The last four months have been a whirlwind of deliveries, collections and drop offs for ‘Scrum5ive Rugby Recycled’ as the launch project of the Peter de Villiers Foundation has taken flight.
In a groundbreaking partnership between The Foundation, Gareth Simpson of Rugby Recycled and the UK High Commission in South Africa, previously loved and brand new rugby kit from the UK has been donated to schools, clubs and even a prison as rugby is being utilised as a tool to bring communities together.
To date, two schools have seen new, professional rugby kit delivered to them as well as Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela was released, who have started a rugby program that new boots, shorts and balls were donated to.
One of the biggest kit donations was given to Cartersville Barbarians, a community team from Wellington in the Western Cape. Team manager Duran and Coach Danie have been giving up their Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings to coach the team which consists of players that live in difficult circumstances either at home or due to past challenges in their own personal lives.
On the 14th October they were due to play in their first ever Seven’s tournament but they would have been the only team there without a matching playing kit. With the kind donations from Newcastle Falcons and Glasgow Warriors, it was possible to kit them out head to toe in professional rugby kit.
Andy Daniel, owner of Scrum5ive, addressed the players when handing over the kit with the message that they should feel worthy of the kit they are wearing and to feel part of something special as the brotherhood that rugby brings can be felt every time they put on their matching shirts.
If you would like more information on how you can donate or sponsor a kit delivery for the project then please e-mail us: andrew@scrum5rugby.com