--- title: "Tackle this: Springboks take on their tiniest opponents yet" description: "It was difficult to tell who enjoyed the grassroots coaching clinic more – the dozens of youngsters from across Nelson Mandela Bay, or the four Springboks who got to teach and inspire them." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "GIANT INSPIRATION" author: "Riaan Marais" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/riaan-marais/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-18-tackle-this-springboks-take-on-their-tiniest-opponents-yet/" published: "2026-06-18T18:32:19" updated: "2026-06-19T07:41:22" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 645 --- # Tackle this: Springboks take on their tiniest opponents yet > It was difficult to tell who enjoyed the grassroots coaching clinic more – the dozens of youngsters from across Nelson Mandela Bay, or the four Springboks who got to teach and inspire them. By Riaan Marais · Published 18 June 2026, 20:32 SAST · Updated 19 June 2026, 09:41 SAST ## Key points - Nelson Mandela Bay youngsters got a rare dose of Springbok star power at a grassroots rugby clinic outside the stadium – and the smiles were doing as much tackling as the kids. - Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Ben-Jason Dixon and Zachary Porthen ran a “Get Into Rugby” session for learners from 13 primary schools, covering basic skills and ball play. - Teachers said the biggest win was not the coaching, but the confidence, hope and inspiration the children gained by training on proper fields and meeting their heroes. - The clinic formed part of World Rugby’s development push – and, for Tshituka, it doubled as a reminder of how powerful early access to sport can be. ## Content A squeal of pure delight rang out over the B-field outside the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. A dozen little boys and girls tried to bring down a giant of a man as he threw two of them over his shoulders and lumbered forward. Springbok loose forward Vincent Tshituka let out a roar of laughter as he gently put the two children down and scooped up two others. “I wish we had more opportunities to work with kids. These coaching clinics are so important for their development and cultivating a love of sport,” Tshituka said. On Thursday morning, 13 primary schools from Nelson Mandela Bay and surrounds participated in a “Get Into Rugby” event where learners had the opportunity to learn from four rising stars in the Springboks squad. ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/q1fDOl-qpBpEMRVeXVpKbiDSbhk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-4_413036.jpg) *Springbok flanker Phepsi Buthelezi chants with learners as they wrap up the coaching clinic. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)* The initiative is part of World Rugby’s global training and development programme to introduce children of all ages to the sport and develop skills in young players. Participating countries then develop their own programmes and host events in line with the global initiative. ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/mxBXANWw-UFa6Znz9oiPji_R210=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-1_697371.jpg) *Springbok lock Ben-Jason Dixon goes in for the tackle. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)* Tshituka was joined by fellow flanker Phepsi Buthelezi, lock Ben-Jason Dixon, and loosehead prop Zachary Porthen, before the Springboks’ Friendly City clash with the Barbarians on 20 June. The four mountainous men towered over the youngsters as each manned a station where the learners practiced different skills, like passing, ball handling and tackling. More importantly, it gave the children an opportunity to interact with their rugby heroes. ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic MAIN1](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/hP40iFX36FMorDnXcKTE3WFkUMY=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-12_745229.jpg) *Watch out, Vincent is coming for you! Springbok flanker Vincent Tshituka chases a learner. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)* “The coaching the learners received is one thing, but the inspiration and encouragement they got from playing with the Springboks was far more important in my opinion,” teacher Siyabonga Mcebi said. The teacher from Fumisukoma Primary School in Motherwell said the opportunity to bring their learners to the NMB Stadium alone was worth the trip. “Some of these kids come from challenging backgrounds, and at school we don’t have facilities like this. Bringing them here, having them play on proper fields, getting to meet the Springboks – for them these will be happy memories.” ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic MAIN3](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Vaafz9aNhlXErc9a3Ep6obVW9GI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-5_108137.jpg) *Springbok lock Ben-Jason Dixon encourages a young player during their training session. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)* For the children of Molefe Primary School in New Brighton, it was also a chance to interact with learners from other schools, for which rugby coach and coordinator Nolwazi Bungane was very grateful. “They get to play with kids from other schools and learn that their struggles are not unique, many other children come from similar backgrounds. But they get to put their worries aside and enjoy sport together. ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/WyNpyotf-otRVlMCOXU225mLPeA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-7_899464.jpg) *Giant inspiration for young learners. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)* “These rugby clinics encourage our learners and it gives them positive role models. It gives them hope for the future. It gives them something to strive towards,” Bungane said. ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic MAIN2](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/4qqxbLrlfA1H0UcfpDulZ3ri1cs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-15_236726.jpg) *Springbok loosehead prop Zachary Porthen teaches ball skills to learners in Nelson Mandela Bay. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)* Tshituka said it was a privilege to be part of the “Get Into Rugby” programme and help young players develop skills at the grassroots level. ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/kSctmypSq9LEYD6gtpMGwx6zvv4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-9_350551.jpg) *The four Boks showed the way for future generations. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)* “I wish I had taken part in initiatives like these when I was younger. I only really got into rugby when I was in high school, and now I realise the importance of introducing kids to sport, especially rugby, at such a young age.” ![Riaan - BoksCoachingClinic](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/mmiBq8pipzYVdXjFwD6PuhuGbcg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/BoksCoaching-11_519928.jpg) *Springbok flanker Vincent Tshituka during Get Into Rugby drills. (Photo : Deon Ferreira)* Tshituka, who is part of the squad for Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians, also praised the Nelson Mandela Bay fans for the warm atmosphere the Springboks had enjoyed since arriving in the Friendly City. **DM**