Franschhoek Barbarians Rugby is a unique community-backed endeavour, and a new model for how to develop and support the talent of youth and women in South Africa through rugby.
The Western Cape Winelands is almost certainly the richest vein of rugby talent in the world, dominating the list of past and present Springbok greats. The Boland boasts the biggest district league worldwide, with over 200 clubs and nearly 500 teams. But although this region is home to at least five of the country’s top rugby schools, there is still a wealth of talent that remains undiscovered, undeveloped, and unrecognised. Franschhoek Barbarians was established to find these players, give them the benefit of the very best coaching and conditioning, keep them in school to finish their education, and prepare them for a potential career in rugby.
Four rugby clubs and four schools in the Franschhoek valley have taken a historic decision to join forces, and give players from their communities the opportunity to show what they can do – pooling their resources to create truly competitive teams.
The programme is comprehensive. Junior and women’s teams will be recruited from throughout the Franschhoek valley and Pniel, and put on individual development paths designed to maximise their talent and potential. Beyond the coaching, skills development and one-on-mentoring, the players will have access to elite gym facilities and a high performance strength and conditioning programme.
These are working-class community clubs and schools, with fee-exempt learners making up nearly 75% of the student body. The financial challenges they face every day are the reason these talented players seldom dare to dream of showcasing their abilities on a bigger stage. A bursary programme has been established to meet the costs of their coaching and conditioning, accommodation, education, and kit – and remove the biggest obstacles to their success. The primary focus is to find and unlock the talents of players aged 13 to 18, and ultimately show the world what their communities already know about their abilities.
The Franschhoek valley already has a thriving club rugby culture at senior level, where 6000 fans will pack the stadium at Franschhoek RFC for a home derby. Franschhoek Barbarians will introduce the next generation to a much bigger audience.