EXCLUSIVE: Real gems unearthed outside of the mainstream systems

It started as a social Old Boys club, playing the occasional veterans match.

That was 22 years ago, when Gavin Varejes, now the South African Rugby Legends Association President, started an organisation to get former players together and have a ‘club’ where they can rekindle friendships and reminisce about past glories.

It has blossomed into a burgeoning ‘gold’ mining project.

John Smit, the country’s most decorated hooker and captain of the 2007 World Cup-winning Springbok team, explained to @king365ed that from those humble beginnings, the Legends project now has a more focused goal through talent scouting at the #iqhawerugby and #VukaRugby youth weeks.

They have access to almost 1000 accredited, Boksmart-qualified coaches who help nurture these gems that are outside the mainstream schools and structures.

“We [SARLA] were just ‘coaching’ children wherever we played,” he told @rugby365com.

“Then we decided to start going to the non-traditional areas and coach there.”

He said, by default, they used former players and started coaching players who had never been exposed to the game before.

That evolved into getting Boksmart accredited coaches with Level One and Two qualifications.

COVID put a pause on the programme from reaching a potential 30,000 children a year, but it has picked up pace again in recent years and Iqhawe Week will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year.

The tournament, running from September 22 to 26 at Queens High School in Johannesburg, will potentially unearth the latest batch of gems from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Griquas loose forward Thabo Ndimande and Sharks prop Mawande Mdanda were among the most recent projects from the #iqhawerugby and #VukaRugby youth weeks – both featuring in the Currie Cup this year.

Then there are a substantial number of players who have played Varsity Cup – opening them up to potential professional contracts.

However, Smit said they have produced some high-profile gems like BlitzBok stalwart Mogamat Zain Davids and Babalwa Latsha, the first South African women’s player to turn professional.

“These are just some of the names that have come through our programme and are making a living out of the game,” Smith said.

“We have been doing all the South African Rugby Union’s development for the last eight years,” he said, adding that they did receive a grant before.

However, post-COVID, given the financial pinch SARU has been in, Smit and his fellow legends have gone cap in hand to corporate South Africa to ensure that the amazing portal continues to tap into non-traditional talent sources.

The Hollywood Foundation is the financial backer of Iqhawe Week and the main reason the Legends project is still alive.

“I have also gone to the new minister of sport [Gayton McKenzie] and asked for some funding,” Smit told @rugby365com, adding: “Maybe we can get back up to our pre-COVID numbers, but it is an amazing programme built and designed by SARLA.

“SARU hasn’t been able to help us financially, but we have been able to continue with the help of corporate South Africa.”

Asked about the number of gems still out there that the legends could unearth, Smit said they have barely scratched the surface.

“We have 60 million people in this country,” he said.

“There is so much talent out there that falls through the cracks.”

He described the talent unearthed by the #iqhawerugby and #VukaRugby youth weeks as “just a drop in the ocean”.

“The only limitation is to get coaches out there and get into these areas,” he said about the financial support they require.

“There are, potentially, thousands of Cheslin Kolbes and Siya Kolisis out there.”

Smit explained that they have ‘managers’ around the country that spot the talent at these coaching clinics and put them into the system – at clubs and provincial teams.

“The iqhawe week is an Under-15 Craven Week and the only qualifier is that you can’t come from a traditional school.

“From there [iqhawe week] all the big schools come and give them bursaries.

“From there they can get a Varsity Cup contract or a degree.

“It all starts with our coaches and identifying talent and putting them into trial and teams.”

The only issue is that the ‘late developers’ might still slip through the cracks, as their ‘target market’ is between the ages of 10 years old to 17 years old.

@king365ed
@rugby365com