Vuka U15 tournament set to identify young talent

THE second annual Vuka U15 rugby tournament is set to take 22 Nelson Bay Mandela Bay township schools by storm in March.

This will add significant numbers to the already passionate youngsters taking part from 50 other Eastern Cape high schools.

They will play 343 home and away games to decide a champion school.

EP High Schools, in partnership with the EP Rugby Union, will look to employ 72 coaches to assist with quality coaching and high-performance training.

Vuka Eastern Province coordinator Gerald Anthony said the core purpose of the tournament was to revive rugby at disadvantaged schools and to unearth hidden talent in those communities.

“We want to build a good foundation for our EP Kings that will be consistent for the future,” Anthony said.

The tournament will start with a mass participation programme: nine schools in a zone will go up against each other in home and away games.

From this competition, the best players will be selected to represent their region of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Outstanding players will compete in the Iqhawe tournament, similar to the annual Craven Week competition.

Eastern Province U18 girls’ coach Namhla Siyolo, a former women’s Springbok No 8, who will coach Zwide’s Nzondelelo High School, said the tournament had a positive influence on youngsters aspiring to play top-level rugby.

“Vuka means a lot to these kids as they travel and see places and rugby legends they thought they would never see.

“The sport keeps them away from drugs and other mischief,” Siyolo said.

In addition to keeping the youngsters out of trouble, the tournament provides a platform for outstanding players to receive scholarships from more affluent schools in the region.

“A total of 32 children will be selected from the competition to play for EP U16.

“Others may receive scholarships from schools like Grey High and others in the province,” she said.

The initiative is funded by Saru in partnership with South African Rugby Legends.

Regional Vuka manager Jessie Claassen said: “It is imperative to use people from the community” – referring to the legends.

“It is better for the youngsters to learn from their local role models so that they can develop their communities.”

The fixtures are lined up to rotate every Wednesday afternoon at various schools in the province.