Rugby: Capacity building exchange visit with KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union |06 April 2023

Mr Fonseka with World Cup winning South African rugby captain Siya Kolisi

Transitioning regular sporting matches into larger showpieces

With constant evolution of the sports world, it is becoming a common trend where sporting disciplines are improving their venues, providing entertainments, to not only grow audiences, but to enhance the overall experience.

With the revamped of local rugby last year, the Seychelles Rugby Union (SRU) has already initiated the transition from regular matches into larger showpieces, turning them into family-related activities, an initiative which has been welcomed by the local sports authority.

To get a better insight into the initiative, principal secretary for Youth and Sports, Ralph Jean-Louis, along with a delegation from his department and the National Sports Council (NSC) are presently in South Africa at the invitation of the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, through the SRU, headed by captain Luke Fonseka, who is also part of the delegation.

Labelled as a ‘capacity building’ visit, the trip is the perfect occasion for the local representatives to experience and learn on how to successfully transition regular sporting matches into larger showpieces, which in the Seychelles context can encourage growth and boost sports Tourism locally.

It has been made possible through the existing partnership between the SRU and the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union.

During the visit, the local delegation was invited to the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban to experience and gain understanding on how the Cell C Sharks can turn a simple rugby match of 80 minutes into a larger showpiece with associated streams of revenue generated from a sporting event.

The delegation was briefed on how rugby events start earlier in the day where families get together and socialise prior to kick off, with availability of various fun activities, such as bouncing castles, swimming pools, food and drink vendors, as well as live music within the stadium.

According to captain Fonseka who have had such experience, once the match kicks off, focus turns to the main event for the next 40 minutes, before halftime where the crowd are treated to more live entertainment, while after the matches, fans are encouraged to stay and socialise.

The Seychelles delegation was also hosted by president of the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union Brian van Zyl, where they also met with players – past and present – including World Cup winning South African rugby captain Siya Kolisi.

It is worth noting that as part of the good cooperation between the two unions, the SRU benefitted from the expertise of renowned South African coach Donald Ngwenya who conducted a coaching clinic to assess the ability of the local coaches, while providing them with extra baggage to boost their performances, in terms of skills and delivery.

Along with compatriot Dwayne Viljoen, Mr Ngwenya helped the local coaches  to improve the abilities of their players, through the creation of a safe and positive learning environment, along with the delivery of age and stage appropriate coaching.

The Sharks (known as the Cell C Sharks as they are their title sponsor) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Durban in KwaZulu Natal. They compete internationally in the United Rugby Championship and Heineken Champions Cup, having competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020. They are centred on the Sharks union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The team plays its home matches at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban.

In 1993–1995 South Africa was represented in the Super 10 by their three top unions (top three teams from the previous year’s Currie Cup). Natal (as they were called then) qualified in 1993 and 1994. Natal were runners-up in 1994 after having lost to Queensland 21–10 in the final. In 1996 and 1997 South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by their four top unions rather than franchises, and Natal qualified and competed both years. They have never won the Super Rugby competition, but have reached the final four times, as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001, 2007 and 2012.

The side sports many Springbok players, including Thomas du Toit, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi and 2019 Rugby World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi. They have also featured many international stars including France international Frédéric Michalak and former Australian International Ben Tapuai.

Compiled by Roland Duval