St Andrews behind rugby revival in Malawi
Some teachers at St Andrews International High School in Blantyre and the Rugby Union of Malawi have embarked on a programme to revive rugby, the sport that was once popular among Malawians in the 1970’s.
The Union earlier this week organised a day long introductory training session for secondary school girls in the southern region.
The schools that took part in the sessions included St Andrews high school, Ndirande Community Day secondary school, Stella Maris and Army secondary school.
According to the Union’s national coach James Bowater, who is also a teacher at St Aandrews,the introductory training session was organised to help develop the sport from the grassroots so that the game regains its place in Malawi sport.
“This is part of our campaign to spread the sport and we felt secondary schools would be a good start off point before moving on to establishing leagues and competitions” Bowater told Nyasa Times.
Bowater says a boys introductory training session will be organised soon and that as a Union they are satisfied with strides that have been made to reintroduce the sport.
He added that it is pleasing that teams from Thyolo district have shown great interest in the game.
“Its pleasing to note that schools like Luchenza and Mendulo have set the pace in our campaign and we hope that other schools will follow suit and help the Union in the reintroduction of the game” he said.
Apart from Bowater, Rugby Union’s publicity secretary Moffat Champiti , who is also FIFA football refree, is behind the sport revival.
