With just three days until the first British & Irish Lions test match in South Africa, three of the greatest ever former Lions players were pulling on their boots in the name of HSBC’s community programme.
As Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions Tour, HSBC has undertaken a major TAG Rugby programme involving 4,000 children across South Africa, and today in Durban another 100 children were treated to a once in a lifetime coaching session. Gareth Edwards, Gavin Hastings and Jason Robinson were all in attendance at Saturday’s test match venue, helping to coach the youngsters from across the region.
Many of the children had left home at 4.00am in order to attend the session which is the fifth HSBC Rugby Festival staged in South Africa during the Lions Tour.
Speaking at the event, Gareth Edwards who was part of the triumphant Lions Tour to South Africa in 1974 said, "Today has been a real pleasure. The children are so enthusiastic and seem to really enjoy their rugby. This is a tremendous way to spend time as we approach the first test match this weekend."
The three HSBC ambassadors were also joined by Gerald Davies, Tour Manager of the British & Irish Lions, and a former team mate of Gerald Davies. He said, "It has been wonderful being here today and seeing the smiles on the faces of the children. It has been very special."
All four legends took part in coaching and skills sessions with the children, many of whom were playing rugby for the first time.
Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponssorhip for HSBC Holdings said, "HSBC has been running a series of festivals with children mostly from non rugby backgrounds for the past few months and it was fantastic that four such legends of the game were able to get involved today and really inspire the children to play rugby. It really was a special experience for everyone here."
As well as coaching the children, each participating school received a set of rugby clothing so that the children can continue to play rugby once they go back to their schools. The kit was donated through a partnership with HSBC and Mr Price.
Whilst the HSBC ambassadors were busy in the Durban sunshine, another HSBC Rugby Festival was happening in Tredegar Comprehensive School in Newport. Throughout their sponsorship of the British & Irish Lions HSBC has staged over 500 festivals across the UK & Ireland and South Africa, and the Newport festival was the penultimate event in the nine month initiative.
