Gauteng Touch make it a back-to-back at Senior IPT 2026

Gauteng Touch Rugby once again asserted their dominance on the national stage, delivering a composed, high-performance showing at the Senior Interprovincial Tournament (SIPT) 2026, held in KwaZulu-Natal from 28–30 March.

The Women’s Open A side successfully defended their title, while the province secured four podium finishes across divisions.

Competing in punishing 37°C conditions, five Gauteng teams advanced deep into the tournament. Three reached Premier Gold finals, while two contested bronze playoffs - highlighting the impact of the MotiMoves sponsorship on performance standards.

Gauteng’s structures, particularly their emphasis on decision-making under pressure, spatial awareness, and transitional play, reflect the same performance principles shaping elite rugby environments today.

With a national title, two silver medals and a bronze added to their tally, Gauteng Touch leaves SIPT 2026 with their heads held high, reinforcing their position as one of South Africa’s most competitive provinces.

Champions Again – Women’s Open Make It Back-to-Back

Gauteng’s Women’s Open A side delivered the standout performance of the tournament, dismantling Eastern Gauteng A 9–1 in a clinical final to secure consecutive national titles.

Measured in execution and relentless in attack, the side continues to set the standard for elite touch rugby in South Africa.

Kristin Graaff was named Most Valuable Player of the match, while Jessica Foster earned Top Try Scorer honours.

Strong Results Across Divisions

Gauteng’s success extended beyond a single team.

The men’s teams also impressed, with the Open A side claiming silver against Western Province, the Mixed Open A securing silver after a narrow loss to Northern Gauteng A, and the Men’s Masters side taking bronze, while the Men’s U21 side narrowly missed bronze.

These results reflect a system delivering across age groups and formats – proving a programme built for sustained success rather than short-term gains.

Gauteng Touch Chairperson Chris Brownbill said the tournament highlighted both the competitiveness of the national platform and the strength of the province’s internal structures.

“The intensity and standard of play at SIPT is exactly what our players prepare for. To perform at this level, in those conditions, speaks to the work being done across our structures. Defending a national title while integrating emerging talent is a strong signal of the depth we’re building.”

MotiMoves Investing in Performance

The 2026 tournament further demonstrated the impact of a five-year partnership between Gauteng Touch and MotiMoves, founded by entrepreneur Zunaid Moti.

Initially established with a significant investment in kits and player support in 2025, the partnership has grown into a broader high-performance support system – enabling players to compete without the financial constraints that often limit provincial sport.

“Gauteng continues to lead through discipline, preparation and depth. Defending a national title is never easy, and what stands out is not just the result, but the consistency across teams. That’s what strong systems produce,” said Moti.

More importantly, the integration of younger players into top-performing squads signals a system already delivering at the highest level and positioning Gauteng Touch not just to build success, but to sustain it.