SARU’s involvement with the affiliated Tag Rugby® Association was extended when four members of the Springbok Sevens team attended the association’s Adopt a School Programme Tournament at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) this week.
Five schools from the Grabouw area that have been “adopted” by the Lombardi Trust arrived at SAS and were joined by Ikaya Primary School to participate in a Tag Rugby® Tournament. Ikaya were the lucky winners of the Tjovitjo Quantum during the Vodacom Cup event held earlier in the year and are still using the equipment provided to them to keep the children fit and enjoying Tag Rugby®.
What made the afternoon’s event special was that all the games were played on the artificial surface which is also used by the Blitzbokke.
The standard of Tag Rugby® on display was of a high standard and the final played between Arrieskraal and Monteith Primary schools was a fast flowing affair. Arrieskraal successfully defended the trophy they won in 2011 and were crowned Lombardi Trust Tag Rugby® Tournament winners for 2012.
Soon after the final four Sevens players arrived at the venue to provide a few coaching tips to the young stars and share their experiences with the children. Kyle Brown, himself a Tag Rugby® Ambassador, Branco du Preez, Reuben Johannes and Bernado Botha enjoyed the interaction with the boys and girls.
They were seen signing autographs and sharing stories with the children long after the final whistle blew ending the event.