The President of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, has emphasised the importance of investing in infrastructure and youth tournaments to expand the reach of rugby across the continent.

Speaking at the Africa Women’s Sevens Tournament—which featured some of Africa’s top rugby nations, including South Africa, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Madagascar, Ghana, Mauritius, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire—he highlighted that quality facilities and opportunities for young players are essential for fostering national pride and strengthening rugby’s future in Africa.

“In my short presidency, what we’re striving to do is encourage more countries to build infrastructure like this (University of Ghana Rugby Stadium),” he told JoySports.

Mensah also urged African countries to prioritise the development of under-18 and under-20 teams, noting that when players wear the national jersey, they represent not only themselves but their entire nation.

“But beyond that, it’s about helping countries understand that when players wear the national jersey, they’re not just representing an individual—they’re representing a nation. So why not invest in tournaments, especially for age grades like under-18 and under-20?”