Southwestern Districts claimed the 2026 Hollywood Foundation Iqhawe Week title at HTS Drostdy in Worcester on Thursday, beating Border 10-7 in the final match of the U15 tournament. The Griffons, who also won all three of their matches, Western Province and Border were the other standout sides across the week.
Sixteen provincial union teams competed in three matches each over the course of the week, which began on Monday 28 September, with hosts Boland fielding two sides. The organisers highlighted the Limpopo Blue Bulls and Golden Lions as sides who showed notable development throughout the tournament.
SA Rugby's General Manager for Participation and Development, Ian Schwartz, described the talent on display as arguably the strongest in recent editions of the event, pointing specifically to the number of players emerging from smaller and rural schools. SA Rugby President Mark Alexander credited the SA Rugby Legends Association's Vuka Programme as a key driver of the pathway progress seen from Iqhawe Week graduates.
"The fact that many of these players are now progressing through the pathway is a direct result of the investment made by the SA Rugby Legends Association through the Vuka Programme and the U15 Iqhawe Week," said Alexander.