Springbok stars join Laureus to launch new worldwide rugby initiative
August 6, 2013
Members of the Springbok rugby team will visit Laureus charity projects across the world in a new partnership to see how sport is being used to promote international development and change young lives for the better.
The Springbok visits will take place in Brisbane, Buenos Aires and Edinburgh and coincide with the team’s test matches in the areas.
To celebrate the news, Springbok players teamed up with youngsters from four Laureus Sport for Good Foundation charity projects in Johannesburg today.
Among the South African players at today’s launch were Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai “Beast” Mtwarira, Siya Kolisi and Patrick Lambie. They talked to the young people present and took part in volleyball, basketball and boxing sessions as well as experiencing an indigenous activity known as dibeke, a running ball game with two teams of 12 players.
Springbok Captain Jean de Villiers said: “I am sure I speak on behalf of all the Springbok players when I say how impressed we are by the work of Laureus, which is why we are here today. We all know what a great sport rugby is. It’s all about working together as a team and helping to increase young people’s self-esteem and their chance to improve their lives. That’s what Laureus does and why we are supporting their work not just here in South Africa, but across the world.”
Morné du Plessis, Chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in South Africa and manager of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winning Springbok team, said: “This is the start of an important and exciting co-operation between the Springboks and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation over the next year. Laureus supports community projects in 34 countries around the world and I am personally delighted that it is the Springboks who are pioneering this new concept with Laureus. I know it is going to be a great success.”
At the visit, the Springboks were also greeted by children from the four projects - Fight with Insight, Sport for All, Johannesburg Cubs and Soweto Schools Rugby.
