“Rhino Week 2025 celebrates its 10th Anniversary, showcasing top youth talent in rugby, hockey, and netball while championing rhino conservation. Explore the evolution and future of this premier youth sports festival.”
07 July 2025 | Story By: Tayron Mhlongo | Picture: Peter Masela
3 minutes read time.
Rhino Week 2025 marks a significant milestone as the tournament celebrates its 10th Anniversary as South Africa’s premier youth sports festival. The landmark event, hosted at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) ‘s Isak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, runs from 1 July to 5 July 2025, and has evolved into one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious youth sporting competitions.
What began in 2015 as a modest initiative focused on rhino conservation awareness has transformed into a comprehensive tournament that now attracts top young talent nationwide. The five-day sports festival features elite rugby, hockey, and netball competition while maintaining its core mission of conservation education.
The opening ceremony brought together key figures who have shaped the tournament’s success over the past decade. Founder Mr Dries van Heerden was joined by VUT’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Khehla Ndlovu, Rhino Youth Sport Chairperson Mr Martin van Wyngaardt, Gauteng Sport President Mr Vivian Lottering, and numerous other stakeholders who have contributed to the event’s remarkable growth.
“Sports have the power to change and unite the world,” Mr van Heerden shared during his speech, stressing the positive impact of sports and motivating athletes to aim high and follow their dreams.
Professor Ndlovu delivered a powerful message that resonated with the tournament’s core values: “To all the athletes gathered here: you represent speed, strategy, strength, but most importantly, values. Fair play. Discipline. Respect. Resilience. These values echo through our Strategy 2033+, our guiding map toward a future-ready VUT. At VUT, we do not see youth as the leaders of tomorrow. You are leading today. Whether on the pitch or in the classroom, your generation is already reshaping how we learn, connect, compete, and rise.”
He continued with words that clearly positioned the youth as current, not future leaders: “So to every young athlete, whether you’re representing your school, your province, or simply yourself, know this: you are already part of something much bigger. You are writing your own story. And every tackle, sprint, and goal is a line in that story. Play hard. Play fair. Be proud of how far you’ve come, and fearless in pursuit of where you’re going.”
The tournament’s name continues to honour its original mission of raising awareness about rhino conservation in South Africa, a cause that remains urgent as poaching threatens the species.
Mr Martin van Wyngaardt, Chairperson of Rhino Youth Sport, emphasised the tournament’s unique position in the sporting landscape, “The Rhino Week is unique and unparalleled in the
world because of the outstanding individual skills of the participants. This tournament is just the start of a fruitful career in top-class hockey, rugby and netball for many players.”
Beyond the competitive aspect, coaches and organisers emphasised the life skills developed through participation. Players are encouraged to enjoy the experience, make new friendships, and build discipline while showcasing their abilities on a prominent stage.
As the premier school sports festival South Africa has to offer in the youth category, Rhino Week continues to attract top talent while providing a pathway to higher levels of competition. Many current provincial and national team members trace their early recognition to performances at previous Rhino Week tournaments.
For VUT, hosting the event aligns perfectly with its institutional mission. The university takes pride in providing a platform that brings together excellence in action, teamwork under pressure, and diversity in unity. The tournament affirms VUT’s position as a centre for academic achievement and a hub for holistic development, community engagement and national impact.
As Rhino Week 2025 celebrates its first decade, organisers are already looking toward the future. They plan to expand broader participation and enhance sporting and conservation components in the coming years.