Rugby Icons Unite to Launch Global Rugby Players Foundation
In a remarkable show of unity, current and former rugby stars from around the globe have joined forces to establish the Global Rugby Players Foundation (GRPF). Spearheaded by legends such as South Africa’s Siya Kolisi, New Zealand’s Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, and England’s Jonny Wilkinson, this new independent charity aims to empower rugby players in transitioning to fulfilling lives beyond the sport.
Supported by both World Rugby and International Rugby Players, the GRPF will be chaired by former Wallabies captain George Gregan, with Sara Heath appointed as the foundation’s CEO. The 10 founding members, which also include Rachael Burford, Conrad Smith, Kristine Sommer, Census Johnston, Sharni Williams, and Thierry Dusautoir, will work to provide holistic support across five key pillars:
- On-the-ground funding
- Centrally delivered programmes
- Career and business coaching
- Community engagement
- Partnership initiatives
“Some players move onto new lives after rugby very successfully, but what a lot of people don’t realise is that a lot of players face many challenges when they step away from playing the game,” explained GRPF CEO Sara Heath. “Rugby has a responsibility to these players, and the Global Rugby Players Foundation seeks to reframe the concept of life after rugby by looking at it as a positive challenge and an opportunity to forge something new and exciting.”
International Rugby Players CEO Omar Hassanein echoed this sentiment, stating, “The launch of the foundation is a milestone in how we support the welfare of elite and professional rugby players around the world. Over recent years, former players have highlighted the need for further support as they finish their playing careers.”
World Rugby’s Endorsement
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin expressed the organization’s delight in the foundation’s establishment, noting, “World Rugby is delighted to see the Global Rugby Players Foundation up and running. When the players came to us with their idea, an independent charity to support players with their life beyond the game, we were only too happy to do everything we could to support them.”
The GRPF will officially kick off on June 1, with four pilot programmes in Ireland, South Africa, the Pacific Islands, and New Zealand. The foundation’s central delivery of support will commence in the autumn, with further funding rounds planned for the winter of 2024.
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