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Optimistic Future for Rugby in Africa as Rugby Africa President Concludes Two Week Tour

“The efforts we put into raising money can sometimes be lost on people, but the greater investment we make will only grow the game”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa- President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah concludes a successful two-week visit across the African continent, ending in Cote d’Ivoire, where he called for increased funding and emphasised the vital role of government collaboration.

“Sports is big business, and governments are recognizing it’s potential. Our aim is to raise funds, strengthen cooperation with governments and launch regional tournaments to support rugby development across the African continent. By getting 5 to 6 countries in each region involved, we can secure the investment needed to host and develop regional competitions. The efforts we put into raising money can sometimes be lost on people, but the greater investment we make will only grow the game,” said President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah.

The tour brought together government leaders, sports officials and key stakeholders from the rugby community, all focused on strengthening the future of rugby in Africa.

Rugby Africa’s Strong Commitment to Government Relations and Partnerships

Concluding his tour in Cote d’Ivoire, President Mensah met with Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Sports, Honourable Adjé Silas Metch.The Honourable Minister expressed the government’s commitment to rugby development and expressed satisfaction with the new governance structure in place for the Ivorian Rugby Federation, the governing body of rugby in Cote d’Ivoire.

Mensah stressed the potential for leveraging Côte d’Ivoire’s sports infrastructure to support rugby growth, not just within the country but across the West African region. In 2023, Cote d’Ivoire invested approximately $1 billion to upgrade sports infrastructure ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. President Mensah was later honoured with a special Ivorian Olympic Award by the President of the Ivorian Olympic Committee, Mr Georges Joseph N’Goan, in recognition of Mensah’s dedication to developing the sport on the continent.

A key moment of the visit saw Mensah attending the inauguration of President of Cote d’Ivoire Rugby, Lucas Gnogbo Kore, as the President of the Union of West African Rugby Federations (UWARF), which includes Togo, Benin, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, and Côte d’Ivoire. The recent formation of the West African Rugby Union symbolises the need for regional cooperation and advancing rugby’s presence across the sub-region.

As Côte d’Ivoire prepares to host the 2025 Division One Women’s Rugby Africa Cup from April 9-20, featuring teams from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Tunisia, this marks an exciting new era for rugby in West Africa.

A Partnership with AFD and FFR for Rugby’s Growth

On the sidelines of the Finance in Common Summit in South Africa, President Mensah also celebrated the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the French Rugby Federation (FFR), the French Development Agency (AFD), and Expertise France. This agreement formalizes the CAP Rugby project, an initiative that aims to use rugby as a tool for development, social inclusion and sustainability across Africa and the Pacific.

 “In order for Rugby Africa to truly develop, we need partnerships where all involved bring something valuable to the table. Our initial partnership with AFD started formally in 2023, and now, with the inclusion of FFR and their keen interest to work with the South African Rugby Union (SARU), we are moving towards a larger-scale initiative,” said Mensah.

Uganda’s Commitment Ahead of 2025 Rugby Africa Cup 

In Uganda, Mensah met with key government figures, including Minister of Sports Honourable Peter Ogwang, as well as leaders from the Uganda Rugby Union, President of Uganda Rugby Union, Mr. Godwin Kayangwe and CEO of Uganda Rugby Union, Isaac Lutwama, to discuss preparations for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup.

The Ugandan government’s commitment to sports infrastructure was evident in discussions surrounding upcoming investments, with Uganda positioning itself as a key player in the African rugby landscape and the possibility of hosting future age-grade competitions. Aligning with the country’s broader goal to boost sports tourism and showcase Uganda’s world-class facilities to global audiences.

Rugby Africa President praised Uganda’s leadership stating, “It’s not about being the best in the world; it’s about having the right structures and people in place. Uganda Rugby Union has shown exactly that, both on and off the field.”

With the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup serving as a qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, Uganda will welcome the top teams across Africa at the Mandela National Stadium in July.

A Vision for the Future of African Rugby

As Mensah’s term continues, his focus remains on making rugby an industry that will create economic opportunities across the continent through strong partnerships. 

 “We need to change the attitude towards sports in Africa. Investing in sporting events and rugby will help us grow the game and its impact across the continent. As we look to the next few years, my message is simple: Invest now, and you’ll reap the rewards tomorrow,” adds Mensah. 

Media Contact:
Nicole Vervelde 
Communications Advisor 
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com 
 
About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes various competitions, including the qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby highlighted Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.