Cape Town Set for an International Sporting Showdown This Week

Cape Town Junior Boks Squad Announcement

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The Connect Festival of Unity will see schools from South Africa and the United Kingdom compete while celebrating sport, culture and community.

Cape Town, South Africa (13 July 2026) – Cape Town’s sporting calendar gets an international flavour this week as schools from South Africa and the United Kingdom go head-to-head in the 2026 Connect Festival of Unity.

Running throughout the week, the multi-sport festival will see young athletes compete in rugby, hockey and netball, while celebrating the friendships, cultural exchange and shared love of sport that have become synonymous with the annual event.

A total of 14 touring schools from the United Kingdom will take on 19 local schools and clubs across venues in Cape Town, creating a packed week of action featuring some of the country’s rising sporting talent.

Since its beginnings in Khayelitsha, Connect has grown into a development programme that uses sport to create opportunities for young people, helping talented athletes progress while building confidence, leadership and life skills along the way.

Connect founder and chief executive Murray Ingram says the festival has become a platform where sport creates lasting opportunities for young people both on and off the field.

This year’s rugby competition also carries extra significance.

Outstanding players will be considered for selection to represent Connect at the Global Schools Challenge in Chiang Mai, Thailand, later this year, giving local youngsters the chance to compete on an international stage.

Alongside the sporting action, spectators can expect the festival’s trademark atmosphere, with colourful opening celebrations, music, entertainment and plenty of South African “gees” adding to the occasion.

The event has earned a reputation for creating memorable moments away from the competition as visiting teams experience South African hospitality while local players test themselves against international opposition.