Rugby Africa (RugbyAfrique.com) presents the Inaugural Media & Photography Awards this season. Two creatives, will have the opportunity to walk away with a whooping US$1500. For the love of the game, we are inviting submissions from Cape Town to Cairo and all the beautiful cities in between.
As part of Rugby Africa’s work to grow the culture of our sport across the continent, the criteria for media and photography will be cognizant of submissions that value the promotion and progression of the game as we love it, throughout the continent. Over the years, many moments have shaped the face of Rugby on the continent, and we would like to hear from the women and men, who have been there to capture them.
As a show of support to journalists and photographers who have the invaluable task of documenting the game for fans and players alike, the inaugural Media & Photography Awards, represents a new era of sharing and appreciation of our sport, which has brought so many together. The applications will be open as of 17 May and will close on 31 July.
We are putting a very deliberate focus on the heroines and heroes, outside the field of play, working tirelessly to promote Rugby in every corner of the continent, a sport that continues to change and bridge lives.
But we know that great content can come from anywhere, so even you can submit your “drop-kick at posts” in this exciting new competition. Fans and players together are the pulse of every game, both young and old, so the competition is open for all to participate and take part in the action – we would be honoured to consider your submission. If your friends and family like it, there is a great chance that our judges will like it too.
Over the years Rugby has increasingly made its mark as entertaining pastime for many, but more than that, it has elevated the promise of brand Africa through exploits of countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and others. As the bastillion of Rugby on the continent, Rugby Africa is impressed by the far-reaching achievements of all stakeholders in the game, which has ensured broad based recognition of the sport, as it should be.
According to Khaled Babbou, President of Rugby Africa, Rugby Africa is a continental pillar of the sport, as a regional association of World Rugby. For many years, it has worked at different levels with member nations, involved in the official practise of 15s and 7s Rugby in different parts of Africa. Both women’s and men’s rugby is promoted by Rugby Africa. The Men’s and Women’s Rugby Africa Cup and Sevens tournaments as well as the U20 Barthés Trophy are some of the key drivers of the work we do on the continent. From our 39 member nations, 24 are full or associate members of World Rugby, which bears testament to our representation and commitment to being a progressive leader in the game.
Further to this, our dedicated scrum of team members continues to grow and nurture relationships with local rugby unions, through collaboration, offering workshops, programs, tournaments, and other platforms of engagement around the game.
According to Herman Mensah, Head of Finance committee of Rugby Africa, Rugby Africa has also evolved with the sport through the years. Recently in 2019, Rugby Africa’s competitions were redesigned to improve representation through continental and regional tournaments. Fixture additions included The Men’s and Women’s Rugby Africa Cup, several regional Sevens tournaments, continental Men’s, and Women’s Sevens tournaments and the U20 tournament. These have fuelled the exposure of Rugby not only as a sport, but as a fan favourite of choice, for millions in audiences across the continent.
As a continental sensation, Rugby has endured the test of time as a sport, from humble beginnings, it has grown into a multinational phenomenon, best witnessed in popular culture, through the all decisive Rugby Africa Cup. On the world stage, we are proud to have taken the cup home as a continent, most specifically through South Africa (the current world champions), bearing witness to the strong support the sport has received across the board.
Here is the full list of jury members:
- Sir Bill Beaumont, Chairman of World Rugby (Chair of the jury)
- Hennie Heymans, CEO – DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa
- Nitin Gajria, Managing Director of Google Sub-Saharan Africa
- Richard Gouverneur, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and Sub-Sahara Africa
- Allan Kilavuka, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways
- Dr. Kolja Rebstock, Vice President of Europe – Middle East – Africa of Harley Davidson
- Tendai Beast Mtawarira, Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok legend, CEO of Umlindi Security and Founder of The Beast Foundation
- Somesh Adukia, Managing Director of Canon Central & North Africa
- Jaco Beyers, Managing Director Africa Middle East of John Deere
- Dr. André Schulz, General Manager Southern Africa & East Africa of Lufthansa Group
- Patrick van der Loo, Regional President Africa Middle East of Pfizer
- Dr. Johan van Zyl, Chairman of Toyota South Africa Motors
- Hendrik Du Preez, Vice President – Africa of Qatar Airways
- William McIntyre, Regional Director Africa of Radisson Hotel Group
- Mark Alexander, President of the South African Rugby Union (SARU)
- Thulani S Gcabashe, Chairman of Standard Bank Group
- Danni Xu, Vice President of TECNO Mobile
- Frans Hiemstra, General Manager of Uber Sub-Saharan Africa
- Sipho Dlamini, CEO South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa of Universal Music Africa
- Aïda Diarra, Senior Vice President – Visa, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
- Grégoire Ndjaka, CEO of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB)
- Gert Jonk, Senior Vice President EMEA of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
- Thusang Mahlangu, CEO of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty Africa
- Angela Russell, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa
- António Nunes, Board member of Angola Cables
- Brandon Oelofse, Regional General Manager – Sub Saharan Africa of Atlas Copco
- Babalwa Latsha, Captain of the Springbok Women, First pro female rugby player in Africa
- Bruce Schubach, Director of Operations, Africa of Baker McKenzie
- Breyton Paulse, Former Springboks
- Garreth Bloor, President of Canada-Africa Chamber of Business
- David Preston, CEO and Managing Director of Canon South Africa
- Collins Injera, Kenya Rugby Sevens player and two time Olympian
- Zemedeneh Nigatu, Global Chairman of Fairfax Africa Fund
- John Saunders , President & CEO of FleishmanHillard
- Lee Martin, Senior Advisor of Getty Images
- Rupert Adcock, CEO of Global Career Company Ltd
- Humphrey Kayange, Chairman of the Olympics Kenya Athletes Commission, World Rugby Player of the Year Rugby 7s panel member
- Ian MacIntosh , Former head coach for the Springboks
- Christian Bwakira, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa of Ingenico
- Inia Maxwell, Former Cultural advisor of the All Blacks
- Dr. Pascal Lorot, Chairman of Institut Choiseul
- Robert Hersov, Founder and Chairman of Invest Africa
- Jacques Burger, Former Namibia captain and Saracens flank
- Jean de Villiers, Former Springbok Captain
- Pierre Havenga, Managing Director, MEA of Vertiv
- Wayne Godwin, Head of Advisory Sub-Saharan Africa of JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group
- John Smit, Former Springbok Captain, CEO of SSG Holdings
- Kelly Brown, Former captain of the Scotland national rugby union team
- Ron Stuart, Executive Director: Head of Clients & Markets of KPMG
- Nic Rudnick, Group CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technology
- Lukhanyo Am, Rugby World Cup Winners 2019
- Phillip Liu, General Manager of the Middle East and Africa of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence
- Alisdair Sinclair, Managing Director, South Africa of Mondelez International
- Simon Rahmann, CEO of Mondia Pay
- Douglas Rowlings, Senior Vice President- Head of Africa, Relationship Management of Moody’s Investors Service
- Makazole Mapimpi, Rugby World Cup Winners 2019
- Hassan El-Houry, Group CEO of National Aviation Services (NAS)
- Amadou Gallo Fall, Vice-President of the NBA, President of the Basketball Africa League of NBA
- Ms. Vidya Ramnath, MEA President of Emerson Automation Solutions
- Jean Willers, Managing Director of Nielsen Sports South Africa
- Precious Pazani, Rugby Africa referee
- Michael R. Yormark, President and Chief of Branding & Strategy of Roc Nation
- Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa
- Coralie van den Berg, General Manager of Rugby Africa
- Duncan Bech, Chairman of Rugby Union Writers’ Club (United Kingdom)
- Nelly Mukazayire, CEO of Rwanda Convention Bureau
- Oliver Fortuin , Group CEO of Seacom Ltd
- William Moroney, Managing Director, Middle East & Africa of Temenos
- Tim Vieira, CEO of Brave generation Academy / Special Edition Holdings Africa; Honorary member of the SA Rugby Legends
- Tonderai Chevanga, Former Springboks, Director at QMM and co-founder of the S-Group
- Olivier Laouchez, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of TRACE
- Robins Tchale Watchou, CEO of Vivendi Sports
- Alioune CISS, CEO of Webb Fontaine Group
- Wejdane Limame, Citing commissioner of World Rugby, Rugby Africa and the French professional championship (Top 14)
- Dillyn Leyds, Former Springboks
- Raymond Rhule, Former Springboks
- Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, CEO of African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA)
- Matthew Weihs, Group Managing Director of Bench
- Brian Katzen, Chairman of BLK Sport SA
- Laurent Kayser, CFO of Cafeyn Group
- Keegan Cooke, Strength & Conditioning Coach, Touring Manager of Zimbabwe national rugby sevens team
- Sami Porkka, Former American football player
- Laurent Larrieu, Founder and CEO of Larrieu Terrassement
- Godfrey Motsa, CEO of MTN South Africa
- Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and CEO of APO Group (Award Director)
