Tanzania’s national seven-a-side rugby team, Twiga Kings, has returned from South Africa with valuable international experience and important lessons to strengthen its competitiveness ahead of future tournaments.
The team’s participation in the Obaro Willem Strauss International 7s tournament, held on October 24 and 25, 2026, was highlighted by an impressive 31–0 victory over Naboom, demonstrating the team’s potential to compete at a higher level.
The tour, organised by the Tanzania Rugby Union (TRU) from October 22 to 26, aimed to expose Tanzanian players to international competition, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and learn from South Africa’s rugby development systems.
TRU Secretary-General Antony Dawa said the tour was part of the union’s broader strategy to strengthen the national team and prepare players for upcoming regional and international competitions.
He said competing against experienced opponents provided Twiga Kings with an opportunity to evaluate their performance, identify areas requiring improvement and gain practical experience that could translate into better results in future competitions.
Twiga Kings faced Mogol, Harties Hawks 1 and UXi Warriors during the group stage but failed to secure a victory on the opening day.
The team, however, showed resilience on the second day, bouncing back with a commanding 31–0 win over Naboom after scoring five tries and three conversions.
Their campaign ended in the Bowl semi-final, where they suffered a 38–5 defeat against Dipoo.
Despite the mixed results, Dawa said the tournament had provided valuable lessons for the players and technical team, particularly in defensive organisation, quick decision-making, physical fitness, finishing scoring opportunities and maintaining consistency throughout successive matches.
He noted that the lessons would guide improvements in training, match preparation and team performance as TRU works to make Twiga Kings more competitive on the international stage.
Beyond the tournament, the delegation used the visit to explore wider opportunities for developing rugby in Tanzania through engagement with Blue Bulls Rugby Union in Pretoria.
The discussions focused on player and coach development, youth and women’s rugby, sponsorship, commercial opportunities and the use of digital technology to improve rugby administration and match-day operations.
The delegation was led by TRU President Jacob Jonas and Dawa.
It held meetings with Blue Bulls officials, including President Willem Strauss, General Manager Jaco Dames and Chief Commercial Officer Stefan van der Merwe.
The Tanzanian officials also visited Loftus Versfeld Stadium, the home ground of the Blue Bulls, to learn about stadium management, commercial operations, sponsorship strategies, fan engagement and the use of technology during match days.
The visit provided an opportunity for TRU to study approaches that could help strengthen rugby administration in Tanzania, improve the experience for supporters and create greater opportunities for sponsors and other partners.
The delegation also met Tanzania’s Ambassador to South Africa, James G. Bwana, in Pretoria, where discussions centred on the role of sport in promoting Tanzania internationally, strengthening sports diplomacy and expanding cooperation with international rugby stakeholders.
Dawa said TRU recognised that the long-term growth of rugby depended not only on improving players’ performance but also on investing in safe sporting infrastructure, expanding domestic competitions and building sustainable partnerships with the private sector.
Such efforts, he said, would help broaden participation, attract investment and increase rugby’s value to players, fans, sponsors and the media.
TRU expressed appreciation to the stakeholders who supported the tour, including SportPesa, Blue Bulls Rugby Union, the Tanzania High Commission in South Africa, the National Sports Council (NSC), tournament organisers, players, the technical bench and the media.
Dawa said the union would continue using international competitions and strategic partnerships to develop players, strengthen national teams and improve coaching standards.
He added that the experience gained in South Africa would serve as a foundation for further improvements as Tanzania works to build a stronger and more competitive rugby team capable of delivering better results in future regional and international tournaments.