News Bulletin of 12 April 2026, 7am

Marks Park Valkyries girls rugby division are building a dedicated space for young female players to grow, compete, and thrive in the sport. This comes after frustration over unequal opportunities on the field.What began as frustration over limited opportunities has now grown into a structured training programme, creating a clear pathway for girls to play competitive rugby. Coach and sports director Tyrone Lennox, said the turning point came while helping revive a struggling school rugby programme in 2024. Once players were given the chance to play contact rugby, the results were immediate. Two players earned Lions colours in the same year, one received Grant Khomo colours, and another earned Inter-Provincial Tournament colours

What began as a seven-year-old’s love of swinging has grown into a powerful inclusion initiative at George Hay Park in Parkview Johannesburg. Lily, who lives with cerebral palsy, inspired the installation of a wheelchair-friendly swing that allows her to enjoy the simple joy of play alongside other children.The initiative, called The Palesa Project installed the first Palesa Swing, now installed in Lily’s favourite park.

Three young wrestlers from Bloemfontein have made their mark at the South African Beach Wrestling Championships at Jeffreys Bay. This fast-paced and spectator-friendly version of the sport was introduced to make wrestling more accessible and entertaining. Despite being newcomers, the Bloemfontein team produced remarkable results. Jan Daniel Marais won gold in the U8 division, Stiaan le Roux took U15 gold and U17 silver, while Ruwan van Niekerk earned silver in U15 and the presidents junior division, losing only to reigning national champions.