Tjovitjo Legacy Clinics sustain rugby development in SA communities
This year’s Vodacom Cup tournament is extending their knowledge of the game off the field as it provides the ultimate opportunity for those less fortunate with a dedicated Legacy programme in which the fundamental skills of rugby will be taught to eager youngsters countrywide.
The Vodacom Cup initiative of “Tjovitjo” (meaning ‘it’s all good’), rings true in this advantageous partnership between SARU, SA TAG Rugby and various Provincial Unions in their effort to take the joy of rugby to all communities within South Africa with the Tjovitjo Legacy Clinic programme.
In order to boost rugby development and grow the game within communities (and give all youth fair and equal chance to share the love and opportunity that rugby holds), the SA TAG Rugby Association, a registered Department of Social Development non-profit organization and affiliate of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), will be holding focused rugby clinics throughout the Vodacom Cup tournament.
The initiative will be broken down into five 3-day clinics held in townships, within some of the major rugby playing Unions as well as 15 smaller 1-day clinics in other key development areas within the country.
The association which supports disadvantaged adolescences (and successfully achieves their goals) through their purposely designed grassroots development programmes, aims to use their non-contact version of the game, similar to touch rugby, as a way of introducing children (both boys and girls) to rugby in a safe, fun and playful method, that also improves handling skills at an early age. It also aids in the drive for happier, healthier, more active children during a time where youth are becoming more sedentary.
“The reason that we decided to do this was because the benefits gained from such sustainability will allow both the communities and the unions to gain tremendously from extending the reach of rugby as a sport to communitites, as well as the discipline that the kids learn within the programme,” noted Stuart Mc Connell of SA TAG Rugby. “Every child that comes through the programme means we could potentially be unearthing the next Ashwin Willemse or Gcobani Bobo and it’s fundamental that the future in developing rugby within lesser privileged areas cannot be better improved without thinking more long term.”
Marketing Manager of SARU Sarah Mundy says that SARU trusts these clinics will lead to a sustainable rugby ideology among communities and promote the positive benefits of sport from an early age, ultimately leading to healthier life choices. “SARU backs this initiative 100% and we look forward to supporting the unions and communities as much as possible.”
Now that’s Tjovitjo!
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