TAG On Tour with HSBC and  the British and Irish Lions 2009

Introduction

This journey started in later 2007 when TAG heard that HSBC announced that they would be the principal partner of the British and Irish Lions on the Tour of South Africa in 2009. We responded quickly and called HSBC head office in the United Kingdom. They requested a proposal which we duly sent through. After a few weeks we were informed that HSBC had declined the offer.

A few months later after seeing what TAG Rugby™ received a call from Matthew Pearce who had seen some footage on Supersport (a pay television channel in South Africa). He informed us that he had been appointed as the HSBC “man on the ground” in South Africa and that he had seen the footage on Supersport and would I be interested in putting a proposal together for a Grassroots Rugby Festival Programme. We were ecstatic as this is what we do and jumped at the chance. This was done and Matthew called me to say that our proposal had been accepted in principal but that I had to meet and present the proposal to Sally Thompson, who handles all HSBC’s programmes. It was a daunting task and the meeting was set at the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town.  After the meeting the most exciting thing to happen to TAG Rugby™ in our 15 years of existence in South Africa.

We had to really hit the road running and plans were set in place to begin the coaching sessions with the schools in March 2009. One of the criteria set out by HSBC was that the programme must have the approval of the Government and the SA Rugby Union. Over and above this HSBC wanted to make sure that the Rugby Unions, Education Departments had also given the necessary approval for the HSBC Rugby Festival Programme. With all of this in place TAG hit the road and had road shows at the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and the Golden Lions Rugby Union with the 20 selected Schools. The schools were drawn from the following areas.

Mamelodi (Pretoria, 6 schools)
Soweto   (Johannesburg, 9 schools)
Alexandra (Johannesburg 5 schools)

The whole programme began with a HSBC staff TAG Rugby™ Family Day. This day was a key event because it was seen as the launching point to get the “buy-in” of the HSBC staff. “Buy-in “ was not needed at all, 250 staff members and their families turned up. TAG Rugby™  was enjoyed by all.  This is the first time the TAG staff realized that HSBC has a very special culture within their company. They are not the world’s largest bank for nothing. We believe it all starts with the CEO of any business and Mr Krishna Patel is a very special individual. He does not delegate social responsibility projects to others to fulfill. He rolls up his sleeves and gets involved. He visited or NPO partner Learn to Earn to see where the TAG Rugby™ equipment was manufactured and what Learn to Earn does for the Khayelitsha Community. He has bought into our “balance through active living” slogan and ensured that he and his staff have visited schools where we have been running the HSBC Rugby Festival. This does not only happen for our Project but every Project HSBC is involved in. Something many company’s the world over can learn from.

Coaching in the lead up to the Lions Tour

The coaching started with Holiday clinics being done in Alexandra and Mamelodi. These clinics were very well attended and every single child that came to these clinics had never played rugby before let alone TAG Rugby™.  The enthusiasm from the children and young kids was unbelievable. We never had less than 50 children at any one of our session. This in the school holidays……

As the Lions arrival drew closer the excitement in the TAG offices and schools increased. The Lions touched down in South Africa on the 24th May and we all knew that all the hard work of the last three months was now going to be witnessed firsthand by the Rugby World.

Wednesday 27th May 2009 Masimambane Field Opening

The day had dawned and on my arrival in Johannesburg, I had a little knot in my stomach, similar to the one that a Grade 1 experiences on their first day of school.
On arriving at Masimambane Primary School in Orange Farm (+/- 38 km South of Johannesburg) I sensed the excitement and expectation in the air. The field looked fantastic and the children all of whom had never seen a TAG Rugby™ belt before where eagerly awaiting the events to get under way.

After the blessing of the field and a prayer of thanks by the local Church minister proceedings got going.

The behavior of these young children was impeccable as they waited in neat lines for the HSBC staff to hand them their lunch bags for the day. They then proceeded to the side of the field and sat in neat squares as they ate their lunch. After lunch the 80 lucky children selected to play TAG Rugby™ were each given a HSBC Rugby Festival T-shirt. They gathered around, were broken into 4 groups and allocated a TAG Rugby™ coach and 2 HSBC staff members. They had a quick introduction to TAG Rugby™ with a fun explanation on how the game is played. With the

We had been allocated 45 minutes for TAG Rugby™ and in the end played nearly 2 ½ hours of TAG Rugby™. The highlight for the TAG coaches and the children was whilst they were playing TAG, the British and Irish Lions players Gethin Jenkins and Ugo Monye  decided to play TAG with the children. The pace on the game was frenetic and the children loved the fact that they could “tag” these super stars without the fear of getting hurt.

Before we knew what had hit us the afternoon was over. The Lions players and management got into their helicopter and took off into the sunset to loud cheers and screaming from the 800 children that had had a wonderful yet exhausting day.

One of the highlights of the day for the TAG coaches was when a young girl aged about 8 came up to one of the coaches and said. “Please will you come back soon because I really had a great time playing TAG Rugby™ today. “

Saturday 30th May 2009 SOS Children’s Village Rustenburg

21 HSBC staff and I assembled at the HSBC Africa Head office in Sandton at 08h30 ready for an action packed day. We were going to spend the day with the SOS Children’s Village in Rustenburg one of the 400 that HSBC is involved in globally. We had planned that we would spend 2 hours teaching the children how to play TAG Rugby™. We all jumped on the bus and 1 ½ hours later arrived at the SOS Village in Rustenburg.

As we were pulling up to the house we realized to our surprise that there was not a decent field or open area within 2 kilometers of the house. Just as well TAG Rugby™ can be played on any surface. So we got off the bus and ended up playing TAG in the road in front of the house for 2 hours much to the delight of the neighbours and children. The children and HSBC staff really enjoyed this.

One of the highlights for me was Giles Morgan captaining the HSBC International Team that took on the HSBC Africa team at a game of TAG Rugby™. If the competitiveness shown on the TAG field was anything to go by then the British and Irish Lions Tour is going to be a cracker. The final result was a very fair 4 all draw.  The day ended with us taking the 80 children to the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace to watch the opening game of the Lions Tours. The children really had a wonderful time and were over the moon when the Lions ended the game beating the Royal XV in a closely contested match.

Each child was given a dinner pack and we all set off on the bus listening to the commentary of the Super 14 Final. The result was a gratifying one with my team the Blue Bulls winning comfortably.

The HSBC Staff once again were fantastic and all had a wonderful day.

Tuesday 2 June 2009 St John’s College Festival for 20 Gauteng primary schools

The day began in earnest at 05h30 when Khakhi and I started setting up the fields for the day. As the sun rose of the beautiful oak trees at St John’s College we knew that we were going to have a wonderful day. The one and only thing we had no control over for the festival was the transport. We were worried that the busses would not arrive to collect the children at their various schools let alone get them to the venues on time. All the buses managed to collect the children and they were safely delivered to the venue.  Each of the 400 participants received a goodie bag and t-shirt on arrival. After the opening speeches and a prayer of blessing for the day the activities got under way. The day was arranged on a festival basis and each child played at least an hour of TAG Rugby™. There were 8 fields and the HSBC Ambassador the legendary Jason Robinson had a field to run a coaching session for the children.  Jason not only shared his Rugby knowledge but also told the children about his life and shared his beliefs with the children. A huge surprise for the children was the arrival of South Africa most popular Sportsman Bryan Habana to the event.

The children, teachers and HSBC staff went mad and could not contain themselves.
It was amazing to see how these young children who 3 short months ago did not know what Rugby were now participating in a Festival. Jason Robinson was amazed when told that these children had never played Rugby before the HSBC Rugby Festival Programme had begun. “I can’t believe the skills that these children have not having played rugby or TAG Rugby™ before this sponsorship from HSBC. South Africa is really blessed with a huge pool of talent and what a wonderful way to unlock it”, he said. Bryan Habana too was very encouraged by the enthusiasm of the children.

In quite an emotional moment Bryan Habana thanked Jason Robinson for being someone who Bryan had modeled himself and his behavior on when starting out his Rugby career.

Before leaving the Festival the children were treated to lunch cooked by the HSBC Staff, all 60 of whom had volunteered to assist with the delivery of this event. In an action packed day the last memory HSBC left with the children was a “team photo” with the 400 children, 60 teachers, 60 HSBC, 20 officials and their two rugby heroes Bryan Habana and Jason Robinson.

As a farewell gift to the children they each received a 2 litre Coke and some reading matter in the form of a SA Rugby Magazine.

JASON ROBINSON HAS A SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR CHILDREN IN JOHANNESBURG

Two time British & Irish Lion Jason Robinson made a special delivery to children from a township in Johannesburg today, as part of his role as an HSBC ambassador. HSBC is Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions Tour currently underway in South Africa.

Jason has been involved in HSBC's kit delivery scheme which has involved 40 schools across the UK & Ireland who have collected quality unwanted and unused rugby kit to be donated to schools across South Africa.   HSBC has worked with the charity SOS IRB Kit Aid to co-ordinate the scheme.

Today Jason visited Ikage Primary School school in the Alexandra township in Johannesburg where he played TAG Rugby with the children before handing out the kit.  Speaking after the event Jason said, "Today has been really good. The children were so delighted with their rugby jerseys and boots and wanted to play rugby straight away. There weren't any facilities so we just played a game of TAG Rugby in a courtyard." 

The school was one of 20 that has been part of the HSBC Rugby Festivals in South Africa - an extension of the world's biggest schools rugby programme that HSBC launched back in the UK last year.  Jason continued, "It was good to see some of the children who were involved in last week's festival and to see how much enthusiasm there is for rugby amongst the township children.

"Having been involved in the HSBC programme since the beginning it is really rewarding to actually be out here and helping to deliver the kit into the hands of the children. The delight on their faces is something I will never forget."

Mavis Mapeyi, Deputy Headteacher of the school, gave her thanks to Jason for delivering the kit to the children, "The kids enjoy the TAG so much – and it’s not just the children – the teachers also benefit. Learning TAG has been very important for us – it teaches the children about teamwork and sportsmanship and they definitely concentrate better in class afterwards!  

"We are so excited to receive the kit today. It will make a big difference to these children and it is so special to have Jason Robinson here handing it all out to them." 

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship for HSBC Holdings explained more about HSBC's scheme, "The kit collection element of HSBC's legacy programme for the Lions Tour has proved very successful with hundreds of boxes of unused rugby kit being donated by children in the UK & Ireland. It is so well received by the children over here who don't have the resources that children back in the UK have.  There is so much demand for kit that we are calling on any fans who are travelling to South Africa to support the Lions to bring any spare jerseys or socks or even t-shirts with them which we will then deliver to even more schools across the country."

Today's delivery was one of several being made by HSBC with SOS IRB Kit Aid in South Africa.

Monday 15th June 2009 Port Elizabeth

We were greeted with a clear, crisp winter’s morning when we arrived at the “old” headquarters of the Mighty Elephants or Eastern Province Rugby Union. The HSBC Rugby Festival would in all likelihood be the last Festival to be held in the very old stadium. This stadium actually hosted a 1995 World cup fixture. Not to dwell in the past but a few kilometers north of our venue for the day was the new home for the Mighty Elephants, the state of the art FIFA World cup stadium.

As it was an official day off for all the children they were extremely punctual and the Festival got under on time. Giles Morgan, Head of Sponsorship opened the Festival and Jason Leonard gave a short speech thanking the children for coming down and hoped they would enjoy there day with us. The HSBC Penguins were on hand to run four contact rugby stations and we had the fifth station to introduce the 120 children to TAG Rugby™.

Refreshments were again supplied by Coke and the mobile disco played the Nation anthem and theme music to the 1995 World Cup. Who knows we may yet have a Springbok Captain from this Festival.

After a short lunch break the children played a TAG Rugby™ Festival with their coaches refereeing the games. What was lovely to see was how the running lines, and support play improved as the games were being played.

The children did not want to go home and the long day came to an end at 15h30 with some very exhausted children and coaches. Matthew Pearce said the final thank you and the road show packed up ready for the 900 kilometer journey through the Transkei to the sub tropical city of Durban. All are really looking forward to this festival as the Jason Leonard is being joined by Gareth Davies and Gavin Hastings, fellow HSBC Ambassadors. This festival is that last of the “official” HSBC Rugby Festival Programme and is the curtain raiser to the all important First Test between the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions on Saturday 20th June.

17th June 2009, Kings Park Durban

The weather forecast predicated rain for the entire day. As the day dawned and the curtains to the hotel room where drawn back the TAG Rugby™ and HSBC teams saw that the rain had indeed stayed away. We arrived at the ground as usual at 07h30 to set up. The two teams now have the set-up down to an art and within 20 minutes we were ready to begin the Festival. It has truly been a wonderful experience for all at TAG Rugby™ to work with such a professional team of individuals from Fasttrack Agency and HSBC.

The assistance that we received from Quentin Reynolds, from the Sharks Rugby Union was superb.  He organized the 120 children to get off school and get to the home of Sharks Rugby on time. We had Sharks Development officers on hand to assist with translations. A part of their community work we also had members of the Sharks Rugby Academy assisting us with refereeing.

Little did these children know that they were in store for a wonderful day, a day that not many children anywhere would have privilege of experiencing.

We kicked off at 11h00. The Lions Legends, Gavin Hastings, Jason Robinson and Gareth Edwards were introduced to the children. The children then treated the VIP guests to a traditional South African song. So impressed were Gareth Edwards and Jason Robinson that they entered the circle of singing children and did some traditional Zulu dancing.

With a huge smile on his face Gareth Edwards said, “For a moment there I felt like my great great grandfather facing the Zulu warriors at Rourke’s Drift.”

“Our focus today is to make sure that you will be able to take the TAG Rugby™ skills you learn today and assist your teachers in teaching your fellow learners about how to play TAG Rugby™. TAG Rugby™ is ideal as you do not need a rugby field to play the game. It is important to remember that the game can be played by both girls and boys” 

The children did some introductory TAG Rugby™ drills and then the games got underway.  Each team was also treated to one on one coaching from Jason Leonard and Gavin Hastings. “It was a delight to see the HUGE smiles on the young players faces when they caught the up and unders I kicked to them” said an excited Gavin Hastings.
 
One could not have thought that the day could get any better but it did. With five television crews, all the foreign print media on the British and Irish Lions Tour present the manager of the 2009 British and Irish Lions Gerald Davies arrived. He immediately rolled up his sleeves and started coaching with the three Lions Legends.  After a brief break for the presentation of the SOS Kit Aid to the Schools in front of the giant HSBC Rugby shirts (18 metres high) the children played the last of the Festival Games.

As has become a tradition with all the HSBC Rugby Festivals in South Africa the children were presented with a goodie bag, lunch bag and colddrink. They got on their buses and headed home having experienced a once in a lifetime event. A day that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Giles Morgan, Head of sponsorship for HSBC, had this to say about the HSBC Rugby Festival Day at Kingspark, “This has been a truly wonderful day for us, the HSBC ambassadors but most importantly for all the children. A huge success.” 

19th June 2009, East London

The beauty about working on the HSBC Rugby Festival Programme is that we have seen many sunrises in our beautiful country over the last 4 months. Today was no exception. Today TAG Rugby™ was joined by four HSBC Penguins, namely, Richard Hicks, Sailosi Nawavu (Fijian 7’s Rugby Legend),Tony Robinson and Ben Fisher. We boarded the plane at 06h00 and were on our way to East London to run the last of the HSBC Rugby Festivals.

We arrived in East London, to find once again we had good weather for the day. To say that the Penguin coaches and I would be blown away by what we were about to be told would have been a huge understatement. On being introduced to Mr. T Mpama, a teacher at Upper Mbulukwenza Junior School, we heard a story that truly touched the hearts of the Penquin coaches. Mr. Mpama woke up at 02h00 this morning to drive to collect his learners at 03h00 so that they could leave there area in order to get to the Festival on time. They had to drive 100 km, on a sand road, then a further 200 km to get to East London, without having had breakfast. The Penquins immediately jumped into action and got breakfast going. “all good rugby players can’t play on an empty stomach “ they said. Every child had a jam sandwich before the Festival kicked off.

Not only had these children got up in the early hours of the morning but this was the very first time they were going to play any form of sport on a field covered in grass. “Teacher we are going to be very good at rugby today because we can play on a field with grass.”  

Just before the clinic started an official looking gentleman came walking over to where the children were assembled with a huge smile on his face. Mr. Fololo, from the Eastern Cape Department of Sport and Recreation, had heard about what was happening.

 “I have come to see history being made. These children have been given a fantastic opportunity to learn today. Not only about sport but about different cultures, history is being made today, this is wonderful, this is wonderful,” he said.

Although many of the children did not understand the various English accents, mine included they were like sponges absorbing all the hints and tips given by the coaches and then translated by the teachers for them.

All the children had never played TAG Rugby™ before and within 15 minutes had been introduced to the game and were pulling off tags left, right and centre.

As with all the Festivals the focus was on the children having fun. They are coached in such a way that they are expected to be able to introduce other children to TAG Rugby™ when they return to their schools. The teachers, coaches and development officers from the Border region all got involved and assisted with the coaching and refereeing of the games.

Once again Coke came to the party and catered for all the refreshments of the learners.

As has become a tradition with the HSBC Rugby Festivals the children sang a song for the Penguins before each receiving goodie bags and lunch packs.

One of the Penguins coaches, Tony Robinson had this to say about the day. “The level of commitment shown by the schools just to get here was unbelievable, on seeing the tired, hungry children we could think of nothing better to do but feed them before we started the activities.” He continued, “the catching and passing skills shown by some of the children was totally amazing.”

In closing TAG Rugby™ would like to again thank HSBC for not merely coming to South Africa as a touring teams sponsor and then leaving, but for leaving a HUGE legacy in South Africa through this initiative.

In total 40 schools (1600 learners) all over South Africa have received Tag Rugby™ equipment, coaching and resources that will be potentially introduce
36 000 children to a life of physical activity through TAG Rugby™.

Well done to you all at HSBC and in particular Mr. Giles Morgan for allowing us the opportunity to prove how good TAG Rugby™ is for South African Sport. . 

More updates to follow as we continue with the HSBC festival program