In South Africa all children below the age of 14, irrespective of their race, creed or colour, play rugby in bare feet. After that they are then expected to play in boots. With so many living below the poverty line it is easy to see why so many children drop out of the game.
Luctonians established the Boots for All Project in 2000. Since then members have made a number of trips to South Africa and have sent approximately 15,000 pairs of second hand boots and trainers that have been distributed by SARU, The South African Rugby Union, into the deprived and rural areas.
In 2001 members met with representatives of SARU at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington prior to the Springboks game against England in the 2001 pre-Christmas internationals. As a result of this meeting SARU announced to the world at their pre-match press conference that they were setting up a partnership with Luctonians for the Project.
In 2002 Hien Giliomee, SARU’s Clubs Manager visited Luctonians.
2003 saw Luctonians members visit South Africa at SARU’s invitation to see how the project was working in SA. This was a momentous trip crowned by a private meeting with the Archbishop, Desmond Tutu.
2006 The Ambassadors took place.
2007 as a direct result of the Ambassadors tour and the Boots for All Project, Representatives of Luctonians returned to Cape Town and supplied the Elsie's River Rugby Academy with tag rugby equipment and trained them as tag coaches to start delivering in the local primary schools.
2008 Simon Davies presenting about Tag Rugby in the Board Room at SARUs HQ, Newlands, Cape Town. The audience were senior representatives from SARU, TAG SA, Local Government Ministers, The South African Police and other Clubs. This leads directly to enhanced cooperation between all in developing a national tag rugby project.
Not bad for a small Club! Luctonians has an excellent reputation in South Africa and that is why we are supported at the highest level when we want to tour there.
