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Rugby is a sport that unites our diverse nation – with seas of green and gold cheering in unison on big occasions and is often the backtrack to many braais and gatherings. The energy it sparks in people from all walks of life is truly unmatched and one of the cornerstones that make us uniquely South African.
In honour of rugby uniting communities all over the world for the past 200 years, Mastercard decided to look toward the future and the rising star players to watch out for with their Mastercard Future of Rugby report. The payment-processing business giant also released their Future XV squad line-up - which is a celebration of the remarkable individuals from around the globe who are shaping the future of the sport.
Introducing the Future XV
The squad shines a spotlight on 15 (XV) outstanding players from diverse corners of the world, each contributing their unique skills and passion to the sport. Among these remarkable individuals is Zintle Mpupha, a shining star hailing from South Africa. Notably, Zintle holds the esteemed national try-scoring record for the Springbok Women, a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication. Beyond her prowess on the rugby field, she is on a mission to utilize her platform to drive grassroots rugby development and uplift communities in South Africa, making her a true inspiration for rugby enthusiasts and advocates of positive change.
Zintle Mpupha: A journey to Rugby
We caught up with Zintle Mpupha to find out about her journey to rugby and her hopes for its future. Originally from the Eastern Cape, Mpupha didn’t start her career on the rugby field. “I started my career in sports, playing cricket, because I grew up in a cricket-playing household, so naturally I developed an interest in it,” she shares.
Being the only girl in her village playing cricket, Mpupha had to navigate gender role challenges from early on. But she is grateful to her coach who helped her to hone her skills and find her calling on the rugby field. “I had a coach, that played a huge role in my journey in cricket, which later led to me playing for the under-19 team and I later got drafted to the ladies’ senior team. It’s while I was playing for the senior team that I was invited to play rugby – and that’s where my career officially kicked off,” she explains.
Alongside the players who showed unwavering commitment, dedication, and sportsmanship in their playing tactics, Mpupha feels that the first foundation of inspiration comes from the coaches and managers who help gear and guide players to their successes. “Their hands-on approach allows them to impart not only their knowledge and technical expertise but also their passion for the game. Through their guidance, they provide young and aspiring players with the necessary skills and strategies to excel on the field,” she adds.
Inclusivity Takes Centre Stage
One of the main findings from Mastercard’s Future of Rugby report was the emergence of inclusivity at the forefront of rugby changes to come – which will likely tackle stereotypes associated with the sport.
The Mastercard report predicts that by 2027, the top ten ranked rugby nations will all hold national festivals or competitions that are centred around the participation of differently abled individuals. It also noted that the participation of women in rugby is at an all-time high – totalling 2.7 million players globally – which is a 28% increase in female players since 2017.
As one of the standout recognised women in rugby and a proud member of Mastercard’s Future XV, Mpupha expresses her profound gratitude for the recognition she has received. “It's an immense privilege to be recognized as part of Mastercard's Future XV, a diverse group of remarkable individuals contributing to rugby. Our collective efforts encompass advancing inclusivity, diversity, and equality within the sport and expanding its reach on a global scale. These shared values and goals unite us in our mission,” she shares.
She believes that the Future XV list plays a pivotal role in affirming the inclusivity vision for the future of the sport with its diverse range of featured players, “What sets the Future XV apart is our diversity, spanning various backgrounds and even disabilities, including wheelchair rugby players. What unites this diverse group is our shared passion for rugby, harnessed as a powerful force for positive change. Together, we are driven by a mission to inspire transformation that extends far beyond the boundaries of the sport's community,,” Mpupha adds.
Challenging Stereotypes: A Collective Effort
And, while she hopes to inspire many more young girls and women to follow in her booted footsteps, Mpupha is still aware of the stereotypes people in society still hold when thinking about rugby: “While rugby remains predominantly male-dominated, there is a growing movement challenging this status quo,” she shares.
“Despite some progress in involving women in shaping the sport, persistent inequalities and exclusions hinder women’s rugby careers. The troubling notion of ‘women playing a men’s game’ continues to pervade the sport, despite a rising number of women both watching and playing rugby.”
Mastercard’s Commitment
As a champion of women in the sport, she adds that Mastercard is a key global partner in the upliftment of the women’s game. “In 2021, they became the founding global partner of World Rugby's Women in Rugby programme, the first global partner of WXV, and the inaugural worldwide partner of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2021 and Rugby World Cup 2025,” she says.
And there’s no better place to challenge stereotypes and inspire young people and adults around the country than through the biggest global rugby sporting event – the Rugby World Cup.
A Source of Inspiration
“The Rugby World Cup serves as an incredibly powerful platform to inspire young and aspiring players in South Africa in several ways,” shares Mpupha. “It provides these players with role models to look up to, demonstrating what dedication, skill, and grit can achieve.”
Beyond simply showing the value of dedicated skill and serving as a means to instil pride in aspiring players, the tournament also shows that there’s no limit or access barrier to who can be a rugby player based on background. “The Rugby World… is encouraging young players from diverse communities and backgrounds to believe in their potential and pursue their rugby dreams,” she adds.
The Power of Role Models
Role models play an important role in fostering and birthing the next generation of rugby legends and aspiring young girls. For Mpupha, she admired Mandisa Williams – for both her skill and her unwavering passion for the sport - passion that Mpupha herself carries.
This aspirational presence is something that she’s aware of every time she plays – that she’s the Mandisa Williams to another little girl at home with a love for sport and a skill for rugby.
“Each time I step onto the field, I realise that I am changing a little girl's perspective and offering them role models to look up to. My involvement in this squad provides an opportunity for me to share my story of overcoming obstacles to reach where I am today,” shares Mpupha.
To find out more about Mastercard’s Future XV and Future of Rugby report – visit their website here.
This post was sponsored by Mastercard and produced by Adspace Studio.
