By: Nomfundo Zuma

Fifteen-year-old Hannah Maujean has been selected to represent South Africa at the Touch Rugby World Cup in Australia next year.

Maujean is a Grade 8 pupil at Lady of Fatima School in Durban; she is quite the sports woman because she plays Touch Rugby for her school. She made it into the Open KZN Mixed team and the U15 KZN team this year.

On Wednesday nights she plays Touch Rugby League as well for two teams at Rovers Rugby Club.  Touch rugby is not the only sport Maujean takes part in, she is also a swimmer, hockey player and soccer player as well

After the tournament next year Maujean will receive her school honors for representing South Africa. Having a good support system helps Maujean achieve on the sporting field. “My parents are very supportive, either both or one of them will always come to support me,” said Maujean.

With most of the people in Maujean’s team being older than her, she says that she is not intimidated by her teammates. “They are very supportive and I also show them that I deserve to be there, it’s like we are one big family,” added Maujean.

15-year-old Hannah Maujean showing off her ball handling skills as she passes the ball around with a friend. Picture by: Nomfundo Zuma

Despite having been out of the country before, Maujean says she is very excited about the tour because this is an opportunity of a life time even though she has been playing touch rugby for three years now. “I was speechless when I got the call telling me I had made the team, even if I didn’t make the team I would’ve been happy for the experience.”

Her parents have supported her by paying for some of the tour expenses. Touch rugby is still an upcoming sport the teams have to raise their own funds for the whole tour, the total amount for the tour for each player adds up to a total of about R40 000.

Maujean and her teammates from KZN have been raising funds that will help them with the tour fees. Maujean also has a sponsor to assist her to pay for the tournament.  The Touch Rugby world Cup will take place in May 2015.