Teachers helping kids discover love of rugby
Zandile Bokwana
TWO teachers that started the Northern Areas High Schools Rugby Initiative (NAHSRI), say lack of facilities, equipment and transport are the challenges they are facing.
NAHSRI chairman and teacher of Paterson High School in Schauderville Shaun Fondling and vice-chairman and teacher at Hillside High, Kenny Joseph of Hillside High started the initiative two years ago after noticing that the sport of rugby was not being played in many of the schools in the area.
"We managed to recruit schools that didn't have rugby before like St Thomas in Gelvandale, Woolhope in Malabar and Morningside in Kabega. We have 16 schools on board all together. They even have a girls' team now," said Joseph the former SA schools assistant coach.
The teachers, who have a passion for rugby, said although they have someone that sponsors them with the outfits, they do not have facilities.
"At Hillside we don't have a field. So the children practise at the field that is 5km away from the school.
"They carry their training gear to the field because we do not have transport" said Joseph.
"In my school [Paterson High School] we have old rugby poles and the field is not in good standard," said Fondling.
They said they do not have players representing them at higher level at present but wanted to produce more players that can represent the Northern Areas on national level.
Sedgars Sport:
NAHSRI Wednesday League first round: U/19, U/16,U/14 and Girls' 7s
Week one: April 17
Paterson v D Livingston
Gelvandale v Chapman
Hillside v Walmer
St Thomas v Woolhope
Bethelsdorp v Sanctor
Westiville v Arcadia
Chatty v Booysen Park
Bertram v Morningside