​The Africa Music Challenge team held its virtual zoom event over the weekend to reveal the Top 20 contestants for the Africa Theme Song Edition of the 2021 Africa Music Challenge. 
 
The competition, which ran from February 15th till 31st March 2021, had over 400 submissions from artists around the African continent.
 
Speaking at the unveiling, ASVG CEO Mr. Leslie Koroma Sr creator of the event said, "the competition is intended to provide opportunities for artists from all 55 African countries as they lock horns in head to head competition as they vie for supremacy”. He further highlighted that The Top 5 artists will be unveiled on the 8th of May. 
 
The five will then perform virtually during ASVG's second edition of The Africa Day Celebrations on May 25th after which the winner will be announced.
 
During the top 20 unveiling, Nigeria and Botswana both had six artists each making the cut followed by Zambia with 2, Sierra Leone, Eswatini, South Africa, Cameron, Namibia and South Sudan.

Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held an operational test event for rugby sevens on Thursday, with 95 days to go before the first match of the tournament on 26 July.

The event was held at Tokyo Stadium, which will host all six days of action during the Games and was the site of the opening match of the hugely successful Rugby World Cup 2019.

Organisers from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the Japanese Rugby Football Union tested a variety of operational measures around exhibition matches featuring players from Japan’s men’s and women’s national sevens teams, albeit with no fans in attendance.

Match-day operations were simulated as they will be during the Olympics, complete with match officials, ground staff, the teams being announced on the stadium speakers and music being played after every try.

Plan to guide long-term response to COVID-19 pandemic; It is underpinned by a focus on evolving the game, with advancing player welfare at heart; Strategy, which includes clear game-changing targets, is centred on enhancing competition portfolio, growing participation and increasing engagement, inclusion and diversity.

VIEW THE WORLD RUGBY STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-25 >>  https://bit.ly/3dHaWQo

World Rugby (www.World.Rugby) has launched ‘A Global Sport for All – True to its Values’, a new strategic plan for the advancement and growth of the sport through to 2025.

While recognising the challenges facing society and sport as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan sets out World Rugby’s long-term mission to support and enhance the game. It builds on strong foundations, with 9.6 million people playing the sport globally and the worldwide fan base increasing by two-thirds in rugby’s established markets and doubling in emerging markets over the past decade to more than 405 million.

The strategy aims to welcome existing and new participants beyond the pandemic to unite the rugby family and strengthen and grow the sport by striving to make it as safe, enjoyable, appealing and accessible as possible at all levels. It focuses on four key areas that are vital to the future prosperity of the sport - Competition, Participation, Engagement and The Game itself.  For each, World Rugby has set a series of game-changing targets that reflect its ambition and values.

The official confirmation of location and date for the Rugby Africa Cup Repechage (www.RugbyAfrique.com). The tournament will be hosted by the Burkina Faso Rugby Union in the capital Ouagadougou, from the 5th to the 13th of June.

Talking on the sidelines of organizing the tournament Rolande Boro, the President of the Burkina Faso Rugby Union, preparations are underway and now at an advanced stage, with growing fan excitement cheering on.

Andrew Owor, Vice President of Rugby Africa, and President of the Rugby Committee, applauds the readiness of the Burkina Faso Rugby Union in organizing such an important tournament, which officially marks the start of the African Qualifiers for the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France.

Inaugural Olympic Virtual Series to include International Federations and Game Publishers in Baseball, Cycling, Rowing, Sailing and Motor SportThe International Olympic Committee (IOC) will partner with five International Sports Federations (IFs) and game publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first-ever, Olympic-licensed event for physical and non-physical virtual sports.
Taking place ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the OVS will begin on 13 May, continuing through to 23 June 2021. The Olympic Virtual Series will mobilise virtual sport, esports and gaming enthusiasts all around the world in order to reach new Olympic audiences, while also encouraging the development of physical and non-physical forms of sports in line with the recommendations of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5. 
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports. Its conception is in line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOC’s Digital Strategy. It encourages sports participation and promotes the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth.”

World Athletics and organisers of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade22 have marked Earth Day 2021 by signing on to the United Nations Climate Change (UNCC) Sports for Climate Action Framework, an initiative supporting and guiding sports organisations to measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

The aim of the Framework is for international federations, leagues, clubs and event organisers to take collective action to limit global warming to a 1.5 C degrees rise, the levels agreed in Paris during the COP 21 Climate Change Conference in 2015.

The United Nations has recognised that the global carbon reductions required to meet the targets agreed to in Paris - to achieve a net zero emission economy by 2050 - cannot be met by governments alone. Meeting the scale of the immense challenge requires action from all sectors, including sport. With a global reach that includes a fan base in the billions and a unique power to inspire, sport is well positioned to help drive global climate action. With more than 1.4 billion people around the planet who run regularly, that’s particularly true for the sport of athletics.

Women’s Rugby action in Uganda resumed with a lot of vigor and excitement after a year of no play. The teams were subjected to COVID19 testing before the tournament officially kicked off. A total of 11 teams participated (7 in central and 4 in Eastern region) in the rugby 10s tournaments over the weekend. The regional 10s will continue in Central, Eastern, and Northern Uganda on a tier points system. 

Tier 1 teams comprise of experienced and seasoned players while Tier 2 is made up of new and upcoming players with limited experience and exposure.

Bugema RFC, Bumageni RFC, Mbale Eagles RFC and Nyondo RFC formed the Eastern block of participating teams while Avengers, Black Pearls and Thunderbirds (Tier 1); Black Diamonds, Blue Whales RFC, Ewes RFC and Lady Swans RFC (Tier 2) formed the central block of the regional women's tournaments respectively.

The national team management teams were in attendance to identify players for U20 and the senior national team so as to create a sustainable pathway for the women's game in Uganda. Due to the ongoing pandemic, no fans were allowed but there was a provision for people to watch the games at the comfort of their homes through a livestream.

Squad of 22 match officials from 12 countries selected for the Olympic Games in Tokyo; Inclusion of five international players who have swapped the playing shirt for the whistle, including New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup winner Selica Winiata; Eight female referees including two making their second appearances at the Olympic Games; Rugby sevens competition takes place from 26-31 July, 2021 at Tokyo Stadium; Saturday, 17 April marks 100 days to go to rugby sevens kick off, as team preparations continue to be supported by US$4 million World Rugby (www.WorldRugby.org) investment.

The squad of 22 match officials that will take charge of the women’s and men’s rugby sevens competitions at the delayed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has today been announced by World Rugby to mark the 100 days to go milestone until the action kicks off in Tokyo Stadium on 26 July, 2021.

The match officials' squad contains representatives from 12 countries spread across four continents and includes eight female referees. The group includes a blend of highly experience referees and exciting young talent making their debuts on the Olympic stage.

Both Sara Cox and Amy Perrett were involved in the Olympic Games Rio 2016, with Perrett having refereed the first ever Olympic rugby sevens match and also the women’s bronze medal match. In a clear demonstration of progress, six of the selected match officials gained invaluable experience at the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires, including Portugal’s Paulo Duarte who took charge of the men’s final.

The individuals were selected by the World Rugby’s Match Official Selection Committee following a comprehensive review of performances and fitness. All selected referees have proven themselves on the annual HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and many also featured at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in San Francisco and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The group also includes five internationals who have swapped the playing shirt for the whistle. Selica Winiata is a current Black Ferns player who has been capped 40 times and is aiming to compete at the Rugby World Cup on home soil next year. She was a Rugby World Cup winner in 2017, scoring two tries in the final at her second Rugby World Cup. She is also a former Black Ferns Sevens player, becoming Rugby World Cup Sevens champion in 2013, and runner-up in 2009. She has since refereed at four events on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and impressed when refereeing at the Oceania Rugby Women's Sevens Championship in November 2019.
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The Senegal 15-a-side women’s national team has resumed training, which has created a lot of excitement and enthusiasm among the players.

Rugby Africa spoke to the team captain, Mariama Diallo, to find out what this means to her and her team-mates as they gear up to play matches in the coming months.

1. How excited are you that the national team is back at training after such a long time away from the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

It is a real pleasure for me to resume training for the national team. It is a great pleasure to be back with my team-mates on the field, especially since it is in preparation for the national women’s fifteen-a-side team that is a first in Senegal. We want to be ready to participate in the Rugby Africa Internationals, so we are excited to have this opportunity to improve our conditioning and rugby skills.
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Already in 2021, online module completions by the worldwide community of players, coaches, match officials, medics and members of the public has topped 200,000, driven by a strong increase in concussion and medical course completions, reflecting World Rugby’s (www.WorldRugby.org) mission to educate everyone in the game.

The total number of completions of the international federation’s online modules now stands at 1.6 million. When combined with the total face-to-face courses, over 1.8 million completions have been achieved, while millions more have engaged with national union delivered education, expanding the global network of people who have been upskilled in basic first aid, rugby-specific care and concussion identification and management.

1,651291 online modules have been completed, including 123,555 completions of dedicated COVID-19 return-to-play education as community rugby prepares to return around the world.

With rugby united in its commitment to best-practice concussion education, prevention and management, completions of all concussion modules to date have reached 143,091. Further to this, there have been 52,825 completions of First Aid and Immediate Care in Rugby online modules and more than 50,000 downloads of World Rugby’s concussion education app.

Rugby Union returned to the National Sports Festival (NSF) 2020 after a ten-year absence having missed out the last three editions held in Lagos, Rivers and Abuja.

The NSF is a biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission for athletes from the 36 States of Nigeria.

Rugby last featured as a medal winning event in Kaduna 2009 having debuted at the 2006 Gateway games in Ogun State. Prior to that, Rugby went through a mandatory demonstration in three consequent events.

Ghana's current 100m National Record holder, Benjamin Azamati, has been voted the African Sports Monthly Athlete of the Month for March.
 
He was nominated alongside three other athletes for the award.
 
The only female nominee, Asisat Oshoala, the Nigerian international footballer, was nominated for her performance at Barcelona where she scored the team's 100th Champions League goal against Manchester City on March 24 to send them to the semis.
 

The Presidential announcement on Friday 26 March suspending sporting activities in the country has dealt a big blow to rugby and by extension the greater sports fraternity.

While this directive was part of a series of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 which continues to cause havoc locally and internationally, it has left us in an awkward situation.

The suspension came at a time when Kenyan rugby was picking up after a year of inactivity occasioned by the initial lockdown and ensuing factors critical to getting the Government green light to return to play. This period of inactivity came at a cost. We lost revenues due to event cancellations, most notably the Rugby Africa Barthes U20 Trophy, the National Sevens Circuit and the Safari Sevens.

While the Government was gracious enough to offer a stimulus package for our national team players, there were those players outside the national team’s realm who were disenfranchised by the disruption of sporting activities countrywide.

Globally, sport has reached a stage of development that no other human activity can boast of. Its impact on societies and unifying power gives it the responsibility of putting itself at the service of peace.

To start off, what does international day of sports for development and peace mean to you?
At the request of the Moroccan NOC, this day was created in 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly. It reflects the importance of sports, which is present in every household with its economic, political, social and above all educational functions.

What is Rugby Ready training? Please feel free to use any images and statistics as well.
The Rugby Ready program is a support and educational training tool, with its objective being to promote enjoyable and fun playing rugby while minimizing the risk of injury.

Player health is the priority at all levels of the game.

Rugby Ready is also a perfect complement to the programs set up by some World Rugby member unions, with Rugby Africa having very satisfactory numbers of participants - second World Rugby region.

The Elegushi Beach in Nigeria's commercial city, Lagos was on Saturday set agog when Member of world football governing body, FIFA’s Council, Executive Committee Member of CAF and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick officially kicked off the new Nigeria Beach Soccer League.

The League, which is the baby project of the Amaju Pinnick-led Board is also supported by Beach Soccer Worldwide, and Africa Beach Soccer Union.
 
Speaking on the sidelines after the inauguration, Mr Pinnick, who was in company with NFF 1st Vice President, Barr Seyi Akinwunmi, Nigeria Beach Soccer League Coordinator, Mahmoud Hadejia and other officials, said he was excited to be part of the historical moment, and that he was at the event despite his busy schedule, to reiterate the NFF's endorsement, whilst also pledging his total support for the newly formed Nigeria Beach Soccer Association.
 

Commonwealth wrestling champions Blessing Oborududu (68kg) and Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), as well as youngster Adijat Idris (50kg), all secured qualification to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after impressive displays at the ongoing Africa/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Hammamet, Tunisia.

Ten-time African champion Oborududu made light work of Enas Ahmed of Egypt and Senegal’s Anta Sambou, winning 13-2 and 10-0 via technical superiority respectively, before sealing a place at her third Olympics with a 4-0 pinfall victory against Tunisian Khadija Jlassi.

On her way to booking a place in Tokyo, Adeniyi, a 4-time African champion, recorded a 7-0 win against Amel Hammiche of Algeria, demolished Zineb Hassoune of Morocco 10-0 via technical superiority and overpowered Cameroon’s Berthe Ngolle 3-0.

Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) has strengthened their ongoing support for gender equality by paving the way in women’s sport with the launch of the Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee (WRAC) and sub-committees.
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As part of Rugby Africa’s broader strategy, the role of WRAC and its sub committees is to define key performance indicators that demonstrate progress of the development of women in rugby across Africa to promote gender inclusion practices that foster growth and development within the sport.

The committee will provide a platform for females in all spheres of in rugby to be recognised for the crucial value their contribution and participation provides towards shaping the future of the global game.

The four sub-committees will focus on key areas of advancing governance and leadership, competitions, player welfare, development, and retention to meet strategic goals for women’s rugby across Africa by implementing the following objectives with the following chairpersons in charge:

• Chairperson: Zeena Isaacs-Van Tonder who is the Media Manager at South African Rugby Union - Communication, Marketing and Public Relations: to drive the overall communications plan for Rugby Africa to communicate effectively to stakeholders and raise the profile of women’s rugby.
• Chairperson: Regina Hellen Lunyolo who is the Director of Women’s Rugby at Uganda Rugby Union - Leadership, Training & Conferences:  to review and track member unions’ Women in Leadership and develop strategies that support their identity, engagement and empowerment through conferences, awards, panel discussions and interviews.
• Chairperson: Anna Preira who is a board member of the Fédération Sénégalaise de Rugby medical committee - on the Player Welfare & Participation: to serve as RA Women’s Rugby grassroots ambassadors fostering participation and support towards local RA activities and initiatives, while leveraging their social media engagement to publicize women’s rugby gains and achievements.
• Chairperson: Aaron Jani who is the President at Zimbabwe Rugby Union - Finance, Development & Competitions: to review available funding from World Rugby, Rugby Africa, and Unions to assess the impact and propose enhanced funding strategies where applicable.

Raising the flag of rugby high in Namibia and across the African continent, Rugby Africa’s Unstoppable Christel Janet (CJ) Kotze is certainly a force to be reckoned with. Handpicked as one of 12 leading women in rugby on the African continent as part of Rugby Africa’s #Unstoppables, the Absolute Rugby producer and coach is certainly a beacon of inspiration to women in the game.

Twenty-seven-year-old Kotze was born with the game in her blood, having watched former Namibia international wing and her dad Jaco Kotze during his training sessions. Joining the sport back in 2013, she formed part of a historic moment for Namibian ladies in 2014, when she made the cut for the country’s first ever national women’s rugby team. With lots of learnings coming off the team’s first play in the 2014 Africa Women’s Sevens in Kenya, Kotze grabbed 2015 with gust as she led her team and tasted a win in the Africa Women’s Sevens tournament held in South Africa.

‘The 2015 tournament in South Africa had a different energy around it. The squad felt stronger, the belief in the team was bigger. Something was telling us that this tournament was going to be better than the previous year. It was in game two of day one where everything just came together. I was in the right place at the right time. I got the ball on the right wing and just did what was expected of me. I found the gap and I ran as if my life depended on it, scoring the try under the post. Just moments later I managed to convert the try. It was only after the game that I realised what had happened and how big it was!’