Q3 Update: The Journey So Far
The Rugby Players Foundation is thrilled to share some exciting updates from our programmes across Ireland, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and South Africa. We're connecting, supporting, and empowering more past players than ever before, helping them navigate their post-rugby journeys with confidence and a strong sense of community.
Ireland
Our programme in Ireland is buzzing with activity! There are over 200 past players actively engaging with the programme, and the RPI newsletter has an impressive reach of over 700 people. We're excited to see mandatory transition talks happening within clubs, ensuring players are starting to think about life after the game while they’re still playing. These transition talks are also greatly growing the awareness of the programme which is fantastic.
Building a robust player database, with the support of club teams, is a goal for the future, as it will help us connect with even more former players. Plus, the programme is tailoring its approach to better meet the unique needs of the women's group.
And talk about enthusiasm – an U20s team from 2007 is already planning a reunion event for 2027 – a testament to the lasting connection that rugby players have and their enthusiasm to meet up.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, our dedicated Player Development Manager (PDM), Maree, is doing incredible work, supporting over 80 players on a 1:1 basis. It's inspiring to see over 30 players diving into individual career coaching sessions as well, taking proactive steps for their futures. And it's truly encouraging to see players who initially prefer to go it alone decide to reach out a few months down the track – it shows trust and the value of the programme support.
Maree perfectly captures the spirit of these players, admiring "how committed they are to this next stage of their journey."
In the coming months, there will be a focus on creating more social media content to reach an even wider audience and help more players.
Pacific Islands
The feedback from this programme shows that face-to-face meetings are incredibly effective, and there's huge success in attendance when meet-ups are organised alongside existing events – a smart way to maximize engagement.
We're particularly thrilled about the discussions with rugby legend, and one of our Founders, Census Johnston around leadership training in Samoa – it’s an incredibly exciting development for future leaders.
And there's potential for an agricultural education event in Fiji, with the programme lead, Hale, already in discussions with the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture. This shows commitment to providing diverse and meaningful opportunities for players.
South Africa
In South Africa, the programme is making a real impact with over 70 1:1 career advancement conversations and activities recently taking place. Additionally, 11 forum meetings have been held in Q3, fostering a strong sense of community. And we’re incredibly proud to report that 3 participants have successfully stepped into new contract employment – a fantastic outcome.
Several past players have reached out to the programme coordinator to express their interest in being part of the next intake of players. This is testament to the fantastic work being done on the ground to raise awareness of the programme and yield meaningful results for its participants.
Participants are keen for more 1:1 sessions and expressed a desire to incorporate family dynamics into discussions, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach. They also truly value in-person connections, so it will be a focus of the programme to create opportunities for this.
It’s clear these programmes are empowering rugby players around the globe as they transition to new stages of their lives. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow and support this incredible community!
