South African rugby plays it forward on Mandela Day

Coach Neil Powell, captain Kyle Brown, management and players presented blankets to children at the Christine Revell home while players visited the Nyanga Rugby Stadium to take part in a TAG Rugby clinic and interactive reading session with children at the stadium.

Springbok Sevens captain Kyle Brown reading at the Christine Revell Children’s Home. Image courtesy of Gallo Images

SARU employees also donated groceries and basic necessities to the Children's Home.

"Mandela Day was made extra special for us this year," said Alicia Rhoda, Director of the Christine Revell Children's Home. "It's heart-warming for us to see that the players have taken time out of their busy schedules to spend it with the 49 children that are younger than five year's old who all come from backgrounds of abandonment and abuse. For the Springbok Sevens to come and show their appreciation on Mandela Day is very special to us."

Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok and Sandile Ngcobo also went to Nyanga Rugby Stadium. The trio was welcomed by more than 400 children from the local community who were overjoyed to see their heroes.

"The objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better. By getting involved in Athlone and Nyanga today, we are proud to make a difference and give back to our communities," said Afrika.

Nonala Tose, who co-organised the event, said: "Thank you to everyone who was involved in our annual VPA Mandela Day especially SARU, seeing the smiles on these little ones faces makes all the change in the world.

"As Madiba once said 'there is no keener relation of a society's soul than the way in which it treat its children'."