Development rugby takes centre stage at Saints SportsFest day 4

The Citizen

21-04-2025

The Saints SportsFest showcases the very best in what school sports have to offer – brilliant players from around the country coming together to deliver a sporting extravaganza like no other.
But that's not all that its about. There is a strong focus on the future of sports as well, development rugby in particular.
On day 4 of the festival, the Township Rugby Youth (Try) tournament takes centre stage. During this tournament, teams from the townships surrounding Joburg including Kagiso, Diepsloot, Soweto, Alexandra and the inner city, have the opportunity to play in front of large crowds, and showcase their talent for all to see.
The passion on the field and on the sidelines is something to behold as cheers and war-cries ring out, building an atmosphere that is electric. The players from the previous games kneel down and applaud the players taking to the field in a show of comradery, before the captains take to the field for a pre-game session with the referee. This is a moment that these players will remember for years to come. But it's also a platform that without tournaments like this one, they might otherwise not get, and it is an opportunity not waisted on these children who take their moment seriously. The future of rugby is in the hands of these youths.
Caxton Local Media spoke to the coaches of the Girls' U-16 teams, to see what a tournament like this means for girls from the townships who want to play rugby.
Coach for one of the U16-girls teams, the Kagiso Stingers, Sarah Skhosana was proud of how her team played. 'At first they were scared, but when they calmed down, they played well.'
She said that tackles were an area where the team struggled. 'The need to fan out when they defend, the defense was terrible.'
She further spoke on the importance of festivals such as this one in developing the players going forward. 'Such festivals expose us for who we are. It's not just about the boys, it also gives girls an opportunity.'
Her hopes and dreams are big… but can be achieved. 'I am hoping they will play for the Springboks. They need to first make it to the Lions, and then the Springboks are next.'
Another coach on the day, also coaching U16 girls, Gontse Raletebele was equally proud of her team.
On challenges faced, she said that the team didn't play cohesively. 'They played as individuals, not as a team. As a game that is going to be viewed on TV, they all wanted to be seen, so that damaged us as a team.'
But after a team-talk, things came together for the girls. 'Once we spoke, they did the things that we had trained and played the way they were supposed to.' She hopes that this tournament teaches them that rugby is a team sport, that needs to be played as a whole, not for the individual.
Raletebele was enthusiastic about the future of rugby for girls in the country. 'It is growing. We now have players even at U-11 level, going up. This is not just a game for boys, girls can play too. This festival helps so much because it gives exposure to girls playing, and encourages other girls to also participate.'
One thing that is for sure after watching the games take place today, is that the future of rugby is bright for South Africa.
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