A group of Hout Bay residents are in the process of setting up a local community rugby project, and are feeling positive about the rugby development it will bring to the area.
The group calls themselves Rainbow Republic Rugby Project and are focused on community upliftment through rugby with long-term goals including setting up a competitive rugby side.
The project is spearheaded by IRB whistleman, Rasta Rasivhenge among others.
His knowledge of the game and popularity will be a boost to the rugby development of the children who have already attended the coaching clinics by the project.
One of the project’s aims is to one day have their children getting scholarships to the top rugby schools in the country like Paul Roos Gymnasium, Bishops and Rondebosch.
Brett Bayvel, one of the leaders of the project, says they want to use the power of rugby to improve education, raise health awareness and build life-skills.
“We are using rugby as a tool to provide pathways to success for talented and dedicated individuals through scholarships to top local schools and tertiary education,” he said.
The project has been visited by Western Province and SA 7’s players who have conducted coaching clinics at Kronendal Primary School.
Rasivhenge says the idea came when he and a group of friends saw the need for them to give back to the Hout Bay community.
Mixing sport and education was the idea that stuck out the most for them.
“We are doing this purely for the love of it and for the benefit of the kids, we want to make their lives better through this project.
“I am happy that my sponsors are happy with the idea of me taking part in this project and willing to come on board.
“At the end of the day they will go to different career paths, that is why we also have life coaches.”
