Springbok women bring hope to Manenberg young talent

The Green Point Track, home of SK Walmers RFC, buzzed with an electrifying energy as young school girls from across the Cape Metropole gathered for a special coaching clinic, hosted by the  Springbok Women's team and the New Zealand Black Ferns, ahead of their clash, at Athlone Stadium, at the weekend,

Among the many bright faces, Inshaaf Scott, 11, from Downeville Primary School in Manenberg could barely contain her excitement.  

Her dream, like so many others present, was to connect with her Springbok Women heroes, and the sponsored event had made it a tangible reality.

Under the guidance of both the Springbok Women and the New Zealanders, these budding rugby players were immersed in a masterclass, learning some of the intricacies of the game.  

The aim of this initiative was clear: to cultivate and empower the next generation of women's rugby players in South Africa, opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed.  

Inshaaf, with pure joy, summed up her feelings: "I'm very excited. I learnt how to throw, how to tackle, and how to step."

“Rugby is the sport I want to play when I grow up and I have been playing for a year now," she said. 

The highlight for the young Manenberg prodigy was meeting her idol.  

"I met my favourite rugby player, Nadine Roos," she said. 

Downeville Primary teacher and assistant coach, Washiela Isaacs, who accompanied the pupils from , underscored the significance of the day.  

"We have our under-13 and under-15 teams here to come and meet the Springboks and New Zealand. This is quite an opportunity as the kids hardly have opportunities to meet the people they see on TV up close," she said.

The sheer delight from the young athletes was infectious.  

"The excitement of the children was quite an excitement in itself and seeing them shout so loud for the Springboks players is a wonderful experience for them." 

Several aspiring girls' rugby players in South Africa come from communities where opportunities are limited. A lack of access to proper sports facilities, equipment, and structured training programmes often stands in the way of consistent development, affecting both confidence and progress on the field.

Springbok Sinazo Mcatshulwa said she understood this reality, having navigated similar challenging circumstances on her path to earning the coveted green and gold jersey.   

She stressed the need for such initiatives to become regular occurrences.  "We can see the young players today showing incredible enthusiasm to play the sport, and they are quick learners," said Mcatshulwa.  "This is precisely where I also started, around this age, and I genuinely hope they can receive many more of these opportunities from such a young age." 

"We also wish for the players who are currently playing at the top level to make sure they get involved with such initiatives even after their playing careers are over," she said.   

"It's vital to keep the involvement of women in rugby alive and thriving for generations to come."    

When the players whom these children look up to take the time to personally connect and share their expertise, it can be an absolute game-changer.