Buses heading for Africa as Bill McLaren’s rugby legacy goes global

By DAVID FERGUSON
Published on Wednesday 11 January 2012 01:43

THE legacy of Scotland’s world-famous commentator Bill McLaren is now to extend into Africa as part of a far-reaching initiative using rugby in education.

This month, ‘Bhubesi Pride’ will embark on its first expedition in an ambitious programme covering 15 schools across ten African countries. The Bill McLaren Foundation will be at the heart of the initiative through supporting the expeditions with a number of all-terrain vehicles to help transport coaches and equipment around the continent, to be known as ‘Bill’s Buses’.

The initiative will involve a team of qualified coaching staff driving through the ten countries on six-month missions, delivering mass participation rugby and education programmes in schools and communities, aiming to empower young teachers and build and grow relationships between children and staff in British and African schools.

Richard Bennett, founder and project coordinator of Bhubesi Pride, said: “Rugby and its values – as highlighted so well through the Bill McLaren Foundation – is a brilliant way to drive social change and to change lives for the better through sports development.

“Through Bhubesi Pride’s project work, we can use the sport in a meaningful way, where children in Africa can enjoy playing the game, but also learn about other important issues such as health and respect of themselves and others around them.”

He continued: “It is an honour for the Bill McLaren Foundation to recognise the value in our work. I sincerely hope to continue to build on the relationships we have developed so far with our friends in Africa and in the UK.

“When you are so passionate about developing a project of this nature, sometimes all you want to do is bring more people on board to share that passion and inspire others! It’s just a privilege to have the Bill McLaren Foundation working alongside us on this fascinating journey.”

The Foundation was set up by family and friends of the teacher, journalist and commentator, who died nearly two years ago, with the express desire of using McLaren’s name to spread the rich and positive values of rugby across his native Borders and further afield. The BMF has already invested in a host of projects in Scotland, which are helping to open new doors of opportunity to young people in rugby and other sports, but this is the first move into Africa, a continent that McLaren grew to love with trips to the Republic of South Africa.

Brian Renwick, the former Hawick captain and grants director of the BMF, commented: “The Bhubesi Pride application really excited us because the aims of both charities are so similar; using rugby as the vehicle for improving life skills fits exactly with what we are all about.

“Bill was not only a great rugby coach and commentator to the rugby world, but for many others with whom he came into contact he taught fairness, discipline and respect for others. As a charity, we are also thrilled to show that we support rugby all over the world and we are really looking forward to hearing how Richard and his team progress in the coming months.”

The Bhubesi Pride project will include South Africa, but also encompass Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia, and contribute to three of the UN’s eight ‘Millennium Development Goals’, namely uniting African children through sport addressing health education and life skills, empowering local teaching staff, providing equipment, resources and knowledge, and inspiring long-term development through the establishment and development of international school links.

McLaren’s daughter Linda Lawson, also a BMF director, added: “When we first heard about Bhubesi Pride we were immediately interested in the concept of taking rugby to African communities.

“When we met Richard we were impressed with his vision, in particular how he saw rugby as developing life skills of both boys and girls in so many countries throughout the continent. I personally am pleased that we’re bringing rugby, and Dad’s name, to places that have never heard of him before.”

• To support their work, the Bill McLaren Foundation has launched a Supporters’ Club for all rugby enthusiasts and fans of the late, great Borderer. More info: www.billmclarenfoundation.co.uk/support

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