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.
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