Sport for Development · Aug 31, 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 has partnered with ChildFund

As we fast approach kick-off of the Women's Rugby World Cup on October 8th in Auckland, there is more exciting rugby news for ChildFund.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 this month announced it has partnered with ChildFund to help improve the lives of children and young people across Africa.

This is the first-ever charitable partnership for a Rugby World Cup Sevens, but the third partnership for ChildFund and World Rugby.

ChildFund is the principal charity partner for the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup and was also the partner for the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019. So far, the partnership has benefitted over 50,000 children around the world.

ChildFund believes in the power of sport to change children’s lives and ChildFund Rugby, its rugby for development initiative, implements a range of innovative and award-winning sport for development curricula, giving children and young people from disadvantaged communities the opportunity to play, learn and lead.

The organisation has also been at the heart of fundraising initiatives including Race to Rugby World Cup 2021, a challenge which sees Ron Rutland and Adam Nunn cycling from Japan to New Zealand ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

To celebrate the launch of the partnership, ChildFund have produced a short video showcasing a partnership in South Africa, which is using the Reconnect curriculum to encourage children and young people to both play and coach rugby, whilst also learning key life skills, including how to support gender equity and set goals.

Margaret Sheehan, CEO of ChildFund in Australia said “ChildFund is looking forward to using the power of rugby to positively impact the lives of children and young people across Africa. We are proud to partner for a third Rugby World Cup, and with the support of the rugby family in South Africa and beyond, we are excited to build on a growing legacy of more than 50,000 vulnerable children around the world that have had opportunities to play, learn and lead through rugby.”

Alan Gilpin CEO of World Rugby said “ChildFund have shown that they know how to use rugby to change lives and we’re delighted to be partnering with them again for Rugby World Cup Seven 2022 in Cape Town. Together we will have befitted over 50,000 young people, showing solidarity, integrity and respect, the values that rugby is famous for being put into action.”