Lesotho Rugby invited to Free State Griffons League

Lesotho Rugby invited to Free State Griffons League

Lesotho Rugby has been invited to compete in the Griffons Eastern Free State League for the 2017 rugby season.

The invitation is a welcome return for Lesotho to the 10-team championship which is contested by clubs in South Africa’s Free State province.

In March, the regional league excluded Lesotho teams from this year’s competition because of a conflict between FLR and Giants Rugby club. The quarrel is not over but Lesotho has been invited to return in 2017.

Lesotho will send a side named Maseru Select that is made up of players from the teams in the Lesotho Rugby Championship which are Maseru Warriors, Mabote Beavers, National University of Lesotho Spears, Lesotho Correctional Service and Black Cobras.

Last year Lesotho was represented by Giants Rugby and Maseru Select. The FLR says returning to Griffons League will improve Lesotho’s talent and international competitiveness.

Lesotho first participated in the league in 2013 and competing against experienced South African opposition has helped local rugby. In May, the national team Likatola finished third at the Africa Cup Division 2 championship in Rwanda and then signed off the year by defeating Malawi 31-11 away from home in August. In total, Lesotho has won four of its seven test matches since its international debut in 2012.

Elsewhere, the Lesotho National Olympic Committee’s talent identification programme for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics will continue this weekend. On Saturday the programme will be in Butha-Buthe before moving to Mokhotlong on Sunday.

The programme was officially launched on last month by the LNOC and aims to source talent in the seven sports that have been selected to represent Lesotho at the Games.

The 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games are the third edition of the Games and they will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Games will see athletes from around the world aged 15 to 18 years compete for glory.

The LNOC’s talent identification programme will encompass all of Lesotho’s ten districts. Next weekend it moves to Mafeteng and Mohale’s Hoek. The following weekend it is in Quthing and Qacha’s Nek. The programme will conclude in Maseru on the 3rd of December before a confirmation camp that will run from the 9th to the 17th of December.

Talent Identification Schedule

October 28 – Berea

October 29 – Leribe

November 4 – Butha-Buthe

November 5 – Mokhotlong

November 11 – Mafeteng

November 12 – Mohale’s Hoek

November 18 – Quthing

November 19 – Qacha’s Nek

November 25 – Thaba-Tseka

November 30 – Ha-Lejone

December 3 – Maseru

December 9-17 – Confirmation Camp

January-April – Talent Development