Lesotho rugby president to serve as secretary-general of new regional body
Fetang Selialia, head of the Federation of Lesotho Rugby, has been appointed secretary-general of COSARU, a newly endorsed Southern African body.
Fetang Selialia, president of the Federation of Lesotho Rugby, has been appointed secretary-general of the Council of Southern Africa Rugby Unions (COSARU). The body was established in 2023 but received official endorsement from Rugby Africa and World Rugby at its inaugural virtual meeting. Namibia's Petrie Theron, the chairperson, leads the organisation.
Selialia said COSARU's mandate is to build a framework for rugby development in Southern Africa, with a focus on youth and women's rugby. Rugby Africa has approved plans for a strategic partnership with the African Union Sports Council and an application to add rugby to the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games. Selialia said rugby will not feature at this year's edition in Mozambique but is expected at the next one.
The organisation will also run capacity-building programmes for coaches, referees, match officials and administrators, and explore technical cooperation and investment. Selialia said Africa has considerable rugby talent but struggles to turn it into international success because of inadequate structures, investment and athlete development pathways.
Why it mattersLesotho's rugby federation gains a seat in a regional body that will coordinate youth, women's and coaching programmes across Southern Africa.