South Africa’s premier development rugby tournament for u15 boys’ and girls’ teams, the Hollywood Foundation iQhawe Week, has wrapped, following a hard-fought competition for 14 promising boys’ teams and five formidable girls’ teams from around the country. Boys’ winners Boland and Girls’ Division winners Tshwane Girls take home the 2022 trophies after an outstanding performance by both teams.
The Boland Boys u15 team have overcome many obstacles on their road to the Hollywood Foundation iQhawe Week victory, having entered the competition as underdogs from schools that have not traditionally been rugby-playing schools, with little financial support initially. But with added backing from Cell C SARLA’s (The South African Rugby Legends Association) VUKA Programme, dedicated coaching staff and a determined team, Boland outplayed 13 other hopeful teams and emerged as clear winners in the 2022 competition. In the final, Boland beat Western Province 37-22, and Boland star Jadewill Koopman was named both Man of the Match and Man of the Tournament.
The Tshwane Girls played equally as hard, beating the Lions in a gritty standoff that showcased some of the best up-and-coming young female rugby talent South Africa has to offer. The team honoured the Valke’s pride and rich rugby history with their undeniable skill and tactics.
Former Springbok Captain and Cell C SARLA CEO John Smit says, “Well done to Boland and Tshwane on their much-deserved wins. We were delighted to have the Hollywood Foundation iQhawe Week back at Joburg Stadium after the two-year break, and the quality of play was spectacular. We have some definite future stars in the making here. Thank you to the Hollywood Foundation and Cell C for supporting rugby development at its best.”
The Hollywood Foundation iQhawe Week is a joint venture between Cell C, Cell C SARLA and the South African Rugby Union, supported by the Hollywood Foundation. The tournament was created as a pathway for players from new, introductory, small, rural, lower-league and non-traditional rugby schools to participate in a contest equal in stature to the National Craven Week and Grant Khomo Weeks. Numerous players have since gone on to participate in Varsity Cup rugby and play provincial rugby.
Congratulations to all the u15 teams that made this year’s competition a success.
