Lottery money ‘donated to fund South African rugby academy’ – December 14th 2011

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The South Africa Lotto has joined forced with the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and the Department of Sport and Recreation to launch a rugby academy that will increase the number of sporting opportunities available for young local players.

According to Sports Central, four centres are being set up and Saru hopes to induct 120 people into these schools across the southern, eastern and western Cape regions of the country.

Players will receive coaching from expert sportspeople, in addition to education in sports science, nutrition and supplementation and will play for their age group teams before graduating at the age of 21.

The project is planned to start with a an injection of R35 million in lottery finances from the South Africa Lotto – and lotto fans may want to get involved in this game at theLotter to be in with a chance of scooping the R4 million jackpot in the next draw.

Organisers are still sourcing additional funding for beyond the first year of development.

Minister for sports and recreation Fikile Mbalula said he hopes applications for more lottery money will be continual.

President of Saru Pregan Hoskins said: “The programme will also equip young players with the life skills to manage their careers. It is about levelling the playing field and giving talented young players the chance to compete with their peers on an equal footing.”