Charles in DRC – Charles Yapo is back at work and this time made his way to Kinshasa, DRC’s capital. Rugby is not left out in the huge central African country with 19 teams already participating in the national championship. The Get Into Rugby program also keeps on growing !
Charles was there to deliver 15-a-side and a 7s rugby level 1 training courses as well as ton conduct a union review and assess their progress in view of a future application to become a World Rugby associated member. 20 participants, the president, the Director of Rugby and the executive committee members joined Charles for these meetings.
Our Regional Development Officer was impressed by this fast-improving union.
Thanks to its young and ambitious President, rugby is steadily growing in this country. With their double title as African 2nd division champion rugby get more and more renown.
Pleased with these good results and enthusiasm, the ministry of Sports granted a field just next to the legendary Tata Raphael stadium to the union. On-going work is being done to convert this empty space into a proper rugby pitch. Moreover, the union owns a house of rugby that also hosts an hospital. It is based in one of the biggest district to treat all rugby players as well as the local communities in a gesture of solidarity and to share the strong values of rugby.
Charles is really confident about the future of this union having already achieved a lot with age-grade and women’s rugby. The DRC union is now hoping to convince World rugby that it deserves its place as an associated member.