FIVE South African rugby coaches, among them a member of the 1995 World Cup winner, Marius Hurter are in the country for the second edition of the AMG Global Falcon College Under-14 Rugby Coaching Festival which is scheduled for Friday to Sunday.

Hurter, a front rower during his playing days which saw him earn 13 international caps landed at Joshua Mqabuko International Airport on Thursday with four other South Africans, Investec Rugby Academy general manager Greg Miller, former KwaZulu-Natal loose forward Jacques Botes, Nico Le Roux an ex-technical advisor to New Zealand and Michael Horak a past defence coach for English premiership side London Irish.

Orlando Fernandes, the tournament director said they were anticipating 300 players this year, which is double the 140 who participated in the inaugural event last year. The numbers have been increased by the inclusion of three schools first teams, Falcon College, Christian Brothers College and Lomagundi. Fernandes clarified that the three first teams are going on tour and requested to be included in the fiesta so as to get the much needed game time.

A Bulawayo primary school, Whitestone are also taking part which resulted in the organisers sending out an invitation to Barwick of Mutorashanga. The Under-14 teams which have entered the festival are Falcon College, Lomagundi, CBC, Gateway, Northlea, Churchill, Hillcrest, Heritage and Midlands Christian College.

Main sponsors of the fiesta, AMG Global, a chartered accountant firm have conveyed their delight in being associated with the rugby carnival seeing that it is being graced by coaches who have earned incredible knowledge over the years.

 “The festival will be graced by experienced rugby coaches from Investec South Africa namely Greg Miller, Jacques Botes, Michael Horak, Nico le Roux and Marius Hurter. The above coaches have gained tremendous experience in rugby which is expected to benefit the schools through coaching, training and competition. Furthermore, this coaching clinic is expected to go a long way in developing the skills of the Under-14 rugby players and this will also equip them for playing the game in the long run. AMG Global wish the boys all the best as they participate in this year’s Falcon Under-14 Rugby Festival. We are proud to be associated with Falcon College in this endeavour for the second year running, and we trust that it will be a memorable and life changing experience for the boys,’’ said a spokesperson for AMG Global.

Falcon College headmaster, Reginald Querl, feels that an Under-14 rugby feast is a step in the right direction since that particular age group is the future of the game.

“The Under-14 Rugby Coaching Festival is something that is long overdue, in my humble opinion. This age group is the future of the game in our country. As such, this innovation where young people are offered amazing advice from top, internationally acclaimed coaches is just what the doctor ordered. The format of having coaching in the morning, followed by games on the fields in the afternoons with the coaches, has proven to be very successful. The whole concept of having fun while learning the game under controlled conditions is something that we are very proud of at Falcon College,’’ Querl said.

The youngsters will get coaching from the South Africans in the morning before they engage in matches in the afternoon where each team will play at least one match over the three days. A formal dinner for the coaches, sponsors, officials and parents will take place in Bulawayo on Saturday evening.

Last year, Joe Beukes, Braam van Straaten, Botes and Miller were the South African coaches who made it to Zimbabwe. 

@Mdawini_29