Princess, rugby star cheer on SA youngsters
Princess Charlene of Monaco and Stefan Terblanche will be cheering on the next generation of SA rugby stars in Monaco.
|||Saturday Princess Charlene of Monaco, a former South African Olympic swimmer, and Stefan Terblanche, a former Springbok and rugby legend, will be cheering on the next generation of SA rugby stars at a tournament being held in Monaco.
Terblanche, a star at the Shark Tank, is now chief executive of SA Rugby Legends.
He said the tournament provided a great opportunity to develop the rugby skills of young South Africans who might never have had the chance to step on to a rugby field.
The St Devote Rugby Tournament held at the Louis II Stadium is hosted by the Monégasque Rugby Federation.
South Africa’s young rugby players from Bonteheuwel and Firgrove primary schools in the Western Cape travelled to Monaco this week, accompanied by Legends officials.
This is the second year that Legends has partnered with Princess Charlene’s foundation for the tournament.
On Friday Terblanche said: “It would be easy to take a group of players from schools where rugby is traditionally played, but our mission is to develop rugby at all levels, and this way we are giving an opportunity to youngsters who would not normally have the chance.”
Legends president Gavin Varejees said Princess Charlene was “so impressed” with the team that attended last year’s tournament that “we were very keen to include a South African team again this year”.
“We are working closely together to help on key projects that not only develop the game here (in South Africa) and in Monaco, but to help uplift those less fortunate,” he said.
This year’s under-12 teams come from countries across the globe, with the two South African teams facing up to young rugby players from countries such as Abu Dhabi, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, and of course Monaco.
This week, Christiane Cane, spokeswoman for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in Monte Carlo, confirmed the two school rugby teams from South Africa would not only take part in the rugby tournament, but also tour Monaco’s landmarks.
They would visit the state-of-the-art aquatic centre and “meet and mix” with students from international colleges in the principality.
“The South Africa-Monaco Rugby Exchange programme is one of the foundation’s flagship projects and we wish to offer these young South Africans the best possible welcome.
“The purpose of this tournaments is to illustrate team spirit and notions of generosity, sharing, solidarity, respect and fair play,” said Cane.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation offices for Southern Africa are based in Ballito, where water safety and drowning prevention education is a key goal.
Independent on Saturday