CSR REPORT – RAF PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA

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Rugby is still a developing sport in South Africa, though you wouldn’t think it given their recent World Cup exploits! Over the last 10 years, the SARFU has opened its doors to a new generation of children across South Africa’s townships, who previously would not have had the opportunity to develop and compete at the highest level. At the end of September, the RAF sent a Sevens team to compete in the inaugural South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Sevens tournament, and the squad saw this as an ideal opportunity to go out into the townships and provide rugby clinics for the local children.

The SARFU have delegated responsibility for community development rugby to the various regional clubs, and the Potchefstroom Leopards have such a responsibility in their local area. Andres Selemela, the Leopards Development Officer explained how the system works. “We are trying to introduce rugby at school level throughout the Potchefstroom area, specifically within the Ikageng region. Rather than deal with schools individually, we group them together so that we get a larger attendance, and on occasion we have had up to 300 schoolkids pitch up at once. We are currently fielding teams at U11, U13, U16, U18 and junior level, and we have already put several players forward to regional representative sides after only one year’s training. However, we are always short of people to help with training and money for kit.”

This is where the RAF Sevens squad decided to help out. Armed with 80 surplus strips kindly provided by the RAFRU, they decided to provide a day’s training to the kids of Ikageng at the Ikageng Stadium in Potchefstroom. The squad were accompanied by Lt Antonio Swart, a SANDF liaison officer, and Andres Selemela. Some 30 children from the U13 squad turned up for the session and another 20 children watched from the sidelines.

Training began with a warm-up session conducted by Sgt Matt Price, a PTI from Brunsum. “It was great to see the kids take to the training so well. They were all keen as mustard from the get-go – I only wish my Service personnel were as enthusiastic about warm-ups!” The children were then split into small groups of five, and three squad members took them through their paces, practicing different drills at different stands around the stadium. Coach, Flt Lt Tim Barlow, ran the session. “We ran it along the same lines as we would a normal session back in the UK. The kids gave it their all, and there was some great talent out there for the future. They are not lacking in pace, and their ball-handling skills are coming along well for kids so young.”

Andres Selemela explained that they get together approximately twice a week for these sessions, but he usually has to run them himself – which can be quite a handful with 30 children at a time. The Leopards provide transport to and from the stadium, and also help out with training kit.

The squad then distributed the kit amongst the children, some of which they will have to grow into! but they were overjoyed to be presented with it. They then played two games of touch rugby against the RAF squad, embarrassing a few team members with their side-stepping, and their post-try celebrations would put Michael Jackson to shame. But all in all they were thrilled with the day. Many of the RAF players were particularly touched by the event. “One feels a real sense of achievement at events like this – just to see how enthusiastic the kids are, how they improve throughout the day – I actually found it quite moving,” reported Flt Lt Dave Carey, PEdO at RAF Brize Norton.

Just how pleased the children were, was demonstrated when they pitched up on day one of the SANDF 7s to support the team, all wearing their RAF shirts. They had walked 7km to be there, and came along with the RAF squad to a Leopards match that evening. Again – on day two – they arrived in force, and by way of thanks the squad gave them a game of touch post their final match.

Engagements like this are vitally important for several reasons. They allow us help develop the game of rugby in parts of the world where they do not have the same facilities as we enjoy in the UK. They allow us to bring a little bit of happiness and enjoyment to children who would not normally have this opportunity to train. And finally it provides a means of promoting the Service by conducting a diplomatic function on the UK’s behalf.

This is the inaugural year for RAF Rugby 7s, and given the spirit in which this engagement strategy took place, the squad hope to continue in a similar vein in the future, whether these engagements be in the UK or abroad.