Township Rugby Youth Festival Brings Community, Culture and Rugby to Jozi on 31 January 2026

Jan 29 • South Africa • 12 Views • Comments Off on Township Rugby Youth Festival Brings Community, Culture and Rugby to Jozi on 31 January 2026

Johannesburg, South Africa, Township Rugby Youth (TRY) will host the TRY Festival on Saturday, 31 January 2026, at Bill Jardine Stadium, Industria (Newclare), Johannesburg, creating a powerful community gathering where sport, culture, and youth development unite.

The festival brings together township rugby clubs, community leaders, families, and supporters for a full day of rugby competition and entertainment. The event will feature 12 township clubs, each fielding male and female teams, with players aged 18–32 competing in knockout rounds for pride, recognition, and opportunity.

Founded in 2023, the Township Rugby Youth Programme was created to address barriers to access in rugby by building structured pathways from township communities into schools, universities, professional clubs, and broader sporting opportunities. While the TRY Tournament focuses on youth development over a 10-week season, the TRY Festival offers a high-impact platform for senior players to showcase their talent in front of scouts, administrators, and the wider public.

“The TRY Festival is about more than rugby,” said TRY spokesperson Hanyani Baloyi. “It’s about access, visibility, and creating real pathways for young people from township communities into sport, education, and leadership. This event is transformation in action.”

A Day of Rugby, Culture and Community

The festival begins early on Saturday, 31 January, with teams arriving from 07:00 and matches kicking off at 08:00. Rugby action concludes at 13:30, followed by a prize-giving ceremony.

The afternoon programme includes:
• Live public screening of the Gauteng Lions vs Blue Bulls match
• Entertainment from award-winning Amapiano duo MFR Souls
• Guest MC Jerome “Slim” Du Plooy
• Kids’ play area and family activities
• The event concludes at 17:30.
• Participating Teams
Eden Park, Orange Farm Fire Ants, African Badgers, Ennerdale, Inner City (Johannesburg CBD), Ditau Diarora (Soweto), Kagiso Sting, Raiders (Newclare, Westbury and surrounds), Alexandra Wolves, Cerulean Challengers (Davidson), Soweto Eagles, and Eldoronians.

By hosting the festival at Bill Jardine Stadium, a venue rooted in community sport the organisers reinforce the event’s core mission: uplifting communities through sport and creating pathways for youth development.

Event Details

Event: TRY – Township Rugby Youth Festival
Date: Saturday, 31 January 2026
Venue: Bill Jardine Stadium, Industria (Newclare), Johannesburg
Time: 08:00 – 17:30