Rachel Kolisi has sparked an important conversation about inclusion and transformation in South African school sport after calling for more rugby matches to be played in townships.
The former wife of Springboks captain Siya Kolisi recently took to social media after accompanying her son, Nicholas, to a rugby match in Langa, Cape Town.
Sharing footage from the game on TikTok, Kolisi praised the experience and encouraged schools across the country to embrace similar initiatives.
“My son’s team played against a team from Langa yesterday, in Langa, and I’m here for it. SA schools normalise playing matches in townships,” she wrote.
Kolisi highlighted the role sport can play in bringing young people from different backgrounds together.
She noted that exposing children to communities outside of their own can help break down barriers and foster understanding.
Her comments resonated with many South Africans. One social media user praised the initiative, arguing that some private schools in the Western Cape often operate in isolation from surrounding communities.
The user suggested that increased interaction between schools from different socio-economic backgrounds could help young people better understand the realities faced by others and recognise their own privilege.
@rachelkolisi
My son played a rugby match in Langa yesterday, against a team from the community, and I’m here for it. Watching kids play sport is always special. Watching them do it in spaces that may be different from their own feels even more important. We should be doing more of this, because sport has the power to break down barriers. I’m curious, how often do your schools or sports clubs play in communities different from their own? What impact do you think it has on the children involved?
♬ sonido original – 𝓲𝓼𝓶𝓪𝓪_𝓵𝔂𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓼
Rugby has a complex history in South Africa. The sport is often associated with white Afrikaner culture; however, rugby was embraced by black and coloured communities shortly after it arrived in the country during the 19th century.
Apartheid-era policies enforced racial segregation within the sport, with black players denied equal opportunities and facilities.
International sporting boycotts eventually isolated South African rugby until the early 1990s.
Since democracy, rugby has undergone a significant transformation. The unification of racially divided governing bodies, the implementation of transformation targets and the rise of players from diverse backgrounds have reshaped the game.
A landmark moment came in 2018 when Siya Kolisi became the first black captain of the Springboks.
Under his leadership, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and 2023, symbolising the progress made within the sport.
The “Falling Forward” author’s call serves as a reminder that sport remains a powerful tool for social change, inclusion and nation-building.
