World Rugby announces Spirit of Rugby partners
On April 6, International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, World Rugby announced the five organisations which have been selected to join its Spirit of Rugby programme. They are:
- Khelo Rugby
- Rio Rugby FC
- SOS Kit Aid
- Terres en Mêlées
- Trust Rugby International
All five are using rugby for societal development, be it on a local or international scale, with activities in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Find out more about the Spirit of Rugby partners here.
The work of the Spirit of Rugby partners is closely aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by using rugby to tackle key issues such as health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, climate action and partnerships for the attainment of the SDGs among others.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “Volunteering is the lifeblood of rugby, particularly at community level, supporting and nurturing the dreams of millions of children to become future Rugby World Cup winners or Olympians.
“Yet for so many, the chance just to have fun playing rugby, get active and take part in sport is something that cannot be taken for granted. In several nations, conflict, famine, environmental and cultural factors can often appear insurmountable obstacles which prevent children from having a childhood.
“As the global sporting family marks the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, it is heartening to see that there are so many committed rugby people out there, acknowledging the role and responsibility of the rugby family and volunteering their time to provide support to others.
“By channelling rugby’s character-building values such as passion, respect and solidarity, they are delivering critical and excellent work in often challenging circumstances. In announcing the five Spirit of Rugby partners, I congratulate and thank them for the role they have played to improve society through rugby and encourage all involved in such initiatives to work together as a team to achieve our shared goals.”
The Spirit of Rugby partner selection follows a public invitation last year to interested parties meeting certain minimum criteria to apply for World Rugby support. Eligible applications went through a robust review process, which assessed and scored many worthy projects worldwide by a variety of organisations, before arriving at the final five which were approved by the World Rugby Executive Committee.
Through their involvement with World Rugby and its Spirit of Rugby programme, these organisations will receive support including profile-raising opportunities and financial assistance to maximise the impact of their work in a sustainable fashion and encourage others to develop similar initiatives using rugby as a tool for development and peace.