For these two reasons one of the great surprises and very welcome attendees at the recent 75th birthday celebrations of the Bosveld Pumbas Club in Hoedspruit was Lisa Come – a young lady who brought her Swaziland Cheetahs to play in the big rugby tournament on Saturday. Lisa is from Mbabane in Swaziland and as long as she can remember she had a passion for rugby.

“I just love the game and always wanted to get involved – I just never knew how,” Lisa told the HERALD.

Her love for her community and her passion for the struggling youth led her in 2015 to become involved in a youth project in her town.

From the outset she decided to be different and introduced rugby to all the young members of the community who joined her project.

And that is how the Swaziland Cheetahs came about. She now has 31 young boys and girls under her wing and they all support rugby.

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The team played in the first match on Saturday and they won many friends and Lisa’s passion for rugby  followers with their spirited performance and positive attitude towards the game. Although struggling without sponsors and any form of support, she tries to attend as many rugby days in South Africa.

She even went a step further – she started supporting small, satellite clubs in neighbouring Mozambique. Soon the Cheetahs will travel to Maputo to play their in that country’s very first official rugby day. Locally the Cheetahs also play against university sides in Swaziland and also participate in the annual Elephant Rugby Day.

If ever there was a person who deserves support and massive kudos for her development of rugby, it is Lisa Come. Remember this name – she is a true inspiration!