MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Rugby legend and former Springbok hooker Dale Santon visited the Van Riebeeck Stadium in Mossel Bay on Wednesday, 28 August, for the final selection process of the provincial U15 team for the coming Iqhawe Week.
It will take place in Johannesburg from 22 to 26 September. Santon met with South Western Districts Eagles (SWD) head of rugby operations Martin de Vos, to see if SWD was on track for the selection.
Santon said SWD had some of the strongest U15 players in the country. De Vos explained that the provincial Iqhawe selections took place within the VUKA Rugby programme which concluded on 28 August with the selection of U15 players from six regions: Mossel Bay, George, Oudtshoorn, Kannaland, Hessequa and Knysna/Plettenberg Bay.
The VUKA Rugby programme was formed 15 years ago by the South African Rugby Legends (SARLA) and endorsed by the South African Rugby Union (SARU). The programme is aimed at providing more playing opportunities to community schools with limited resources.
Santon said he was one of the founders of this programme, stating that he had come from a disadvantaged school. He said out of the 18 schools in the area he lived (Cape Town), only two schools had played rugby. Santon said the programme, along with Iqhawe Week, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, gives learners in rural and small schools the opportunity to play and excel at rugby.
"It works 100%. It was formed by legends and retired rugby players who pass on their passion for the sport. You don't die with the music in you," he said.
De Vos said eight players from the 2023 Iqhawe team represented provinces at the National U16 Grant Khomo Week in 2024.
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