Cape Town – SA, where Rugby Africa, World Rugby, FFR, SARU, Agence France de Development, Expertise France and others came together to showcase a commitment to developing and growing rugby in Africa with emphasis on environmental sustainability, social inclusion and gender equality while empowering rugby unions in Africa to raise their capacity building drives.
I was present at the summit with South Africa’s Honourable Minister for Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, SARU President Mark Alexander, Remy Rioux, the French Ambassador to South Africa, Abdul Benazzi and other dignitaries which highlighted the significance of the summit.
The Finance in Common Summit saw the signing of agreements for African Rugby Development Projects resulting from a relationship that has been developed and contracted, initially between (AFD) and Rugby Africa which formally started in 2023 and now a greater collaboration between SARU, AFD, FFR and Rugby Africa.
While there, I took the opportunity to meet with South Africa’s minister for sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie who graced the occasion of the signing of the contracts between AFD, SARU and Rugby Africa. The honourable minister is a man I consider my brother and his attendance at the summit brought a greater thrill and a huge bonus and privilege for us all.
In order for Rugby in Africa to really develop we do need such partnerships where it is that the partners that we sign agreements with are bringing something to Rugby Africa. AFD have been our partners for a while and now they are working with FFR (French rugby Federation) and are keen also to work with SARU. We’ve not been able to put together this agreement yet with a far higher sum of money than what it is that we received initially from AFD.
The main objectives remains the strengthening of local unions through training and tailor-made support, to promote Rugby as a tool for social inclusion and gender equality, to raise an awareness of sustainable environmental issues and to encourage eco-responsible actions.
The beneficiary Rugby Unions in Africa are from Algeria, Ivory Coast , Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Rugby Africa must now see other partners in the same financial space to help boost our bottom line to enable us grow the game!
Source: Africasportsmonthly.com
