South African Rugby Union (SARU) President, Mr Mark Alexander, recently hosted a distinguished guest at SARU House as the Minister of Sports paid a visit to discuss the future prospects of women’s rugby. The meeting served as an opportunity to delve into SARU’s vision and strategic plans, with a view to garnering increased support for women’s rugby.
Mr Alexander articulated his contentment with the minister’s commitments, stating, “We are exceedingly pleased with the minister’s pronouncements on Wednesday. It is truly refreshing to hear the minister’s perspectives, and we look forward to closely collaborating with him, particularly in relation to women’s rugby.”
The focus of the discourse centred on exploring potential funding sources, corporate social investment (CSI) matters, and bolstering corporate participation in women’s rugby. In addressing these topics, Mr Alexander conveyed his eagerness to work in partnership with the government to advance in these areas.
In a historic first, the Minister graced SARU’s offices and lauded the meeting as “productive”. Impressed by SARU’s developmental initiatives and the pipeline of talented players, the Minister expressed interest in supporting the Iqhawe program and fostering the next generation of rugby players in collaboration with the SA Rugby Legends.
Furthermore, the Minister underscored the necessity for heightened support in women’s sports, solidifying his dedication to harnessing corporate partnerships to fortify women’s rugby. Additionally, acknowledging SARU’s strides in school sports, the Minister conveyed his intent to replicate these successful programs at the governmental level.
In a statement, the Minister elaborated, “We are poised to engage corporates and encourage their involvement in women’s rugby.” He further underscored, “From the government’s standpoint, we need to intervene at the school level, and my rallying cry this year is ‘a child in sport, is a child out of court’.”
The Minister’s visit symbolised an important milestone in SARU’s quest for expanded support and investment, particularly in the domain of women’s rugby. As the collaboration between SARU and the government gains traction, a promising future for women’s rugby in South Africa begins to take shape.