TRY – Township Rugby Youth Festival unites Joburg’s townships through rugby passion on
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 08:00–17:30 at Bill Jardine Stadium, Industria—a knockout tournament featuring 12 clubs’ senior men’s and women’s teams (ages 18–32) battling for glory while scouts seek talent, complemented by family entertainment and Amapiano vibes.
Stadium & Tournament Flow
Bill Jardine Stadium energises Newclare with community-rooted facilities: main pitch hosts knockout rounds across
Eden Park, Orange Farm Fire Ants, African Badgers, Ennerdale, Inner City, Ditau Diarora (Soweto), Kagiso Sting, Raiders (Newclare/Westbury), Alexandra Wolves, Cerulean Challengers, Soweto Eagles, Eldoronians—Siya Kolisi-inspired township rugby breaking soccer dominance.
08:00–14:00: Non-stop matches, prize-giving.
14:00–17:30: Gauteng Lions vs Blue Bulls live screening, MFR Souls Amapiano performance, MC Jerome “Slim” Du Plooy. Kids’ play areas, food stalls (braai, kota R40–R80) ensure family appeal—30 mins from Randfontein via N1, metered parking nearby.
Clubs & Talent Pipeline
12 Township Powerhouses showcase transformation: Ditau Diarora’s Soweto grit, Alexandra Wolves’ township tenacity, Orange Farm Fire Ants’ emerging stars—all fielding mixed-gender squads hungry for pro pathways.
TRY (founded 2023) unearths talent historically sidelined from rugby’s elite tracks, channelling Springbok inspiration into structured seasons (u11–u17 tournaments), feeding this senior showcase. Scouts from Lions, universities, and academies circle—your content workflow captures “transformation in action” narratives.
Entertainment & Family Hub
Post-rugby pivots to festival:
MFR Souls drop Amapiano heat post-prize-giving, Slim Du Plooy’s MC charisma bridges matches-to-music. Family zones offer jumping castles, face painting, community stalls—bring blankets for lawn viewing.
Food diversity spans township classics (shisa nyama R60, pap R25) to health options. Weather backup ensures execution.
Ticketing Access
R100 Adults / Kids Free via
Quicket—entry unlocks full day (~R15 fees). Capacity 3,000; arrive 07:30 for pitch-side positioning. Perfect Jan 31 daytime slot complementing Sweet Fields Market’s dessert wander—rugby grit vs sweet indulgence, both family-accessible, content-diverse for your curation matrix.
