SA Rugby concluded its 2026 Community Rugby Workshop on Tuesday with a major policy shift mandating that players aged U8 and younger will no longer be allowed to tackle.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workshop, hosted 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.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus for the youngest age groups shifts 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.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Themed “Grow Together, Play Together”, the workshop addressed several strategic priorities including women’s rugby expansion, club modernisation, digital transformation and safeguarding compliance.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our clubs are the lifeblood of the game \u2013 they are places where generations gather, where rivalries are forged and where friendships endure,” said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.”\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We have witnessed milestones that inspire pride and transformation, yet we know the journey is only beginning,” he said.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Data gives every player a face and every community a voice.”\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SA Rugby introduced ClubWise 2.0, a digital guide to help clubs navigate challenges including Popia compliance, digital marketing and financial sustainability.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strict deadlines were set for safeguarding compliance, with all unions and associations required to be fully compliant by the end of April.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workshop was hosted by SA Rugby’s Participation and Development Department and chaired by Francois Davids, SA Rugby deputy president.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SA Rugby’s 2026 Community Rugby Workshop mandated no tackling for U8 players, and focusing on expanding women’s rugby initiatives and community 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