MINIS of the Amanzimtoti Youth Rugby Club have gone from strength to strength as they walk their respective paths up from a grassroots level to potential professional careers.

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The club hosted dozens of teams from pint-sized U5s to burgeoning U11 players from as far as Richards Bay, Ballito and Hillcrest on May 18. On May 25, the players headed out to Rovers Rugby Club to test their mettle in away games. The days were jam-packed with matches, family fun and an impressive level of sportsmanship from the young stars-in-the-making.

In honour of the Amanzimtoti Rugby Club’s late chairperson, Cliff Malan, the club debuted its new eagle-themed mascot, dubbed Malan.

Dirk Smit, chairperson of the club, said, “We find ourselves reflecting on the remarkable performances exhibited by the children of all age groups during the past weekend’s games. To be honest, several of these young players have the potential for a professional rugby career. On behalf of the committee, we would like to express our gratitude to all the children for their exemplary behaviour and teamwork. A special thank you goes out to the parents, particularly those who offered their assistance. We are also deeply appreciative of our sponsors, coaches and managers who all play an integral role guiding the teams to success. Thank you to our committee for their tireless efforts in ensuring that our hosting was a resounding success. We hope all of you enjoyed our new eagle mascot, Malan.”

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