MzansiGuard introduces a new player welfare system to keep rugby players safe while growing the game in South Africa.
South Africa (10 November 2025) – Rugby just got a serious upgrade! South Africa’s Mzansi Rugby League (MRL) has officially launched MzansiGuard, a game-changing player welfare and safety framework designed for African rugby.
Too often, player safety in local rugby has been left to chance. But the MRL is changing that narrative with a bold, practical system that puts protection, training, and education at the heart of the game. Rasta Sharavenge, MRL’s Head of Player Welfare and Safety, on the versatility of this initiative.
“Through MzansiGuard, every coach, referee, medic, and player in our league will be certified, educated, and accountable. It means safer training sessions, smarter contact techniques, proper concussion management, and respect for the body that carries the dream.”
MzansiGuard is setting a new bar for the sport by making sure every match, from grassroots to pro level, meets the highest safety standards. Built on global best practices and verified by experts who have worked with World Rugby, the framework is proudly Mzansi-made and tailored to the realities of African rugby.
Physios, medics, and sideline care teams will be trained to world-class standards, while coaches and referees will be accredited through MzansiGuard’s own certification process. But it’s not just about compliance, it’s also about culture.
“MzansiGuard isn’t just compliance for us, it’s culture. If you’re an experienced but unemployed coach, referee, or medic, this is your invitation.”
At its core, MzansiGuard is about more than rules and checklists. It’s about building a rugby culture where safety equals respect, and protection equals pride.
As the MRL puts it:
“When we protect our players, we protect the future of rugby itself.”
Related Stories
Sources: MzansiGuard
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
https://youtu.be/o-W785wILcs
Kabelo Mulaudzi Celebrates Heritage Day With Joburg 10K Victory
Plenty of Green and Gold: The South African Sport to Watch This Weekend
by 
