Lesotho Rugby to hold first-ever elections

Another momentous moment for Lesotho Rugby is near…

The Federation of Lesotho Rugby will hold its elections and annual general meeting on January 21.

The elections come at a vital time. Last month Lesotho was accepted as a full member of Rugby Africa which is the continent’s governing body for rugby. The FLR is also planning to play two matches outside the continent for the first time ever in 2017.

The elections are also a milestone for Lesotho rugby because they will bring about the FLR’s first elected committee. The current executive was not elected. Instead, it is the founding group of administrators which formed the FLR in 2012 and set up Lesotho’s first-ever governing body for rugby.

All positions in the FLR’s executive will be contested at the vote except for the seat of vice-secretary general.

The FLR was formed in 2012 and its first president was Dan Aylward from Great Britain. Current president Fetang Selialia took over in 2014 when Aylward returned to United Kingdom.

In the four years since its foundation the FLR has made great strides.

On January 28, the Lesotho Rugby Championship is set to launch its fourth season while Lesotho has a team which is invited to compete annually in South Africa’s competitive Griffons Rugby Eastern Free State League.

The FLR has also stepped up its countrywide development programme.

Towards the end of 2016, the programme, which is aimed at primary and high school pupils, was in Mazenod, Berea and Leribe.

The icing on the cake has been the success of the national team, Likatola.  Lesotho played its first game in 2014 and has won four of its seven international matches since its debut.

The list of successes led to Lesotho being granted full membership by Rugby Africa in December and now the association is now pursuing affiliation with the game’s world governing body, World Rugby.

All member clubs of the FLR are expected to send two representatives for the elections.