SARU on track to breach R5m in Schools Aid Programme

May 13 • General News, School • 4026 Views • Comments Off on SARU on track to breach R5m in Schools Aid Programme

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SARU CEO Jurie Roux, Boland RU President Francois Davids and SARU Manager Playing the Game Mervin Green with school representatives

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) is set to breach the R5m barrier on aid to rugby-playing schools after four local schools from the Boland Rugby Union each received rugby playing equipment and kit to the value of R10 000 from the SARU at an official Schools Aid launch held in Wellington.

For the past eight years, SARU with the assistance of the International Rugby Board (IRB) since 2009, have distributed rugby playing equipment and playing kit to 480 schools at a value of R4.8 million to these schools since this initiative was launched in the East London with the Border Rugby Union back in 2004.

The principals, rugby coaches and captains of the two primary and two high schools – Ashton Secondary, Diazville Secondary (Saldanha Bay), Nduli Primary (Ceres) and Imboniselo Primary (Mbekweni) were present to receive the equipment and kit. A team kit bag, contact shields, tackle bags, Gilbert training balls, XT400 match balls and adjustable kicking teas were some of the equipment packaged for each school.

All 14 provincial unions nominate two primary and two high schools in their jurisdiction which is submitted to SARU annually. This programme falls in line with SARU’s strategic goals of enhancing rugby playing conditions at grassroots level with a specific emphasis on schools development.

“Developing the game at all levels in South Africa, especially at schools entry and grassroots level are key priorities for us,” said SARU CEO Jurie Roux.

“It is indeed a pleasure for SARU, with the financial assistance of the IRB to be facilitating these activations to schools across the country. But while we are proud to be presenting these four schools with aid today, our job as administrators of the game is to strive and increase rugby participation at schools and grassroots level.

“It is noticeable that schools who lack the proper rugby required resources, struggle to maintain playing the sport at those institutions. It’s work in progress, but part of our strategic objectives as SARU involves making rugby accessible to as many school going learners as possible.”

A coaching clinic which was hosted by the Boland Rugby Union preceded the official hand over which was attended by eight schools from the local and surrounding communities of Wellington. Aspiring rugby players from the Hillcrest, St Albans, Wellington, Soetendal, Wagenmakersvallei, Newton, Imboniselo and Hugo Rust Primary Schools engaged with players from the Boland Cavaliers rugby team during the coaching clinic.

“On behalf of the Boland Rugby Union, we’d like to thank SARU and the IRB for their assistance in ensuring that rugby is developed at grassroots level,” said Boland Rugby Union President Mr Francois Davids.

“These contributions are appreciated and I am sure that the four local schools in the region will benefit from the aid given to them. School rugby is an important phase in the development of future rugby players, and it’s important that our youngsters are given the necessary support and backing to excel in a sport which they enjoy.

“Schools rugby in Boland is healthy and with contributions such as this it could only get better. Our team at last year’s Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Welkom was the only undefeated team along with Free State. The talent is here, and thanks to these initiatives from SARU and the IRB, I am proud to say that the future of rugby at grassroots level is looking good.”