Girls’ development rugby at Peter Mokaba excites

The Ramakgaphola Female Rugby Club from Moletjie beat their counterparts Manamela Female Rugby Development Club 22-10 during the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s rural rugby development games held at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Tshepiso Lesudi, Katlego Mokaba and Tumelo Ramaligela scored for Ramakgaphola in the first and second halves of the match. Manamela’s tries were converted by Tlou Makalale and Queen Ubisi in the second half of the match.
Lesudi, who was instrumental in her team’s attack, said the victory set a good tone for them ahead of the rural rugby and provincial rugby season which commences in August. “We are coming from a long break and we needed these matches to prepare for the new season which starts in August. Most of the players in my team and the opposition are in the provincial female rugby squad. It was good to play against each other and I think all the players did well. We thank the department for giving us an opportunity to create awareness about female rugby.”
Jermina Kaka, acting spokesperson for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture said the purpose of the games was to provide the youth and particularly young girls in rural communities with an opportunity to participate in rugby.
“Rugby was seen as a sport for the elite and privileged in the past. We were happy to see young girls from rural areas breaking down barriers and displaying their talent on the field. They played with passion and enthusiasm and that is what we wanted to see.
We urge other communities to establish female rugby teams so that we can grow the sporting code,” Kaka said.

Story and photos: Herbert Rachuene
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