Lesotho Rugby President Optimistic About New Regional Rugby Body

The president of the Federation of Lesotho Rugby, Fetang Selialia, is optimistic about the potential of the newly endorsed Council of Southern Africa Rugby Unions to develop rugby in the region. COSARU was established in 2023 and recently received official endorsement from Rugby Africa and World Rugby. Selialia has been appointed secretary-general of the organisation, serving under chairperson Petrie Theron of Namibia Rugby.

COSARU's mandate is to establish a framework for rugby development in Southern Africa and create opportunities for African players to compete in regional and continental multi-sport competitions. The organisation plans to focus on youth and women's rugby, with Selialia stating that they want to promote the sport in the region and create new opportunities for young athletes.

As part of its efforts to expand competitive opportunities for young players, COSARU has applied to be part of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games. Although Lesotho will miss this year's edition in Mozambique, Selialia said rugby will be included in the next edition. This move is expected to provide a platform for young players to gain experience and exposure.

The regional body aims to bridge the development gap between member countries by encouraging cooperation and the exchange of expertise and programmes. Selialia noted that having top rugby-playing countries like South Africa in the organisation will be vital for countries like Lesotho, as they will be able to learn from them and exchange programmes.

COSARU's mandate extends beyond youth development to include resource mobilisation and capacity-building programmes for coaches, referees, match officials, and administrators. The organisation will also explore opportunities for technical cooperation, resources, and investment. Selialia emphasised that Africa has considerable rugby talent, but the continent faces challenges in translating that potential into international success.

According to Selialia, the formation of COSARU is an attempt to address the challenges facing African rugby. He noted that Lesotho's performance at international level shows that there is room for improvement. The organisation's initiatives aim to address these challenges and take African rugby to the world.

The COSARU interim executive officers include Petrie Theron as chairperson, Farid Pandor as vice-chairperson, Fetang Selialia as secretary-general, and Mark Alexander as treasurer. The organisation also has representatives from various countries, including a women's representative from Zambia and non-voting members from Rugby Africa.

Key points

• COSARU aims to establish a framework for rugby development in Southern Africa and create opportunities for African players.
• The organisation plans to focus on youth and women's rugby.
• COSARU has applied to be part of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games.