Bridging the Gap in Women’s Rugby in Africa should be a priority for all playing nations to grow the game on the continent.
Bridging the Gap in Women’s Rugby in Africa
The women’s game has grown in leaps and bounds over the last decade in Africa. We have seen teams like the Springbok women’s side taking their place as the top team in Africa. In the just-ended 2023 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup they beat Cameroon 87-0 in their opening match. Kenya is another team that has made an impact on the women’s game in Africa. The Lionesses are currently ranked 23rd in the world. They moved up two places after beating Madagascar 29 – 20 in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Division 1.
World rankings
Winners 🏆
The #BokWomen are crowned champions of the @RugbyAfrique Women’s Cup following an emphatic victory over Madagascar. #MakeItCount pic.twitter.com/47jNlpv65Q
— Springbok Women (@WomenBoks) May 28, 2023
Kenya and South Africa are the only two African teams that are ranked in the top thirty. This brings the question, “How do we bridge the gap?”. Rugby Afrique launched the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in 2019. Though the tournament is still in its infancy stages, it has already proved that it will play an essential role in developing women’s rugby in Africa. Nations like Burkina Faso, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe have participated and continue to participate in the tournament.
There have obviously been quite a number of mismatches but the silver lining is that smaller teams get to test themselves out against the more developed sides and this not only challenges their rugby governing bodies to invest more in the game but it also gives a chance for players to showcase their talent on a platform that has the eyes of clubs from around the world.
READ MORE: Springbok Women’s Rugby: A gem in the making
New competitions
The introduction of a Junior women’s rugby under 20 trophy would be beneficial not only in creating competition between African nations for qualification but also it would mean more rugby being played in developing nations hence bridging the gap! The issue of financial strain is not one that can be ignored, World Rugby along with rugby boards across the world would have to come up with a solution.
The African continent boasts many rugby-playing nations and that in itself is a solution. The old adage says there is strength in numbers. We have resources that need to be tapped into. Domestic rugby from the amateur club level all the way to the provincial level needs to have a clear pathway and massive investment as well. Small beginnings such as invitational 4-team tournaments for under 20 teams would see the women’s game growing in Africa.
Future possibilities
Seeing an African team winning the women’s fifteens Rugby World Cup might seem like a long way off when one looks at the world rankings. There is a lot of work to be put in but the journey is one which must be taken. An Olympic medal would put Africa in good stead. The future looks bright. The Springboks women’s sevens side recently won the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series. The win got them qualification into World Rugby Sevens Series 2024 as the 12th and final team. This shows that South African rugby is going in the right direction and this inspires an entire continent in bridging the gap!
Photo Credit: Kenya Women Rugby Facebook Page on May 24, 2023.
