SA Rugby concluded its 2026 Community Rugby Workshop on Tuesday with a major policy shift mandating that players aged under-8 and younger will no longer be allowed to tackle.
The two-day workshop, held on 9 and 10 March at the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport, brought together representatives from all 15 provincial unions and key stakeholders to map out the future of community rugby.
The focus for the youngest age groups will shift to fun and skill-building through Tag Rugby and the SA U8 T1 Rugby format to ensure children are properly prepared before introducing contact at the U9 level.
Themed “Grow Together, Play Together”, the workshop addressed several strategic priorities including women’s rugby expansion, club modernisation, digital transformation and safeguarding compliance.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said clubs were the lifeblood of the game.
“Our clubs are the lifeblood of the game – they are places where generations gather, where rivalries are forged and where friendships endure,” he said.
“This conference is about the foundation upon which every Springbok victory is built, the grassroots where dreams take root and the communities where rugby lives every day.”
Alexander said women’s rugby was thriving following the Springbok Women’s quarter-final appearance at last year’s Rugby World Cup, where they broke into the top ten on the world rankings for the first time.
“We have witnessed milestones that inspire pride and transformation, yet we know the journey is only beginning,” he said.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said the health of the professional game was directly linked to the strength of its community base, with a primary objective to ensure every participant was accounted for within national structures.
“Our strategy is built on a simple but vital truth: if they aren’t on the system, they aren’t in the game,” Oberholzer said. “Data gives every player a face and every community a voice.”
The workshop detailed plans to expand girls’ and women’s rugby through the Betway Women’s Club Championship, scheduled for September 2026, and a dedicated pathway for the SA U20 Women’s team.
SA Rugby introduced ClubWise 2.0, a digital guide to help clubs navigate challenges including POPIA compliance, digital marketing and financial sustainability.
Strict deadlines were set for safeguarding compliance, with all unions and associations required to be fully compliant by the end of April 2026.
The community calendar includes the Pick n Pay Gold Cup, the Vuka Programme and the FNB Youth Weeks, which serve as talent identification platforms supported by Elite Player Development camps for boys and girls.
The workshop was hosted by SA Rugby’s Participation and Development Department and chaired by SA Rugby deputy president Francois Davids.
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