Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu !!

Thank you to Siya, Eben and other Springboks for investing time !!!

As the Trophy Tour began in Johannesburg yesterday with the Springboks sharing the trophy “we as a nation defended” on the 28th October, (Cheslin Kolby’s birthday: side note Happy belated birthday Cheslin ), I thought it pertinent to share the another side of Siya, Eben and other players that is seldom seen or reported on.

What we experienced as South Africans being a part of the Springbok team on Saturday was the result of many many years / hours of planning, strategizing, scenario evaluation, sweat, blood and tears. It was a result of effort put in out of the limelight, often with a race against time. A race to heal wounds, recover from injury, getting or keeping fit, mental preparation. Unbelievable commitment to a cause greater than themselves.

What we don’t see as the general public is the efforts done on an “off / rest day”.

Little did the two players (captured in this photo below) at a Tag Rugby clinic, held at Kings Park Durban, for young school children on the 14th June 2017 know that they would be raising more that an young Tag Rugby player above their heads.? You see these players understand that their time wearing the green and gold is not guaranteed. They understand that if they have a full injury free journey and can determine their own “retirement timing” from the game that there is an end. Siya and Eben understand that they need to invest in the future of the game, a game that has given them so much.?

All involved in the non-profit sport space understand that sponsors determine the success of their investment in sponsorship by the ROI they receive from said sponsorship. Successful teams are in the limelight and brands sponsoring them thrive on this success.? Players often can’t do then same and can’t seek a ROI, their investment (as Eben and Siya have shown)? often lights a spark in the individual spending time with the player.

It has been well documented how Schalk Burger, signing something for Siya Kolisi and Joost van der Westhuizen doing the same for Faf de Klerk lit the spark for those young players. The rest and two World Cup medals later for each of these players is history… A great investment by Springboks legends, Joost and Schalk.

?These players spending time with young children and adults from under resourced communities at our Tag Rugby clinics shows that they firmly believe:

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Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu

?a person is a person through persons

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This philosophy has been the DNA of the Springbok Sevens team for the last 20 years and has been totally embraced and unashamedly verbalised by Siya and all involved in the Springbok family since Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber took over the reins. The pair told all who would listen the plan for them was to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They reached their goal a little earlier winning in 2019 but were true to their word and reached their initial goal in 2023 as well.

What a bonus. Fantastic, and we all celebrate with them.

We, as humble supporters and those involved in the non-profit sports space know that when you firmly believe in? Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu anything is possible.

My call to action for South Africans is to not forget the feeling and enjoyment we have all enjoyed through our Springbok's recent success. Please get involved in helping the Tag Rugby Association in the work we do.

There are opportunities to assist the:

·????? Adopt a School Programme (assist us in getting children active and playing Tag Rugby in under resourced areas)

·????? Adopt a coach Programme (assists us in paying coaches to get schools playing Tag Rugby)

·????? Adopt a player Programme (assists us in providing the means for Adult players selected to represent South African National teams)

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Tag Rugby is a game that DOES NOT require facilities, can be played and enjoyed by young and old alike on any surface, how good is that?

South Africa, let's allow our Tag players to dream they are playing like Pieter Stef (and make 28 tags in the World Cup final), Cheslin side-stepping an All Black or Bongani taking a sneaky quick tap penalty to gain crucial metres….. all they need is an opportunity to play !!!!

Every penny counts, we can ride the crest of the wave and create sporting opportunities in this beautiful country South Africa. I always tell our coaches a flood starts with one drop of rain. Let us start a grassroots sports development flood one rand at a time.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to add value to our 30 year effort, stuart@taggroup.co.za

?Have a fantastic weekend.

?Stuart McConnell and Tag coaching team

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