Rugby development in the spotlight
The Get Into Rugby Programme forms part of World Rugby’s strategic outline to grow the game of rugby globally and is a grassroots development initiative.
Engen, in partnership with SA Rugby, Get Into Rugby Programme and the Falcons Rugby Union hosted the Falcons Rugby Union Blitz Festival on Friday.
The Get Into Rugby Programme forms part of World Rugby’s strategic outline to grow the game of rugby globally and is a grassroots development initiative with its reach expanding across South Africa.
This time the festival was held at the Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute (GWRI) in Springs.
Former Springbok women player Pulane Motloung said exposure to sport at an early age is crucial to produce excellence.
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“I started playing rugby around 15 years old. One of the major challenges then was that there we did not compete within age groups.
“So we played with women much older than ourselves, which put us at a disadvantage,” she said.
Motloung played with the national team in the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
She is now a coach at the GWRI.
“I believe that the older you get, the harder it is to learn new skills. So this opportunity will give children and their parents and teachers the platform to identify talent and nurture it. Practice makes perfect,” said Motloung.
The Springbok women’s youngest team is for u-16.
Maxine Engelbrecht said when she had to choose between netball and rugby 10 years ago, rugby won hands-down.
“I had a great experience because everything we needed was provided for us. There were not many struggles,” she said.
The Springbok women’s player thinks that women’s rugby is about to blow up in the country.
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“I hope that more girls are inspired to play the sport. “I joined the club because I did not feel that I fit into the other sporting codes,” added Motloung.
Launched in 2014, the programme grew nationally in 2015 and as such has become SA Rugby’s biggest development programme.
Gavin Smith, from Engen, said Engen is a long-time supporter of developmental sports.
“Rugby is one of the best-loved sports in the country. We are proud and humbled to be able to provide this platform to young children, both male and female.
“It is our sincere hope that them being exposed to the sport now helps to develop a lifelong passion for it. Maybe some of them will go on to be the nation’s next Makazole Mapimpi or Victor Matfield.”
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