First-ever Lesotho National Women’s Rugby Championship Cup kicks off

Lesotho's national women's rugby league is ready to take flight...

The first-ever Lesotho National Women’s Rugby Championship Cup will kick-off this weekend.

The league championship will launch on Saturday at Machabeng College and will see seven teams compete for the national title.

The seven teams are Lancers Jaguars, Maseru Warriors, National University of Lesotho Spears, Mabote Beavers, Lesia Wolves and Swallows after LCS Lioalaoala pulled out at the last minute.

The competition is being introduced by Women in Rugby which is the women’s rugby arm in the Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FLR). The director of Women in Rugby, Tiisetso Khabele, said their aim is to break stereotypes and promote gender equality in Lesotho sports.

“There is a cultural stereotype embedded in our society that rugby is a rough and unfriendly sport for ladies,” Khabele said.

Nevertheless, Khabele said despite the challenges, participation of women in rugby has grown since 2013.

Thato Liphafa, who is the captain of title favourites Maseru Warriors and vice-chairlady of Women in Rugby, said the National Women’s Rugby Championship Cup is an opportunity for women to demonstrate their skill as well.

“This will be a chance for the players to showcase their talent and show other women that this sport is not only for men,” Liphafa said.

The National Women’s Rugby Championship Cup will be played using a league format. The seven teams will play each other home and away and the first round will finish in May. It will be the first time that women’s rugby has a league since the establishment of the FLR in 2012