Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah Welcomes the Signing of the CAP Rugby Partnership Between AFD, FFR and Expertise France
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – On the sidelines of the Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the French Rugby Federation (FFR), the French Development Agency (AFD) and Expertise France (EF) in Cape Town, South Africa. The agreement formalises a strategic commitment to the CAP Rugby project, reinforcing rugby’s role as a tool for development, social inclusion, and sustainability across Africa and the Pacific.
“In order for Rugby Africa to truly develop, we need partnerships where all involved bring something valuable to the table. Our initial partnership with AFD started formally in 2023, and now, with the inclusion of FFR and their keen interest to work with the South African Rugby Union (SARU), we are moving towards a larger-scale initiative. This agreement represents a significant financial increase compared to what we initially received from AFD, which will have a tangible impact on rugby development across the continent,” stated President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah.
CAP Rugby: A Transformative Project for Inclusive and Sustainable Rugby
This strategic partnership aims to strengthen the impact of rugby as a tool for development, social inclusion and sustainability through several key areas:
Building the capacity of local federations by implementing training and support initiatives to enhance the skills of rugby federations in Africa and the Pacific.
Promoting social inclusion and gender equality by encouraging women’s rugby, raising awareness about equality, and fostering empowerment through sports.
Raising environmental awareness through rugby by promoting climate consciousness and environmental preservation.
The AFD Group Converts the Try with a Strong Commitment to Rugby Development in Africa and the Pacific
The signing of this agreement marks a deepening collaboration between FFR, AFD, and Expertise France. This project builds upon previous initiatives, including the promotion of women’s rugby in Africa with FFR and Rugby Africa—an effort launched during the Rugby World Cup in France 2023—as well as the momentum generated by the “Sport for Sustainable Development” (#S4SD) Summit, held on the eve of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
The FFR will serve as the project’s key partner, with funding provided by AFD and implementation led by Expertise France. The project will involve and engage the South African Rugby Union (SARU), the Fiji Rugby Union, and regional and international governing bodies such as World Rugby, Rugby Africa, and Rugby Oceania.
“Disagreements place a huge impact on Rugby Africa’s growth, but this partnership demonstrates the power of unity. We are proud of our relationship with AFD, and now, with SARU’s involvement, the future looks promising. The presence of key figures such as South Africa’s Minister for Sports, Honourable Gayton McKenzie, FFR’s Vice President, Abdelatif Benazzi, AFD CEO, Rémy Rioux, and the French Ambassador to South Africa, Honourable David Martinon reinforces the value of this collaboration. Rugby Africa must now look toward attracting additional partners in the same financial space to boost our bottom line and enable us to grow the game,” added President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah.
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 various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.
