Warner Beach learner wins trip to Rugby World Cup
Kellan Wild won on the strength of his environmental project which involves picking up waste for recycling.
A 10-YEAR-OLD Warner Beach Preparatory School learner has been announced as one of two children from South Africa who will jet off to the Rugby World Cup in France in September after being selected through the Defenders of Tomorrow Rugby World Cup Mascot Programme.
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Kellan Wild, who is in Grade Four, will undertake the all-expenses-paid trip with his mother to be part of the action by accompanying the captains of the different teams on the field at the start of certain games. Rugby legend Bryan Habana arrived at the school recently to deliver the news to an excited Kellan.
The Defenders of Tomorrow Rugby World Cup Mascot Programme rewards the participants for their passion and commitment to changing the world for the better. Kellan was selected for the strength of his environmental project which involves picking up waste for recycling. The young visionary has mobilised his family, friends and neighbours to join Waste Lands, a community-led recycling programme, with the aim of preserving the planet for future generations. His passion for recycling has seen Kellan’s appointment as children’s ambassador for the recycling efforts at next year’s Splashy Fen family festival.
Land Rover Defender is the Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2023 which kicks off from September 8 to October 28. Carmen Slade, marketing director for Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and Sub-Sahara Africa, said that among the dozens of entries received for the South Africa Defenders of Tomorrow Mascot Programme, Kellan’s was one of the two that stood out for embodying the ethos of this initiative.
“We hope that their story will inspire more South Africans, young and old, to be the catalysts of change to drive the country towards a better future,” said Slade.
The other winner, Abner Spannenberg, is from Cape Town.
World Cup winner, Bryan Habana, said it is a great privilege for these young South Africans to be chosen to participate at the highest level in world rugby.
Kellan’s schoolmates and family will be able to spot him on September 10 when South Africa takes on Scotland, and again on September 23 when they face Ireland.
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