Iqhawe Week

Iqhawe Week is South Africa’s premier rugby development tournament for u15 boys and girls and with the help of the Hollywood Foundation we are having 16 boy’s teams and 6 girl’s teams in 2023. The first Iqhawe Week was held in Cape Town in September 2013, as a joint venture between the Cell C SA Rugby Legends and the South African Rugby Union. The aim was to create a pathway for players from new, introductory, small, rural, lower-league and non-traditional rugby schools to participate in a tournament equal in stature to the National Craven Week and Grant Khomo Weeks. Players begin playing rugby in the SA Rugby Legends Vuka program move into the Legends Cup and the top players in each province then get selected to play in the Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe week. Numerous players from the Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe week have gone on to play provincial rugby and earn degrees while participating in the Varsity Cup. 20 players from the 2022 Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe week earned scholarships to more established rugby schools in 2023. Mawande Mdanda played in the 2019 Iqhawe week and played for the SA u20 side in 2023 and there have been many other success stories.

“The Cell C SA Rugby Legends are thrilled to have the Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe Week back for the 9th edition in 2023. It is SA’s premier u15 rugby tournament, giving the countries untapped talent an opportunity to shine. Once again, we are incorporating a girl’s tournament to run alongside the boy’s tournament. We are extremely grateful to the Hollywood Foundation, City of Johannesburg, Gauteng Government, SA Rugby, Jeppe High School and the Lions Rugby Union for all their support,” said Cell C SA Rugby Legends CEO, John Smit.

“The Hollywood Foundation is proud to be partnering with the SA Rugby Legends in sponsoring the Iqhawe Rugby Week. We are passionate about sports, but more importantly, passionate about grassroots development, and building a future for the sporting talent in this country. We know how vital it is for these previously disadvantaged youngsters to showcase their rugby talents on a stage like this. We congratulate all the boys and girls that have been selected for the week and wish them all the best on the field of play,” said Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager at Hollywoodbets.