Great North Rugby Club coach Batshabeng Keopetswe has highlighted the significant financial and logistical challenges facing rugby development in the northern region, warning that a lack of funding continues to hinder the growth and sustainability of the sport.
Speaking in an interview, Keopetswe revealed that the club relies almost entirely on the dedication of players, volunteers, and supporters, with limited external assistance available to ease the financial burden of participating in national competitions.
Great North Rugby serves players from a wide catchment area, including Shakawe, Maun, Kasane, and other surrounding communities. While the club’s regional approach has helped create opportunities for players from across northern Botswana, it has also increased operational costs, particularly for travel and accommodation during away fixtures.
According to Keopetswe, transporting and supporting a squad of around 25 players for league matches often requires substantial financial resources, placing considerable pressure on the club’s limited budget.
“Each trip requires a significant amount of money if we want the team to compete effectively,” he said. “Meeting those costs is not easy, and it remains one of our biggest challenges.”
The situation has been further complicated by the departure of several promising young players who recently left the club to pursue higher education. Their exit has forced the coaching staff to embark on a rebuilding process.
Keopetswe also expressed concern over the limited financial support available to grassroots rugby clubs, noting that many development-focused teams are largely self-funded. Expenses such as transport, accommodation, playing kits, and meals are often covered through community support and contributions from club members.
He added that the challenges facing rugby reflect broader difficulties experienced across several sporting codes in Botswana, particularly regarding access to funding and transportation support. “It is not only rugby that faces these difficulties; many sports are experiencing similar challenges,” he said.
The coach identified transport costs as one of the club’s most pressing concerns, explaining that securing affordable travel arrangements remains a major obstacle for teams based outside the country’s main sporting centres.
Currently, Great North Rugby has stalled competing this year in the National Botswana Rugby Union league. However, Keopetswe said the club remains committed to expanding opportunities for players, including the eventual development of a stronger women’s rugby programme.
While there is growing interest in women’s rugby across Botswana, he acknowledged that establishing and sustaining additional teams requires resources that many clubs currently struggle to secure.
Keopetswe believes that greater investment and support for grassroots rugby could play a crucial role in strengthening the sport’s future, particularly in regions outside the traditional rugby strongholds.
