Eastern Cape School boys receive warm send-off to the UK for once in a lifetime rugby tournament

Standard Bank, in proud partnership with the Lincoln Mali Leadership Foundation, held a celebratory send-off event for 22 young rugby players from the Eastern Cape on Friday who are set to jet off to the United Kingdom for a once in a lifetime experience.

The players, selected from 528 boys and 24 schools from Gqeberha and Fort Beaufort, earned their places through a series of competitive games at the Mzwandile Mali Schools Rugby Tournament held earlier this year.

Accompanied by 4 officials, the players aged between 16 and 18, will embark on the UK tour hosted by Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club (SRFC), based in Kent, from 4 to 13 October 2024.

The team and staff will be hosted by British families associated with SRFC, and will visit, practice with and play games against Tornbridge, Sutton Valence, Brighton College, and Sevenoaks school.

Speaking at the event, Standard Bank Group Head of Brand Experience, Yolisa Koza highlighted the significant role the Mzwandile Mali tournament has played in developing talent across the Eastern Cape province.

“We are proud to be partners with the Lincoln Mali Leadership Foundation and congratulate the foresight and passion of its founders. Our association with this sponsorship seeks to expand on our brand promise, by supporting and uplifting the communities in which we operate and that have contributed to our growth as a business.”

The tournament will see the selected players having firsthand opportunity to live out their dreams.

In preparation for the tour, the Mzwandile Mali XV and support staff engaged in two training camps sponsored by the Eastern Cape provincial department of Sports, Arts and Recreation and the Atlas Foundation through Sevenoaks RFC.

These camps have enabled the Foundation to provide overall fitness, cultural, psychosocial and education support to prepare the boys for the tour. The team also played matches against Muir College, African Bombers Juniors, Grey High School, and Newtown School in Fort Beaufort.

“We launched this tournament 10 years ago and it has grown from inception to a powerful grassroots growth project that kids across the province look forward to annually. Standard Bank’s partnership in collaboration with other partners has allowed us to expand this tournament to reach more kids who would ordinarily not have access to opportunity,” says Lincoln Mali, founder of the Lincoln Mali Leadership Foundation.

The UK High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson wished the boys good luck for their upcoming trip. He commented: “This is such a wonderful opportunity for the boys and the UK families hosting them. It is a privilege to have them showcase their talent at an important rugby club like SRFC, and really shows how the UK and South Africa can exchange talent while pursuing common interests in areas we are passionate about.”