The 2024 edition of the nationwide grassroots, Get Into Rugby (GIR) programme targeted at children aged six to 13 is officially underway and heads to the Free State province on Thursday, 18 July.

A festival event, two days before the world champions’ Test Match against Portugal in Bloemfontein, will take place to officially mark the return of the Engen-sponsored Get Into Rugby season.

The grassroots rugby initiative saw 244 788 boys and girls play the game across all nine provinces of the country in 2023, touching the lives of 114 281 boys and 130 507 girls, who might previously have never experienced organised sport, let alone rugby.

The programme also offers young, aspirant rugby coaches, both male and female, an opportunity to develop their rugby coaching skills – a key aspect that aligns with Engen Sports’ values of creating a holistic platform for youth sport development.

Engen Brand & Sponsorship Manager, Tsholo Tiro, said that Engen was looking forward to another season of impacting and contributing to the growth of rugby in South Africa through the programme.

“The Engen Get Into Rugby programme is quite important to Engen due to its unique ability to reach children at grassroots level,” said Tiro.

“Over the years, sport has proven to be a fundamental aspect of the growth of children. As proud sponsors of this programme, Engen takes pride in contributing to a unique platform that encourages not only sport development, but the holistic development of the children to ensure that rugby and society benefit from well-groomed future rugby players.”

The festival in Bloemfontein will be visited by Springbok players to add inspiration and impetus to the young players, while Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby emphasised the importance of providing new experiences and opportunities to young people.

“The Get Into Rugby programme has successfully introduced hundreds of thousands of children to rugby and sport over the many years and we’re grateful for Engen’s continued support,” said Oberholzer.

“This programme is the first rung on a ladder which leads to our men’s and women’s Springbok teams. But, as much as that, it offers an opportunity to play organised sport for many children who would not ever have the chance to experience it.”

Note: Get into Rugby is a nationwide grassroots rugby initiative operated under the auspices of SA Rugby and is a brainchild of World Rugby in its strategy of growing the game globally through encouraging players of all ages to try, play and stay in rugby.

Photo by SA Rugby website

Issued by SA Rugby Communications