“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”

In the dusty corners of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, young boys lace up battered boots, run onto patchy fields, and play rugby with nothing but heart. These are the forgotten spaces—townships and villages where poverty hangs thick in the air, where school attendance is a struggle, and where opportunity is a distant dream. And yet, out of these difficulties comes an energy that refuses to be extinguished.

That energy found its way to the UK in 2024, when a team of 22 boys—selected from township and village schools across the Eastern Cape—travelled across the world to play, learn, and grow. Hosted by families from the Sevenoaks Rugby Club, the Mzwandile Mali XV took on Sevenoaks Rugby Club Academy team and top schools like Brighton College and trained with the likes of Tonbridge and Sutton Valence. For many of the boys, it was their first time on a plane, the first time outside their towns, even the first time sleeping in a proper bed.

And none of it would have been possible without donations. Because for these boys, TownsHip isn’t just a rugby programme. It’s a chance—maybe the only one—to see a world beyond the margins, and imagine themselves in it.

The Legacy of Mzwandile Mali

The tournament is more than just sport; it’s a living tribute to a man who exemplified courage and community. Mzwandile Mali, who played for the legendary Orientals RFC in the 1950s, didn’t leave behind material wealth— but he passed on something far greater: a legacy of leadership, resilience, and community service.

Reviving township school rugby through this tournament has unearthed raw talent and ignited fresh hope across the Eastern Cape. In 2025, the Mzwandile Mali Schools Rugby Tournament reached 54 schools, involved 1,242 players, and was live streamed by SuperSport Schools. Its slogan says it all: Creating a platform for the Springbok team of the future.

As Louis says, “We’re not just building rugby players—we’re building leaders, role models, and proud South Africans.”

In 2025, and for the first time, the Mzwandile Mali XV has also participated in three prestigious tournaments in South Africa: the Grey PE Tournament, the Toyota Noord Suid Tournament, and the St. Stithians Tournament where all of the team’s matches were streamed live.

Reviving Hope Through Rugby

TownsHip was born from a shared belief between Louis Botes and his long-time friend and former colleague, Lincoln Mali: that sport—rugby, in particular—can lift young people out of hopelessness and into possibility. Lincoln, inspired by his late father, established the Mzwandile Mali Schools Rugby Tournament in Gqeberha in 2014 with eight participating schools to revive township school rugby and honour a man whose legacy was one of integrity, courage, and community service.

Moved by this initiative, Louis took the idea global. “I was coaching junior rugby at Sevenoaks Rugby Club in Kent when I saw Lincoln’s post. I reached out with the idea to sponsor a top player to come train with the Sevenoaks Rugby Club. One rainy, floodlit evening at a junior coaching session, I shared this idea with fellow coaches Rupert Daniell and Ben Parker; that moment sparked the creation of TownsHip and the idea of sponsoring 1 player turned into 22!”

TownsHip now operates under the charitable umbrella of the ATLAS Foundation (UK Charity No: 1161179), raising funds in the UK and directing them to grassroots initiatives in South Africa that give disadvantaged kids not just a game but a future.

“Our work is driven by the belief that sport—rugby, in particular—can empower township and village youth to realise their potential and prosper,” Louis explains. “We back training camps, fund nutrition and transport, support local tournaments, and provide the essentials like kit and boots.”

A Tour That Changed Lives

The highlight of TownsHip’s work to date has been the 2024 UK tour by the Mzwandile Mali XV. The boys trained with elite academies, played on worldclass pitches the likes they’d only seen on TV, and lived with host families who welcomed them as sons.

“It wasn’t just a rugby tour,” Louis reflects. “It was a cultural exchange. Bonds were formed. Lives were changed. It showed the power of a simple idea to cross continents.”

Every donation—whether a pound or a plane ticket—played a role in making it happen. From transport and accommodation to kit and nutrition, every detail mattered. And the ripple effects go far beyond sport.

“That tour went far beyond sport; it was a cultural transformation for both hosts and visitors alike,” shares Lincoln Mali. “Deep bonds were formed, perspectives broadened, and truly lifelong memories created.”

Building the Future, One Try at a Time

TownsHip isn’t stopping here. With plans to expand the tournament to 85 schools by 2028 and launch a girls’ division in 2026, the organisation is laying the foundation for sustainable change. Coaching clinics, referee training, and investment in pitches and infrastructure are all part of the roadmap.

But to get there, they need you.

“We need partners who believe in the power of sport to uplift,” says Louis.

“We’re looking for personal and corporate donors, and a lead sponsor for the girls’ tournament. Every pound helps. Every voice spreads the word. If you’ve found success abroad, lend a hand. Join us. Support us. Together, we can give the next generation in the Eastern Cape a sporting chance.”

From townships in Gqeberha, similar to where Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi originates from to pitches in Kent, from children with little to lose to young leaders with everything to give—TownsHip is changing the trajectory of young lives. To this end, TownsHip partners with the Lincoln Mali Leadership Foundation.

As Madiba said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”

TownsHip lives and breathes that spirit. And with every tour, every match, every donation—it brings the dream closer.