Forget everything you thought you knew about popular sports in Zambia. While everyone was talking about football and boxing, rugby has been quietly but surely gaining momentum – and it’s no longer just a fringe sport. It’s making a statement, breaking stereotypes, and touching a nerve. It’s no longer a hobby for the privileged few but a movement with a real community behind it. In this article, we’ll tell you how rugby is changing the landscape of Zambian sports.
How Rugby Found Its Place in Zambia
Although rugby itself first appeared in Zambia during the colonial era, it has only gained significant popularity in the last decade. Previously overshadowed by football and boxing, the landscape has changed: the Federation now boasts over 5,000 players, and the Mufulira Sevens tournament is packed to capacity, attracting up to 7,000 people. Even bookmakers have gotten into the game: the best betting sites in Zambia have added rugby lines and bonuses for big matches. A sport that was once a backdrop has now firmly taken its place in the spotlight.
Local Clubs Driving the Game Forward
You can’t talk about rugby in Zambia without talking about the clubs. They are the ones who hold the foundations of the game – developing players, building communities, and making the sport a living part of everyday life. The most notable of them speak for themselves:
- Red Arrows RFC (Lusaka): Five national titles since 2010, the current champions, and a club that consistently sets the pace for the entire league.
- Mufulira Rugby Club: Hosts of the legendary Mufulira Sevens tournament and a genuine talent factory – four players of the national team grew up here.
- Green Eagles RFC (Choma): A team with character: known for their aggressive play and youth academy, where more than 120 children train each year.
- Kitwe Playing Fields: The oldest club in the Copperbelt region and a pioneer of women’s rugby – without them, there would be no history or progress.
With each new season, the club scene becomes more and more intense: more matches, more critical meetings, more spectators in the stands. This is where rugby finds a voice — loud, lively, and no longer marginal.
Schools and Youth Programs Taking Root
Until recently, the word “rugby” in primary schools in Lusaka and Ndola would only evoke puzzled looks. No balls, no coaches, no rules – just enthusiasm, and that in a low voice. And now? Rugby is an official part of the school’s physical education program. Almost 10,000 children learn to hold a ball in their hands every year, not just to run, but to win. School leagues start in March and don’t die down until November. Fans – teachers, parents, younger brothers and sisters – already know who they are rooting for this season.
But it’s not just about lessons. Tag Rugby Trust and the Zambia Youth Rugby Association do everything to ensure that the kids have the opportunity to continue playing, with coaches, uniforms, trips, and dreams. Young players from Kafue and Livingstone have real trips to South Africa, and international tournaments, and three of them have even had tryouts at clubs abroad.
The Role of Coaches and Volunteers
Behind every try scored, there’s a team of unsung heroes building the foundation for success. Coaches and volunteers put in long hours, often with minimal pay or recognition. Their commitment makes the difference. Take a look at just how much they contribute:
| Name | Role | Impact | Years Involved |
| Choolwe Haamubila | National Coach | Led Zambia to the CAR Bronze Cup | 8 |
| Ruth Mwape | Youth Volunteer | Launched girls’ teams in Kabwe | 6 |
| Peter Chibwe | Club Organizer | Tripled local tournament size | 11 |
| Mary Mulenga | Skills Coach | Mentored over 200 junior players | 5 |
Every training session and match owes something to their work. Without them, none of these leaps forward would even be possible.
Breaking Stereotypes Through Sport
For a long time, rugby in Zambia was considered a game for “their own” – a sport for the elite, or at most for those with relatives living somewhere in London. But all this is in the past. Now children in Kanyama run with a ball no worse than in private schools. And in Chipata, teachers casually explain how to do a tackle correctly. There are no more “pattern” players. There is only persistence, energy, and complete contact.
However, the real revolution is in women’s rugby. The Zambian team first entered the international field in 2017, and last year they showed their class, beating Botswana 26:10 in Lusaka. After that, more than 300 girls joined school leagues – and this is only in 2024. Rugby here is no longer about status. It is about courage. About moving forward. It’s about a game without borders.
The Future Feels Bigger Than the Field
Well, in 2025, everything is completely different than it was even five years ago – rugby in Zambia no longer looks like an alien sport. It is discussed in the courtyards, during breaks, in local chats. Children do not just kick a ball around – they seriously dream of the national team, of trips, of a big field beyond their street. It is no longer just about the game — it is about change, about how an entire country begins to believe in itself through the team, through moving forward. And who knows — maybe the next attempt will not just be in the end book, but in history.
Trey is a dedicated Hip-Hop journalist, supportive of upcoming artists.
