The summit’s first day centered on the theme of “More Women in Rugby”, exploring topics of gender equality and gender equity.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Today, delegates of Rugby Africa, (https://www.rugbyafrique.com), the governing body of rugby across Africa, gathered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, marking day one of the inaugural 2024 Impact Beyond Summit. The historic event organized by World Rugby (www.worldrugby.com), the international governing body of rugby, is a testament to providing strategic tools to advance women’s rugby at all levels.
The summit’s first day centered on the theme of “More Women in Rugby”, exploring topics of gender equality and gender equity, as well as unlocking a deeper understanding of current obstacles. By the end of day one, unions were equipped with tools to address issues of gender equity alongside the importance of establishing credible women’s domestic competitions.
Keynote speakers included Sally Horrox, Chief of Women’s Rugby, Maha Zaoui, Rugby Africa Women’s Rugby Manager, Paula Lanco, Rugby Africa EXCO Member and World Rugby Council Member, Nicky Ponsford, World Rugby’s Director of High Performance, Coralie Van Den Berg, World Rugby Regional Partnership Manager for Africa and Mike Chu, World Rugby High Performance Elite Education Manager.
Participating delegates of the 2024 Summit include representatives from six unions across Africa such as South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Tunisia. Each union has nominated two female delegates as Impact Champions, who will receive mentorships and coaching, along with an exclusive opportunity to attend the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
The 2024 Impact Beyond summit is a key component of World Rugby’s global impact plan to create a platform for inclusivity, positioning Africa as the first host in a series of six regional summits. In partnership with UK Sport (https://www.uksport.gov.uk), the UK’s trusted high-performance experts, and supported by Rugby Africa, the summit began on Thursday, October 3, and will conclude on Saturday, October 5 at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, South Africa.
“With women’s rugby recognized as the fastest-growing sport globally, Africa is looking at an active database of 500,000 players within the next two years, including over 1 million teens and pre-teens, alongside initiatives such as “Get into Rugby.” Given this context, discussions around player welfare, gender equality, and inclusion could not be more relevant. Day one of the Impact Beyond Summit focused on crucial topics such as SWOT analysis, equitable prioritization for women and girls in rugby, and the importance of domestic competitions.
These discussions will guide Rugby Africa unions to assess where they are, where they need to go, and how to get there better, further, and faster— as individuals and as a region. The sessions provided a valuable opportunity to sensitively address topics like gender equality and equity, which can easily be mishandled, allowing delegates to explore their implications within the African context, and the linkage to player welfare, participation, and retention. By the end of day one, delegates are further equipped on how to engage with respective stakeholders effectively and aware of both the funding and talent pathway opportunities embedded in adopting policies related to safeguarding, equality, equity and inclusion,” stated by Rugby Africa EXCO Member and World Rugby Council Member, Paula Lanco.
“Day One of the ‘Impact Beyond 2025 Africa Summit’ marks a significant step forward for women’s rugby in Africa. We begin by reflecting on our current position as union delegates share their SWOT analyses, helping us assess both our achievements and challenges. The session on ‘Equitable Prioritisation for Women and Girls in Rugby’ will inspire dynamic engagement, with innovative activities designed to spark ideas and drive commitment. Closing the day, we focused on ‘Women’s Domestic Competitions,’ exploring strategies to strengthen and expand the game locally. Together, we are shaping a future where women’s rugby thrives across the continent, leaving a legacy far beyond 2025,” stated Rugby Africa Women’s Rugby Manager, Maha Zaoui.
Media contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Advisor
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 39 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby globally. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
