Rugby Cup Kicks Off in Malawi
The new tournament, called the MARU Cup, will run from March 2 to late May, MARU Development Officer Jack Mphande told The AfricaBrief.
BLANTYRE, Malawi- The Malawi Rugby Union (MARU) says its regional rugby leagues, featuring men's and women's teams from across the country, will kick off next month, writes Happy Valirani.
The new tournament, called the MARU Cup, will run from March 2 to late May, MARU Development Officer Jack Mphande told The AfricaBrief.
“The preparations for the senior teams who will be playing in MARU Cup are going on well especially in the center and south,” Mphande said.
“We have also an under-18 league that has started on 17th February and it will end on the month end of March.”
The under-18 league, called the Venom Rugby Academy Under-18, is currently being played in Lilongwe.
Mphande said 16 teams - 13 men's and 3 women's - from the central and southern regions have registered for the MARU Cup so far.
The men's teams include Chinsapo Buffaloes, Falcons, Area49 Warriors, Likuni Foxes and Hippos Rugby Club.
The women's teams are Area49 Warriors, Hippos Club and Likuni Foxes.
In the south, men's teams include Complex Jaguars, Ndirande Impala, Bangwe Cheetahs, Bumblebee, Mulanje Rugby Club, Luncheza Red Ants and Africa Sotosopra.
Although MARU has an independent sponsor, Mphande said the union is seeking additional sponsors.
“We are expecting a very competitive league because teams now have got experience of the Rugby game,” Mphande said.
“We expect that being the first Cup to be established here in Malawi, teams will want to be the first team to win the Cup and to make history.”
The under-18 league has already shown positive progress for rugby development in Malawi, he added.
“We hope very soon we will start selecting players to build top national teams for both boys and girls in readiness to participate in international tournaments,” he said.