A CLUB more than 5000 miles away is benefiting from a donation of rugby equipment from a Westcountry business with a branch in Wellington.

The Madadeni Bears Community Club in South Africa received the donation of rugby equipment, including balls and more than 30 pairs of rugby boots to support their township’s local rugby team.

Westcountry estate agents Stags donated the rugby balls, while the Blundell's Foundation, the charitable arm of Blundell's School in Tiverton, gifted the many pairs of rugby boots.

The township rugby club in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa uses rugby to help young people develop confidence, teamwork, and life skills.

By providing essential equipment, the donation will help more players take part in the game, benefitting from the sense of belonging, discipline, and personal growth that the sport fosters.

The equipment was delivered through Project Zulu, a long-standing partnership centred around the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) that has been working with township and rural schools in KwaZulu-Natal since 2012.

What began as a one-off link to a single primary school in Madadeni township has grown to a long-standing partnership agreement with 11 schools across two township communities in the wider KwaZulu Natal area.

The donation of rugby balls and boots were delivered through a long-standing partnership, Project Zulu.
The donation of rugby balls and boots were delivered through a long-standing partnership, Project Zulu. (PHOTO: Darcey Baker)

UWE Bristol rugby players have volunteered their time to coach tag rugby and support PE lessons while living with local educators and experiencing day-to-day life within the community.

Their visits culminate in an Tag Rugby Tournament replicating the very first Project Zulu Tag Rugby Tournament in 2015, bringing together learners from across participating schools to play, compete and celebrate their achievements.

Alex Rew, managing partner at Stags, said: “When my wife visited schools in South Africa whilst supporting teaching there through her role at UWE, she saw first-hand the challenges many young people face in accessing basic sporting equipment.

“Children were often playing sport with no footwear and with limited resources available. Rugby plays an important role in bringing communities together, so we wanted to do something practical to help.

"We are grateful to the Blundell's Foundation for supporting the initiative and to Project Zulu for helping ensure the equipment reached the young people who will benefit from it most.

“We hope these donations encourage more children to get involved in the game.”

Kate Willis, Project Zulu coordinator, said: “Every pair of boots and every rugby ball help create opportunities for young people both on and off the field.

“Through rugby, players develop confidence, resilience and teamwork, while also gaining a sense of community and belonging.

“We are incredibly grateful to Stags and Blundell's School for their generous support of the Madadeni Bears, helping more young people get involved in the game, allowing them to benefit from everything rugby has to offer.”

The donation reflects Stags' ongoing commitment to supporting communities both locally and internationally through charitable and community-focused initiatives.

Project Zulu supports school-led priorities and promotes educational development and cross-cultural learning through a range of educational, cultural and community projects. More information about Project Zulu can be found on their website.