UXI Northern Gauteng International Rugby Institute

Today, after many months of research and negotiations as well as various closed-door meetings, the Harlequins Rugby Club, its Executives and ‘Brooks and Bands’ are proud to announce that they are taking hands with UXi Sport to establish a much-needed Northern Gauteng International Rugby Institute (NGIRI), that will make a significant impact on the Under 20 and Under 21 rugby landscape of South-Africa and specifically in the Pretoria Region.

The Executives of the Harlequins Rugby Club and ‘Brooks and Bands’ recognize the increasing need for raw talent identification and the development of rugby as a sport in rural and underdeveloped communities. The development of talent that haven’t been contracted or had opportunities at Provincial or national level and those with and without university exemption, will be a priority focus. The Harlequins Rugby Club objectives are to develop rugby players through this Institute, as well as address the shortage of coaches, referees and unique skills development (video and game analysts, project managers, club administrator/managers) in the rugby world locally and nationally. Through this initiative, we are assisting in creating job opportunities and HOPE for the Province’s Under 20 and Under 21 aspirant rugby players, and this will become a major talent investment into its rugby club system, strengthening club rugby and the club rugby competitions as a whole in the Pretoria Region as well as the communities in which they operate.

The Rugby Institute will focus on High Performance rugby development on a world-class level, combined with Accredited Tertiary Academic qualifications that will ensure employability of its student rugby athletes for a career during and after rugby, all part of a structured disciplined programme that will be based at the Harlequins Rugby Club in Pretoria. UXi Sport is excited to announce the appointment of Gert Mulder as Head of Institute and Program Manager, veterans Jannie Brooks as Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Richard Bands as Specialist forwards’ coach. This dynamic duo will also drive the ‘Brooks and Bands Forwards factory’ nationally across all UXI Rugby Institutes.
UXi Sport is a division of UXi Pty (Ltd) and is the current operations partner of the Cheetahs Institute of Excellence, Western Province Rugby Academies, Puma Rugby Institute, Griquas Rugby Institute and the North-West Rugby Academy.

The Program offering for 2023 will include three different Rugby Program Options: “Pro-Player” High Performance Rugby; “Semi-Pro” Total Rugby Development Program; and a variety of Rugby Careers including Rugby Coach, Strength & Conditioning Coach and Video & Game Analyst/Performance Coach. The academic offerings will be extended to Artisan Trades (ASV), Agriculture (ASV), Marketing and Business (IMM), and various Sports and Fitness qualifications (HFPA) from 2023.

UXi Sport’s vision is “Inspiring Greatness, through Sports to life”. UXi Sport C.O.O., Thea Miller, says “we are passionate about the development and employability of the youth in South Africa. Through this initiative with the Harlequins Rugby Club and ‘Brooks and Bands’, UXi Sport will contribute to the upliftment of communities, creating better South African citizens that will be the future leaders and business owners in the economy.”
As Nelson Mandela said, “Sport is a language that the youth understands”, through the underpinning values that a sport like rugby cultivates in young men and women, the youth is developed not only in their sport, but through sport and Skills-based Qualifications, they will display a work-readiness that will differentiate them from everyone else.

NOW it’s time to create the same opportunities for many other young talented rugby players in Blue Bulls territory! It’s time to build.