As Africa prepares to host its first-ever Olympic event, the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, the seminar focused on the development of Rugby through the school, universities and Olympic pathways.
As Africa prepares to host its first-ever Olympic event—the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2026 in Dakar, Senegal—the theme “The Development of Rugby through the School, University, and Olympic Pathways” takes on even greater significance. The seminar plays a key role in strengthening talent pipelines, fostering growth at all levels and expanding the continent’s rugby footprint worldwide.
Distinguished guests of the opening ceremony of the seminar included President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, Mohamed Mbarki, Director General of Oriental Development Agency, Abdelatif Benazzi, Vice President of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and President of the Six Nations Council and Hicham Oubaja, President of the Moroccan Royal Rugby Federation (FRMR).
The two-day event featured plenary lectures, workshops and federation presentations alongside key discussions on Schools and University Rugby.
Prominent speakers at the 2025 seminar included Noureddine Maktalfrom, delegates from the African School Sport Federation (FASS), Mostafa Jelti, Rugby Africa’s Regional Development Officer, Coralie Van Den Berg, World Rugby Regional Partnerships Manager for Africa and Maha Zaoui, Rugby Africa’s Women’s Rugby Manager and Jason Lewis, World Rugby’s Director of Participation.
In addition to the prominent speakers, was Abdelatif Benazzi, Vice President of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) will present the Capacity Building Partnership (CAP) project. Developed in collaboration with South African Rugby (SARU), World Rugby, and French Development Agency (AFD), this initiative aims to strengthen rugby development and training programs.
As rugby continues to gain momentum following its return to the Olympic program at Paris 2024, highlighted by the participation of Kenya and South Africa, African nations are fostering a stronger sporting culture that values rugby from the grassroots level and beyond.
As I told the gathering, “We know that no one is coming to save Africa, Africa must save itself. We need to recognise that we have heroes among us, people who achieve greatness. But it all begins with the children and rises from there. Across Africa, we’ve seen significant development, but we must remember that the future belongs to the next generation.
Children are the investment in our future. Not every child is the same—some are big, some are small but rugby welcomes all. If we bring rugby into the school curriculum, we’re giving children the opportunity to try something new, something that can change their lives.
The 23 nations who have gathered in the seminar in Morocco is not an abstract concept, the objective is to show growth. How can we get Africa to be better?”
