport,” said Coetzer.
“Still staying in the township of Khayelitsha, she is a law graduate from the University of Western Cape, yet she does not get the same payment as her male counterparts even though she has accomplished so much.”
For more information on how to become a sponsor or to request an invoice to assist contact:
• Johan van Nieuwenhuizen at johan@gautengwomensrugbyinstitute.co.za or on 078 870 8112
• Tebogo Mochabo at tebogo@gautengwomensrugbyinstitute.co.za or on 064 012 6017
• Jaco Coetzer at jaco@gautengwomensrugbyinstitute.co.za or on 074 189 2349.
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