11 young female learners attend first professional rugby match, meeting Springbok Women’s team on the field

Pick n Pay shone a spotlight on the future of women’s rugby with an inspiring activation at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 5 July 2025. In partnership with Pick n Pay School Club, 11 young aspiring girl rugby players from local underrepresented communities attended their first live professional rugby match and met their heroes, the Springbok Women’s team.

Ahead of the men’s Springbok fixture against Italy, the girl learners, aged between thirteen and eighteen, watched the Springbok Women’s team in the curtain-raiser match before meeting members of the squad on the field at halftime for a powerful moment of inspiration and possibility.

The girls’ rugby coach, Mahlogonolo Gama from Nellmapius Rugby Club, accompanied the learners to the stadium and shared that this experience will grow the girls’ love for rugby and inspire them to keep going. Gama comments, “When they see players like Lerato Makua from Mamelodi and Patience Mokoni from Soshanguve wearing the Springbok jersey, it shows them that it’s possible, no matter where you come from.”

These learners attend Rephafogile Secondary School, Phateng Secondary School, Stanza Bopape Secondary School, and Nellmapius Secondary School where access to sports resources is limited, and many learners face daily socio-economic challenges. These schools often do not have dedicated sports fields or specialised equipment, making structured training and regular practice sessions difficult. Many rely on local rugby clubs to learn the game. In these environments, female rugby players are especially scarce, with many girls only recently getting opportunities to participate in the sport.

“One of the biggest challenges our young female rugby players face is confidence,” adds Coach Gama. She continues, “Support like food packs, gear, and basic need items, such as toiletries, helps these young players give 100% in training, on and off the field.”

Despite these challenges, the girls who do play show remarkable commitment and passion, often training alongside boys and using minimal facilities to pursue their love for rugby.

Tessa Chamberlain, Head of Strategic Partnerships & Engagement at Pick n Pay, says, “As a Tier 1 sponsor for the Springboks, Pick n Pay is not only backing the Springboks on the field but is committed to growing the game beyond the field. Through our education initiative Pick n Pay School Club, one of the country’s largest youth education platform, we are creating meaningful opportunities for young female players, helping build a more inclusive and inspiring path forward for women’s rugby.”

Learner Mmabontle Mateya from Nellmapius Secondary School expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, “My training has not only enhanced my technical abilities but also instilled in me the values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. I'm excited to bring this foundation of skills and character to the Springboks, one day”. The experience offered a new perspective for the seventeen-year-old who trains at the Nellmapius rugby club.

“The activation today is about more than just a once-off experience; it is about uplifting the next generation of rugby players. It’s about helping to show these young female players what is possible. By giving these girls visibility, encouragement, and practical exposure to the world of professional rugby, Pick n Pay aims to plant the seeds for real, lasting change, not only in sport, but in the lives of young South Africans,” concludes Chamberlain.

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