Episode
Rugby Africa’s President Herbert Mensah on why Africa is the future of rugby!
- Podcast
- Rugby Unity
- Published
- Apr 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3081
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Summary
DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded in February 2026. David Pembroke sits down with Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa and a member of the World Rugby Executive Board, to talk about what it really takes to grow the game across a continent of 1.4 billion people. From picking up a rugby ball in England in 1966 to playing for Saracens and then being pulled into rugby administration in Ghana, Mensah lays out the hard truth: Africa’s total annual competition budget is just 675,000 pounds. He explains the push to unlock government backing, why South Africa and France matter for pathways and pre-match opportunities, and how Sevens and the Olympics shape the future. The chat also zooms out to the global game: revenue pressure post-COVID, the high-stakes plan for USA 2031, and why rugby must package itself smarter without losing what makes it special. Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie are mentioned by David at the close. Also in this episode: ● Herbert Mensah’s first rugby memories in England ● Saracens, injury, and the shift into rugby administration ● The Max Brito tour and rugby’s unlikely Accra crowd ● Rugby Africa’s 675,000 pounds budget reality check ● Olympics and Sevens: Africa’s travel and cost challenges ● World Rugby’s USA 2031 gamble and revenue debate PLUS: How rugby balances tradition with business reality, from Africa to the Executive Board. SIGN UP TO THE BIG 3 HERE: https://tinyurl.com/big3rugbyunity 👈👈 Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇 https://tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈 👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights, and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack 📧 Get in touch: [email protected] Thanks to Eleven la…