Springbok legends help to inspire Hong Kong youngsters

Three former Springboks teamed up with the Hong Kong charity Shen Shu Yi and the HKRFU’s Community Foundation last weekend to help widen the game's appeal among local secondary school students.

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Racing Métro prop Brian Mujati (left) on the charge during the Natixis Cup. Mujati and two fellow Springboks dropped by a special screening of “Invictus” where they answered Hong Kong school students’ questions about the game. Photos: HKRFU

Published: 9:21pm, 25 Nov 2014Updated: 9:22pm, 25 Nov 2014

Three former Springboks teamed up with Hong Kong charity Shen Shu Yi and the HKRFU’s Community Foundation last weekend to help widen the appeal of rugby among local secondary school students.

Brian Mujati, Juandré Kruger and François van der Merwe – who were all in town to compete for the Natixis Cup with their French Top 14 club Racing Métro 92 – joined a special screening of Invictus, the award-winning film about Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s 1995 World Cup-winning side.

The HKRFU and Shen Shu Yi have staged several screenings of the film and so far more than 370 youngsters from schools in Tin Shui Wai, Tseung Kwan O, Shatin and Yuen Long have been inspired by the matinee showings at the Olympic House Lecture Theatre.

Giant lock and Racing Métro captain François van der Merwe holds the Natixis Cup.

But last weekend was the first to have such big-name backing in the form of Zimbabwe-born prop Mujati, and giant locks Kruger and Van der Merwe.

The Invictus screenings are generously supported by the South African consulate, which is this year marking both the 20th anniversary of Mr Mandela’s election as president of the country and the “Year of South Africa in China” initiative.

Consul-general Phumelele Gwala was also in attendance to give a speech welcoming the students before the start of the film.