• CONFEDERATION of African Rugby development officer for East and southern Africa, Erick Situma (centre with ball) demonstrates some skills to school children during the launch of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Get Into Rugby project at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka at the weekend. Picture by MARTIN MUSUNKA.

By FELIX MALUNGA –
THE Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) has said the Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) has exceeded its expectations in the launch of the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Get Into Rugby project because of the overwhelming response.
CAR development officer for East and Southern Africa, Erick Situma said he was overwhelmed with the positive response from the participants and officials and believes ZRU would perform well in rolling out the project across Zambia.
Speaking during the launch of the IRB Get Into Rugby project in Lusaka at the weekend, Situma said ZRU’s efforts to effectively arrange the implementation of the Zambian leg of the programme had given CAR confidence that the project would be a resounding success.
Despite Zambia being the last of the selected African countries to implement the project, the CAR official said he was impressed with the high level of participation and also paid tribute to ZRU for arranging all the activities with a positive attitude.
According to a statement released by ZRU yesterday, Situma said he was particularly happy that the union officials were available throughout the programme to ensure its successful implementation.
And the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) sports for hope manager, Barbara Schweizer said there was huge potential in Zambian rugby as evidenced by the enthusiasm exhibited by school children and officials during the launch of the Get Into Rugby at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC).
Schweizer, who is from Switzerland, said she was elated by the huge turn out of children for the Get Into Rugby project at the OYDC and was convinced that, with proper nurturing, Zambia was bound to produce high class rugby players.
Schweizer, who was in Zambia on a one-week IOC mission, attended the sessions of the Get Into Rugby organised by ZRU and encouraged the union officials to keep up the good works.
ZRU Midlands schools co-ordinator, Jeff Muwele said initially he was expecting 200 school children but the total number of participants swelled to more than 350.
During the launch, the CAR official also held a workshop with the officials, teachers, coaches and trainers.
Among those who attended the programme were ZRU president, Martin Musunka,  treasurer, Kabwe Kampamba, IRB educator, Enock Shikabeta, Zambia Rugby Coaches Association director, Innocent Sakala and his secretary Tom Chaloba, Zambia Rugby Referees Society director, Eddie Chibulu and his union representative Festo Njovu.
Others were Lusaka Rugby Club chairperson Ernest Mfula, teachers and Get Into Rugby coordinators, Boyd Busange from Konkola, Jessie Mazabuka (Diggers), Matani Luhanga (Roan), John Chibamba (Green Eagles) and Richard Kanyika (Mufulira).