Trailblazers on and off of the Rugby Field

In the world of rugby, where thunderous tackles and fierce scrums have long been associated with male dominance, a new narrative is unfolding. Women are not just participating but eXcelling, shattering stereotypes and proving that they belong on the rugby pitch as much as their male counterparts. At the heart of this groundbreaking transformation are the incredible student-athletes and professionals at the UXi Sport International Rugby Institutes! Here at the UXi Sport International Rugby Institutes, we take immense pride in the achievements of our female student-athletes, who are proving that gender is no barrier to sporting success.


Empowering Female Athletes ON the field

Thuto Rantso and Crystal Francis, two of our exceptional female rugby talents, are breaking barriers and proving that women too can thrive in the male-dominated rugby industry. These two ladies are first-year student-athletes at the UXi Griquas Rugby Institute, and they’ve been enrolled at the Kimberley-based Institute since early 2023. As the only females at the UXi Griquas Rugby Institute, they’ve faced challenges head-on, armed with a boundless passion for the game. From the get-go, they knew they had to double down on their efforts, and they did just that. These two student-athletes are a testament to what sheer determination, grit, and tireless hours of training can achieve.

Thuto and Crystal’s hard work and unquenchable love for the sport have earned them a coveted place in the Toyota Cheetahs Women’s squad. It’s a groundbreaking milestone for women’s rugby, emphasizing that passion and talent know no gender boundaries. Their inclusion in the squad is a shining eXample to aspiring female rugby players, proving that dreams can be achieved through hard work, perseverance, and the courage to defy the odds. Thuto and Crystal have not only earned their place in the squad; they’ve etched a lasting legacy for UXi Sport and women in rugby – one that will inspire generations to come.

 


Empowering Females OFF the field

In the dynamic world of sport, where dreams often meet reality on the playing field, one eXtraordinary individual stands out to us at UXi Sport. Zwonaka “Zoe” Mbedzi’s journey from a video and game analysis intern at the UXi Western Province International Rugby Institute to becoming the Technical Analyst for the Springbok Women’s rugby team is nothing short of eXceptional!

After completing her BSc Sport Science Honours at the University of Stellenbosch, she joined our UXi Rugby Institute in 2022, eager to make her mark in the world of rugby. Under the guidance of our National Manager of Video and Game Analysis, Heinrich Painczyk, Zwonaka honed her skills rapidly, demonstrating an unmatched commitment to analysis. Her dedication and hard work paid off when she had the opportunity to assist with video and game analysis for the Springbok Women during their training in Stellenbosch. Her eXceptional abilities left an undeniable mark, and the rugby world took notice. Zwonaka earned herself a permanent position in the Springbok Women’s rugby team as their Technical Analyst – donning the National colours in a career that she loves!

Zwonaka’s remarkable journey eXemplifies the boundless potential for women to eXcel in critical roles within the sport, and that one doesn’t have to be an athlete themselves to make a significant impact in sport. The sports world offers diverse avenues for passionate individuals to leave their mark. Zwonaka’s journey stands as a shining example of what can be achieved off the field, and with unshakable belief and relentless effort, any goal is achievable.

 

A Commitment to Women’s Success in Rugby

At UXi Sport, we are passionate about empowering women in sport and celebrating every achievement, no matter how big or small. We are dedicated to propelling more women into the world of sports, and to make this a reality, UXi Sport and HFPA Fitness Academy have secured ten bursaries for aspiring female rugby players. These bursaries offer the opportunity to join the Harlequins International Rugby Institute for 2024, which includes a National Certificate in Coaching Science NQF level 5 through HFPA and participation in the High-Performance Rugby programme. Our commitment to supporting female athletes and nurturing future coaches for South African Rugby is unwavering.

Women are proving their worth in rugby, breaking down the barriers in a historically male-dominated sport. Thuto Rantso, Crystal Francis, and Zwonaka Mbedzi eXemplify the eXtraordinary talent and dedication of females in the world of sport. Together with HFPA Fitness Academy, UXi Sport will help ensure that the future of women’s rugby in South Africa is bright. We celebrate these remarkable achievements, and together, we continue to inspire greatness and hope, and pave the way for future generations of female rugby players, coaches and professionals.

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South Africa’ s results in the 2023 Rugby World Cup

UXi Western Province Rugby Academy’s contribution to the 2023 Rugby World Cup win.

The final whistle has blown and South Africa is crowned rugby world cup 2023 winners. Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis cup for the second time in his career, making history, not only as the 1st African captain in South Africa, but also as the only team who has ever secured the cup in a world cup final- four times!

Cheslin Kolbe spent the last few minutes with his jersey drawn over his head, when he was sent off with a yellow card. However, most fans in South Africa watching those tense last minutes and seconds-  spent it in the very same way. They were unable to watch the gripping suspense as it unfolded at Stade de France. 

Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus- did something remarkable, it has more meaning for the South African nation than most people would understand,” unless’  as Siya said in the post-match conference- “they were South Africans”!

The many, many getty images moments after the whistle blew, will be remembered forever as they set the social media platforms on fire across the world. 

A week later, everything is quieter in France and Saint Denis has returned to normality, for us in South Africa, the celebrations continued all week with the Springbok celebration tour around the country.  The smiles, the cheers and even tears of joy will be remembered forever, the special moments where Cheslin Kolbe graced a young fan with his world cup medal, crowds cheering and shouting SIYA, SIYA, SIYA! One nation forgetting all of its problems for one week!

The UXi Western Province Academy players made sure they were on the bus to Cape Town early enough to see Kurt Lee Arendse and Grant Williams, their heroes and former students at the Stellenbosch and Western Province Academies. These players did not come from top rugby schools or big cities, they are small-town boys who hardly had the background that could predict that they would one day be such celebrities and wear the Springbok jersey. 

They once, like the current academy students, attended the Academies in Stellenbosch to become better players, improve their skills and knowledge, and have a platform that would elevate them to the next level of their incredible journeys. 

As with most of the 2023 world cup Springboks, these players’  determination and passion for rugby has inspired HOPE for so many players in similar situations across South Africa. They send a message to our academy players to continue to follow their dreams, to work hard, and  never give up!

The road to victory is never easy, it comes with great disappointment at times, many failures before the break-through comes. This week we also celebrate every coach and mentor who works relentlessly to bring forth the next generation of Arendses and Kolisis at the Western Province rugby academy. The educationalists, role-models, all the silent heroes who whisper words of encouragement, and who go beyond known limits, to make a difference in the many lives of aspirant players. 

We all witnessed the disappointments of yellow cards, unexpected injuries like Bongi Mbonambi who got injured during the first few minutes of the final. It takes an extraordinary mindset to overcome such moments, to get up from it as an individual and a team. The purpose of the UXi Rugby Institutes is to develop rugby athletes holistically, not only on-field but more importantly, mentally, spiritually and for life after rugby. Life just like a game of rugby brings unexpected turns and events that are unpredictable. Life does not always pass us perfect balls or give us easy opponents to beat. Life knocks us down and changes course in a matter of minutes and seconds. 

For UXi Sport’s rugby institute journey that started  in 2018, the significance of this World Cup win is symbolic. It started with a vision and plan to create an international platform that talented players can access, irrespective of their diverse backgrounds, that will afford them equal opportunity to access the world of rugby that has been inaccessible for many of the South African youth. Since then, five international rugby institutes in five provinces were established and over six hundred players have entered its systems, UXi International Rugby Institutes have developed two Springbok players, one Blitzbok player, Ricarde Duarttee and also delivered over sixty Currie Cup under 20 and 21 players. 

Its oldest rugby institute, the former Western Province Academy has been in operation for almost 10 years, it recently underwent a name change and will now be known as the Western Province International Rugby Institute. The formidable coaching team and support staff, with over hundred years of experience amongst them, will continue to find and build the next generation of future bok stars. We have witnessed how a vision and plan backed with determination, hard work and passion, can UNITE a country and lead a team to an inspirational victory!

UXi Western Province Rugby Institute is inspired to achieve GREATNESS!

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