Rugby World Cup 2023™: sports photographers of tomorrow

Representing the 20 nations in the tournament, the mentees were first challenged to complete a 'home' project, capturing the essence of rugby and the significance of the tournament in their respective countries. From the grassroots enthusiasm of New Zealand's schoolchildren to the poignant depiction of the sport uniting inmates in a Uruguayan prison, the range of photo essays was as unique and insightful as the creators behind them.

The second phase of the programme saw all the photojournalists attend the Rugby World Cup 2023™ tournament in France, where, with the guidance of their AFP mentors, the mentees captured their national teams in action. Here, five mentees and their mentors share their experiences.

Home project: "Japan is famous for its high life expectancy but young people like me don't really know how the elderly enjoy their lives," says Karen, explaining why she chose to document a senior rugby team. "My mentor encouraged me to move closer to the action rather than photographing from the sidelines. This allowed me to convey so much more."

Match day (Japan vs Chile): "I met many Japanese people at the game and they were all so excited, so I did my best to take pictures that conveyed their optimism, as well as the match itself. I used the Canon EOS R3 with the Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lenses, and loved how nimble the AF was and how sharp the images turned out. In sports such as rugby, where the ball is thrown or kicked, the player holding the ball changes instantly, so having AF that can adjust to that speed is great."

Home project: Focusing on Soweto's Jabulani Tech rugby team – a rare find in a football-dominated township – Siyamazi, initially unfamiliar with rugby, formed a bond with the team as they helped him to understand the game's rules. "You should've seen me running around aimlessly until I got schooled by one of the players," he laughs. "I made sure to ask a lot of questions, which helped in building a rapport with the entire team. The majority of the players come from very poor backgrounds and were raised by single mothers. That resonated with me, because my story is similar. We became very close."

Match day (South Africa vs Romania): "The atmosphere was electric; what with over 45,000 supporters cheering and singing. I stood there in awe as I looked around the stadium, soaking in every emotion, while saying a small prayer of gratitude. I shot some candid moments of fans as I walked to my seat with the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM lens. Before this I was using the Canon EOS 50D, so the transition to the Canon EOS R3 was something else. That thing is a beast, and made the experience very easy. The Eye Detection AF feature helped greatly with tracking players, because sports photography is about following the action and not missing the defining moments. The wide aperture of the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM lens helped with isolating the players and getting that beautiful creamy blurred background. The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens came through for me when I needed to capture fan reactions and celebrations. The whole experience is something I'll treasure for the rest of my life."

Home project: Despite the lack of an official coach, Itu-o-Tane College – a co-ed school nestled in the village of Avao – is making an impact with its girls' team reigning as national champions and the boys dominating in both 7-a-side and 15-a-side. "Rugby is still a developing sport in Samoa," explains Manaui. "The school's principal is the coach and it was his idea to introduce a girls' team." Two of the boys have since been selected for the U20 men's national team.

Match day (Samoa vs Chile): "Surreal doesn't even begin to describe the feeling. As a girl from the small island of Samoa, I never imagined myself in France, among the best of the best. But there I was, living the dream. Being a rugby enthusiast, I had a basic understanding of the rules, but witnessing the game at the most professional level was so exciting. Despite only having one camera, I quickly learned when it was best to switch lenses. For most of the game, I used the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM, but when there was a throw-in at the 10, I would swap to the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens. The most valuable lesson I learned from my mentor was to be patient and take my time with the shots, but the whole experience helped me grow both personally and professionally."

Home project: Filled with numerous ideas, Valentine eventually settled on photographing Saint-Sulpice, a small amateur rugby club that had ranked high in its league despite its limited budget. "I wanted to share the excitement around this club – there was so much to tell about the players, volunteers, supporters, friends and family," she enthuses. "My mentor made me realise it's OK to use flash outdoors to take portraits – something I hadn't tried before."

Match day (France vs Uruguay): "A Rugby World Cup match in France, where the French team is playing? The atmosphere was always going to be good! The stands were full and the audience was so excited. I felt a lot of gratitude for having the chance to cover the host nation. I had a lot of fun taking photos using my two Canon EOS R3 cameras. One was mounted with a Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens and the other with a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens. My mentor encouraged me to free myself from taking 'easy' photos by shooting with an original touch. The whole experience helped me to gain confidence, and inspired me to give the best of myself. Progress is my paramount goal."

Home project: Tomás turned his lens towards the Pumpas XV, a mixed-ability rugby team from Buenos Aires. "Before being in the team, the players were said to be totally different people," claims Tomás, who says he was drawn to the transformative impact being in the team had had on its players. "Their families told me that having that space had given them a whole new purpose."

Match day (Argentina vs England): "In sports photography, to be truly good, one has to know the sport they are photographing, but my mentor Juan Mabromata had such great understanding that he basically knew what was going to happen before it happened, which was a huge advantage. I learned so much from him. The speed of the Canon EOS R3 both in focusing and shooting was something I hadn't experienced before, which helps a lot in sports photography. I teamed it with the Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens which was so light compared to the older models, and helps when you're shooting for long periods of time. Juan suggested I use the 400mm lens to fill the frame with the players' upper bodies, and then switch to my second camera, the Canon EOS R6, attached to a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens, to create variety. He also taught me to always shoot many photos after the one you want, just in case."