Black Lion to stage heritage tourney

THE Black Lion Rugby Club of Zwelitsha in the Eastern Cape will once again be hosting its annual heritage rugby development tournament.

This year is special as it marks the fifth anniversary of the tournament’s inauguration in 2009.

It has a brighter vision for the next five years, working together with continuing support from the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and Border Rugby, including Zwelitsha-born and bred Gcobani Bobo, Lonwabo Mtimka and Velile Mbuli.

The Black Lion Rugby Club was founded by a group of non-racial sports activist’s in 1969 in Zwelitsha, which included community builders who fought apartheid through sport for a better South Africa.

Mr A F Tyulu was one of these gentlemen that the Black Lion Rugby Club decided to honour by hosting the Heritage Development Tournament in his name from 2009 and is now one of Saru’s rugby development tournaments.

The rugby tournament is held annually to honour the contribution of club rugby players, administrators and activists of the past who were passionate about rural and township rugby development during apartheid, while encouraging current players to appreciate the privileges they have playing in today’s democracy.

The tournament will be held from this weekend at the Bath Fair Stadium, Zone 4 in Zwelitsha, King William’s Town.

A thought that encourages local players today is that former Springbok player Gcobani Bobo hails from Zone 4 in Zwelitsha. – DDR