Mention England playing an African side in a “Test match” and one may assume it is a reference to England playing South Africa in the cricket at Old Trafford over the Bank Holiday weekend, or at the Oval in early September.
However, the term Test match does not just apply to cricket or rugby; it applies in polo too. but, while South Africa and Zimbabwe are separate teams in Test cricket, there is but one All-Africa team in Polo, against whom England’s ladies are about to play.
The Hurlingham Polo Association has revealed the England team that will take the field for the match, which will take place on Sunday, September 4th at the Inanda Polo Club in Johannesburg. The African team will include two South Africans and two Kenyans.
It is just part of a tour that will also see the women playing in the Test featuring in the Diamond Ladies Polo Open 14 goal tournament on 2nd & 3rd September at the nearby East Rand Polo Club. Overall, there will be six teams playing in the tournament and the visitors from England will be able to play their ponies in three warm-up games before the Test to get them ready.
While Polo remains a popular sport in the UK with well-established venues such as the Guards Polo Club, Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, Hickstead and Pangbourne, it is often worth noting how many other countries around the world it is well-established in.
Argentina and the Middle East are common examples, but Africa may be less well known. Nonetheless, there are several major tournaments and venues.
These include South African venues like Rosefield Polo Club in Centurion, where the Africa Polo Open takes place, the Val di Vie estate in the Western Cape that hosts Pink Polo, a breast cancer charity event; Steyn City, which hosts Johannesburg’s Polo in the Park, and the Fifth Chukker Polo Club in Kaduna, Nigeria, which hosts another charity event, the Access Bank UNIFEC polo Cup.
Other notable venues are found in cities like Lagos, Cape Town, Luanda and Nairobi.
If you’re looking for livery yard services, talk to us today