French school teaches rugby to Alexandra children
ALEXANDRA – A whopping 180 children turn up to play rugby with French school coaches in Alexandra.
Young rugby players in Alexandra had a ruck of a time with coaches of Lycée Jules Verne, a French school in Morningside.
The event came in the form of a rugby clinic hosted by Alexandra Rugby Football Club at Kwa-bhekilanga Secondary School, Alexandra, on 11 November, which attracted 180 children from U9 to U13 level.
Most of the organisers and coaches agreed that the highlight was seeing how much fun the children had learning the game, and also how many girls turned up to play.
“We have been here before and it always struck us how eager the girls were to play rugby,” said coach Emmanuel Selles
“Girls in South Africa do not have many opportunities so this has become a priority for us.”
Rugby club manager, Elias Mpengu said the objective of the day was to expose rugby to the children and make it more familiar in the area. This, he said, was achieved.
“The children have had so much fun, and rugby also keeps them from loitering and doing things that are around them that they should not do,” he said.
When all the drills and games were over, the children received tog bags, water bottles and snacks. While the rugby season is over, the club is still keeping busy these holidays.
Mpengu invited anyone interested to come and watch a friendly between the club’s U11 and U13 boys teams, as well as the U13 and U17 girls teams, as they play against Lycée Jules Verne at the school in Morningside from 2.30pm on 17 November.
Details: Alexandra Rugby Football Club wolvesalexandra3@gmail.com; 063 168 6392.
Also read: Alex schools shine in rugby season
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