The journey to keep rugby in the limelight in Ghana was one task that many thought was impossible but for one man who believed in the revision of the broken foundation and to give the sport a new facelift which has seen its steady growth and recognition today.

This week I attended Executive Board meetings and strategy sessions of World Rugby in Hong Kong. Been to Doha and London, and now I am in the historic town of Saidia in Morocco

As Africa prepares to host its first-ever Olympic event, the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, the seminar will focus on the development of Rugby through the school, university, and Olympic pathways.

Today, Rugby Africa in collaboration with World Rugby (https://www.world.rugby), the Oriental Development Agency (https://www.oriental.ma) and the Federation Royale Marocaine de Rugby (http://www.frmr.ma/index.html), hosts the 2025 International Seminar on African Rugby Development on April 4 and 5, 2025 in Saidia, Morocco. Under the theme “The Development of Rugby through the School, University, and Olympic Pathways” the seminar brings together delegates from over 23 nations across Africa.

As Africa prepares to host its first-ever Olympic event—the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2026 in Dakar, Senegal—the theme “The Development of Rugby through the School, University, and Olympic Pathways” takes on even greater significance. The seminar plays a key role in strengthening talent pipelines, fostering growth at all levels and expanding the continent’s rugby footprint worldwide.

The two-day event will feature plenary lectures, workshops and federation presentations alongside key discussions on School and University Rugby, Olympic Rugby, Safeguarding and Sustainable Development. The participating rugby unions in attendance include Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Togo, Zambia, Morocco, Kenya, Tunisia, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and South Africa.

As rugby continues to gain momentum following its return to the Olympic program at Paris 2024, highlighted by the participation of Kenya and South Africa, African nations are fostering a stronger sporting culture that values rugby from the grassroots level and beyond.

This growing emphasis on rugby development comes at a crucial time, as the continent prepares for several major international events that will further reinforce African rugby’s influence on the global stage, including:

African School Games – Algiers, Algeria (August 2025)
African Youth Games – Luanda, Angola (December 2025)
Youth Olympic Games – Dakar, Senegal (October 31 – November 14, 2026)
World University Rugby Sevens Championship – Stellenbosch, South Africa (2026)
African Beach Games – Equatorial Guinea (2027)

“We know that no one is coming to save Africa, Africa must save itself. We need to recognise that we have heroes among us, people who achieve greatness. But it all begins with the children and rises from there. Across Africa, we’ve seen significant development, but we must remember that the future belongs to the next generation.

Children are the investment in our future. Not every child is the same—some are big, some are small, but rugby welcomes all. If we bring rugby into the school curriculum, we’re giving children the opportunity to try something new, something that can change their lives. The 23 nations who have gathered in the seminar in Morocco is not an abstract concept, The objective is to show growth. How can we get Africa to be better?” stated President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah.

Source: Herbert Mensah/ World Rugby