Midrand Rugby Development is planning to grow this year by making the sport more accessible and appealing to every boy and girl wishing to play.
Sports administrator and rugby coordinator at Midrand High School, Kwazi Shangase, said together with his development team they were looking to grow the brand and open the playing field to every boy and girl from the ages of 14 to 18 in Midrand.
“We want them to come and participate in playing structured, safe and well-administrated rugby,” he said.
“We pride ourselves on having the best facilities in the community to facilitate rugby. Without the school’s partnership and patronage in developing the sport in Midrand, rugby would be dead at all levels.”
Shangase added that he had made it his personal task to ensure that rugby was played at all levels. “Being the rugby development agent now for more than three years with the Golden Lions Rugby Union, my team has ensured rugby is played and facilitated for senior and junior participation.”
He said their biggest hurdle was to get more schools participating. “We need more schools to play the sport or at least promote the sport by participating in the development programme. This year we hope to change that.”
Midrand Rugby Development is reaching out to all schools in Midrand to promote rugby in their institutions. “At Midrand High School alone, we have produced four male junior and senior Lions players and three female junior U18 players. We want that to be the legacy of our participation in every school.”
Shangase encouraged parents whose children were interested in playing rugby and their school did not offer the sport, to bring them to practices.
“We will train them, skill them and give them a chance to play rugby and compete at the highest level. We are building a rugby playing Midrand and it starts here.”
They train on weekdays from 2.30pm to 5pm and will host rugby trials and training clinics on 27 January and 3 February at Midrand High School.
“This year we will be playing all our games on Saturdays at the school. Everyone is invited to attend and cheer on the boys [and girls]. They will be going up against schools like Florida Park, Carlton Jones, Elsburg, De Burger High School and many more this year.”
This year’s league will begin on 14 April.
Shangase thanked Ford Fury Midrand and the Fury Rugby Development programme for their continued support in developing rugby in Midrand.
Do your children have rugby at their school? Share your comments with us by emailing our journalist, Lungile Dube, at lungiled@caxton.co.za or our editor, Daniella Potter, at daniellap@caxton.co.za
