THE curtain came down on the 2026 St George’s College Nutri-Active Junior Rugby Festival on Tuesday, with organisers and sponsors hailing the growth of the tournament and its role in nurturing the next generation of Zimbabwean rugby talent.
Now in its fourth year under the sponsorship of Pearlenta Nutri-Active, the annual schools rugby showcase brought together some of the country’s top rugby-playing schools in an event that continued to grow in stature and participation.
This year’s edition featured 15 schools competing across the Under-13, Under-14 and Under-15 age groups, while primary schools also took part for the second consecutive year.
Schools that participated included Midlands Christian College, Bernard Mizeki College, Wise Owl High School, Plumtree High School, Lomagundi College, St Ignatius College, Prince Edward School, Churchill High School, Eaglesvale Senior School and Watershed College.
Speaking during the closing stages of the festival, National Foods Limited managing executive for cereals, William Harry Kapfupi, said the tournament represented more than just rugby competition.
“This festival is about far more than competition,” Kapfupi said.
“Rugby teaches discipline, resilience, courage, respect, and leadership — qualities that help shape character and mould future leaders both on and off the field.”
He said the challenges and experiences gained during the tournament would contribute significantly to the development of the young players.
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“Every match played, every challenge faced, and every lesson learned contribute to the growth and development of these young players,” he said.
“As rugby legend Jonah Lomu once said, ‘Rugby is a team game. You need each other to get the best out of yourselves.’ That spirit of teamwork, unity, and mutual respect is at the heart of this festival.”
National Foods chief executive officer Michael Lashbrook said the company remained committed to supporting grassroots rugby development in Zimbabwe.
“This is our fourth year supporting the St George’s College junior rugby tournament and we really treasure the relationship we have built during our short time together,” Lashbrook said.
“This year, I believe we managed to get as many as 15 schools with the tournament attracting the age groups between 13 and 15 years old. We also managed to get a few primary schools for the second year running.”
Lashbrook said rugby continued to play an important role in shaping young people beyond sport.
“The sport of rugby drives discipline, fitness and a whole lot of other good qualities, so if we can play our part in encouraging that then we will,” he said.
In a statement, St George’s College thanked sponsors, participating schools and stakeholders for helping make the 2026 edition a success.
“As we bring the 2026 St George’s College Nutri-Active Junior Rugby Festival campaign to a close, we sincerely thank Pearlenta Nutri-Active for being our title partner for the fourth consecutive year and for generously providing hampers to all participating schools,” the school said.
The school also expressed gratitude to coaches, players and partners who contributed to the smooth running of the tournament.
The festival has steadily established itself as one of Zimbabwe’s key junior rugby development platforms, providing young players with competitive exposure while strengthening relationships between schools from across the country.
Zimbabwe has long relied on schools rugby as a feeder system for higher honours, with many former national team players having emerged through competitive schools festivals and inter-schools competitions.
The continued involvement of corporate sponsors has also been viewed as critical in sustaining development structures at junior level at a time when many schools face rising sporting costs.
For many of the young players who took part this year, the festival offered an early glimpse into the demands and values of competitive rugby — teamwork, discipline and resilience — qualities organisers believe will continue to serve them well both on and off the field.
