A day of inspiration for Cape Town young female rugby talent

When 15-year-old Nabeela Cesroe from South Peninsula High stepped onto the field at the Pick n Pay coaching clinic yesterday, Wednesday, July 23, she could hardly contain her excitement as her dream of sharing the pitch with her Springbok women's heroes manifested into reality.  

Not only did she manage to share moments and take a few candid snaps with her favourite player, Nadine Roos, but the entire experience at the coaching clinic instilled a deeper sense of purpose in her rugby journey, she said.

Nabeela was among many young female pupils from various schools across the city who flocked to the Green Point Track, the home of SK Walmers RFC, where the clinic was held.  Under the guidance of both the Springbok Women and the New Zealand Black Ferns, these rugby players were involved in a masterclass, learning the intricacies of the sport.  

This initiative aimed to cultivate and empower the next generation of female rugby players in South Africa and open doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed.

"It was a really fun and incredibly enlightening experience," said Nabeela. "Learning all the fundamentals of rugby, from being in the ruck to the scrums and perfecting the passing drills -  it was so valuable," she added. 

Her rugby journey began with playing touch rugby. "When I realised I could play touch rugby, it quickly became my chosen sport, leading me to play provincial touch rugby. But now, I'm truly getting into contact rugby and I hope this is the path that leads me to wear the Green and Gold of the Bokke one day," said Nabeela.

The pupil who is from Wynberg made it her mission to spend as much time as possible with her idol, Nadine Roos, during the drills. "...I got to spend some quality time with her. She even signed my boots," she added.

"When I start to play contact rugby seriously, I know I'll be able to use all the moves and techniques we were taught by the Bokke and the Black Ferns."

Several aspiring female rugby players in South Africa come from communities where opportunities are limited. A lack of access to proper sports facilities, equipment, and structured training programmes often stands in the way of consistent development, affecting both confidence and progress on the field.

Springbok Sinazo Mcatshulwa said she understood this reality, having navigated similar challenging circumstances on her path to earning the coveted green and gold jersey.  

She stressed the need for such initiatives to become regular occurrences.  "We can see the young players today showing incredible enthusiasm to play the sport, and they are quick learners," said Mcatshulwa.  "This is precisely where I also started, around this age, and I genuinely hope they can receive many more of these opportunities from such a young age."

"We also wish for the players who are currently playing at the top level to make sure they get involved with such initiatives even after their playing careers are over," she said.  

"It's vital to keep the involvement of women in rugby alive and thriving for generations to come."   

When the players that these children look up to take the time to personally connect and share their expertise, it can be an absolute game-changer.