An initiative dedicated to promoting the game of rugby from grassroots level and supporting talented young athletes with education and sport bursaries is celebrating each success as they strive towards ensuring balanced formal education with high-performance training, creating role models out of these learners for the younger generations to come.
The HETS (Higher Education Through Sport) initiative specifically targets schools in the Helderberg, Northern Suburbs and Grabouw regions, where structured rugby programmes are lacking and many talented students face social challenges.
“Through the HETS programme we aim to provide students with opportunities for personal and athletic development, ultimately preparing them for tertiary education and future success,” stated Griffin Solomons, chairperson of SA Dream Hunters, an NPO of which the HETS programme falls under.
Following the remarkable performance of HETS team at the Wynberg Rugby Festival on Friday 15 March, where they emerged victorious against Wynberg Boys u-19 B, they have been extended an invitation to participate in the Namibia Youth Rugby Invitational tournament in July 2024, a pinnacle of their success story thus far. “Our mission at SA Dream Hunters, founded in 2019, is to empower disadvantaged youth through sports and education,” said Solomons. “Each year we target between eight to 10 government schools in the aforementioned regions, hosting the HETS u-16 Schools rugby tournament. From this tournament we identify 30 talented players aged 15 to 16 years to enrol in the HETS programme for a period of three years, monitoring their progress and preparing them for u-19 rugby and tertiary education.
“He added that the invitation presents an opportunity for the team to participate and potentially for the boys to be offered sport bursaries by a Namibian tertiary institution unlocking another possibility for the programme.”
They currently have around 60 learners enrolled in the programme from various schools, including Groenberg, Strand and Rusthof Secondary School (SS), Gordon and Macassar High School, Zandvliet SS, Kleinvlei SS, Bernadhino Heights and Western Cape Sport School.
Darrin Roman, also a director of SA Dream Hunters, explained that the HETS programme aims to develop critical social and emotional skills, which help kids to achieve more in life. Apart from receiving structured and high performance rugby training, participants also partake in life- and soft-skills sessions with a qualified social worker. “We are also in the process of collaborating with Laureus Sport for Good on its ‘Yes’ programme and Somerset College on educational-development sessions at the Schools,” Roman said. “We can’t say much on this now, as nothing is confirmed in black and white yet.”
The driving force behind the initiatives are directors Solomons, Roman, social worker Rozette Jephta, head coach Warren Wilters and assistants Jeremy Jacobs, Enzo Skippers and Edwin Elizah. They are all ex-rugby players.
Former SARU player Wilters is a well-known coaching figure who now assists at schools to create and develop pathways for learners. Griffin was a subsidiary of a sports bursary from UWC, so he has sound knowledge and understanding of learner development for higher honours. Roman has vast experience of rugby administration and strategic management. They all hail from disadvantaged communities and understand the social challenges faced by these learners.
Elaborating on some of the positive effects already visible on the children, the directors say there are huge improvements in most of the HETS learners in the way they understand responsibility towards one another and growing relationships among them, and between them and the coaches.
An educator at Zandvliet Secondary School commented: “The SA dream hunters team has made an incredible impact on the learners. It has aided them with self-development and it is clear that it has shown learners that they can and to reach for higher levels one day. It has also helped them with improving their knowledge about the game. The learners also enjoy meeting and interact with learners from other schools. The HETS has helped learners to realise that there is indeed a future in sport and that it is an opportunity for them to be scouted and play rugby at a higher level.”
The HETS team is now focused on their participate in the Namibia Youth Rugby Invitational tournament, and while accommodation and meals during the tournament are covered, they are in need of support to cover transportation costs for players. They stated: “This opportunity presents a chance for our team to showcase their talent on an international platform and potentially secure opportunities with Namibian tertiary institutions. The total amount required for our transport costs to Namibia, excursions and back home amounts to R116 000, of which we need to fundraise R63 000. Any contribution would be greatly appreciated.”
. Anyone able to assist can call Roman on 081 775 5224; or Solomons on 072 650 9110.
