Township Rugby Youth Festival to Celebrate Sport, Culture and Community in Johannesburg
The Township Rugby Youth (TRY) Programme will host its annual TRY Festival on Saturday, 31 January 2026, at Bill Jardine Stadium in Industria (Newclare), Johannesburg, bringing together rugby, culture, and community in a day-long celebration of youth development.
The festival will feature 12 township rugby clubs, each fielding male and female teams with players aged 18 to 32, competing in knockout rounds for pride, recognition, and opportunity. Participating clubs include Eden Park, Orange Farm Fire Ants, African Badgers, Ennerdale, Inner City, Ditau Diarora, Kagiso Sting, Raiders, Alexandra Wolves, Cerulean Challengers, Soweto Eagles, and Eldoronians.
Founded in 2023, the TRY Programme aims to remove barriers to rugby for township youth by creating structured pathways from local communities into schools, universities, professional clubs, and broader sporting opportunities. While the TRY Tournament focuses on youth development across a 10-week season, the TRY Festival provides a platform for senior players to showcase their talent in front of scouts, administrators, and the public.
“The TRY Festival is about more than rugby,” said TRY spokesperson Hanyani Baloyi. “It’s about access, visibility, and creating real pathways for young people from township communities into sport, education, and leadership. This event is transformation in action.”
The festival will begin at 08:00 with matches running until 13:30, followed by a prize-giving ceremony. The afternoon programme will feature a live screening of the Gauteng Lions vs Blue Bulls match, entertainment from award-winning Amapiano duo MFR Souls, guest MC Jerome “Slim” Du Plooy, and activities for children and families. The event concludes at 17:30.
