Building the Future of Women’s Rugby: Northern Region Development in Action

The WP Northern Region Development Programme, in partnership with Up and Under, officially kicked off on 10 January 2026, and in just a few short weeks it has once again proven why it plays such a vital role in the growth of girls’ rugby in the Northern Suburbs.

Every Saturday at Parow High School, 50+ young female players arrive eager to grow, improve, and chase their rugby dreams. These players come from a wide range of schools across the Northern Suburbs, united by a common goal: to access high-quality coaching, structured development, and a clear pathway toward higher levels of the game.

What is the Northern Region Development Programme?

The Northern Region Programme is a regional high-performance development initiative, delivered by Up and Under for the WPRFU Hubs Programme. Its purpose is simple but powerful:to bridge the gap between grassroots rugby and high-performance pathways for young female players.

Players attend once weekly and are trained under experienced Up and Under coaches, following a well-structured, periodised programme broken into three clear phases of development:

• Phase 1: Developing fundamental skills, building fitness habits, and introducing position-specific skills.

• Phase 2: Developing unit and team-based skills, improving overall fitness, and progressing positional development.

• Phase 3: Final squad selections, tactical development, and team-based performance training.

January 2026: A Strong Start

• 10 January – Day 1: The year began with skills and fitness testing, using a new testing battery and equipment to track player development accurately.

• 17 January – Day 2: Focus shifted to fundamental skills, reinforcing strong technical foundations across all positions.

• 24 January – Day 3: Positional skills took centre stage, with over 50 players attending for the third consecutive week — and new faces continuing to join, all seeking higher-level development.

The message is clear: girls want opportunities, and when quality programmes exist, they show up.

Investing Where It Matters Most

Up and Under continues to invest significant time, resources, coaching expertise, and infrastructure to ensure the Northern Region Development Programme not only exists, but continues to grow. Each session is delivered at a high standard, with a strong performance focus designed to give players the best possible environment to develop.

Since early 2025, Up and Under has proudly driven and sustained the Northern Region initiative as part of the WPRFU Hubs Programme. Support from partners and sponsors has played an important role in this journey, and with continued backing, the programme has the potential to expand its reach and deepen its long-term impact on women’s rugby development.

The impact speaks for itself.

In just one year, the programme has produced:

• 4 EPD Springbok Girls

• 16 Western Province Girls (U16 & U18)

This is proof that structured development works — and that when opportunities are created, young female athletes rise to meet them.

Looking Ahead

The Northern Region Development Programme continues to grow week by week — drawing more girls into the game, raising standards, and creating real pathways for future success. Through consistent investment, quality coaching, and a clear development framework, Up and Under remains committed to ensuring young female players have access to opportunities that allow them to thrive.

The impact is already visible, and the potential is even greater. With the right support, this programme can continue to expand, reach more players, and strengthen the future of women’s rugby in the Northern Suburbs and beyond.

Be Part of the Journey

Growing the game is a collective effort. If you’re an individual, supporter, or company who believes in developing young athletes and creating meaningful opportunities through sport, your support can help keep this programme moving forward.

Donate via our official NPC page: https://www.upandunder.co.za/foundation

Together, we can continue building the future of women’s rugby — one training session, one player, and one opportunity at a time.