Recent News
From school sessions to showcase fixtures - follow our journey and see the difference your support makes.
Girls drift away from sport at nearly twice the rate boys do. Here’s what the research says, and what’s happened since we opened the door this September.
Weeks after Matt’s death, two New Zealand police teams played for a trophy in his memory, topped with a huia feather, the same symbol in our logo. Six years on, it’s still being played for. Here’s how it started, and why it matters.
A sold-out room, a tall tale or two, and a lot of generosity. Thank you to the Wasps Legends and everyone who came, bid and raffled for MRRF on 8th October.
Six years after the death of Matt Ratana, Sackville and Imberhorne came together under the floodlights at East Grinstead Rugby Club - where Matt had coached and was such a valued part of the community. More than 200 young people took part, with hundreds of supporters watching on. Beyond the rugby, the evening was a powerful reminder of Matt’s legacy: using the game he loved to bring people together, create belonging and inspire the next generation.
Six years ago today, we lost Matt. But when we think about him now, we don't want the story to end with what we lost - we want to think about what came next. Since January 2024, TackleLondon has reached over 4,500 young people across London, Sussex and Yorkshire, built on a simple belief Matt held: that rugby could give someone confidence, somewhere to belong, and people who might otherwise never have met.
Back to school. Back together. And what better way to start the new term? Take a look inside an evening of mixed teams, touch rugby, community BBQ, big competition and even bigger connections.
On Friday 12th June, The Winchester brought golfers, friends and supporters together at Copthorne Golf Club for a day of fairways, fundraising and community spirit - raising a remarkable £18,000 in support of the Matt Ratana Foundation in the process.
When Floyd Steadman OBE addressed the room at the inaugural TackleLondon Matt Ratana Awards, he brought with him a story of extraordinary resilience - one that speaks directly to the young people TackleLondon and the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation work with every day.
Three years ago, Saffron was finding her feet through TackleLondon. This week, she earned her first international cap for the European Under-15s Touch Rugby Championships.
While school gates close for summer, ours won't. The Matt Ratana Rugby Academy will keep running every Tuesday through the holidays: free, structured, and open to any young person in the catchment area. Because six weeks without routine, community and trusted faces can be a long time, and we don't think the summer should be the reason that stops.
This is what it looks like when young people know they belong. On 19th May, coaches stood up one by one and told 36 young people - in front of their families, their teachers, and their community - exactly why they deserved to be celebrated. Not just for their rugby. For who they are. Wellbeing. Respect. Resilience. Fairness. Integrity. These aren't words on a wall at the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation. They're the standard our young people are held to - and rising to - every single week. Read about the evening, the awards, and the young people who made it unforgettable.
We've got a new home - and we're just getting started. Same mission, fresh look, bigger ambitions. We've got a brand new home on the internet - and we're pretty excited about it. But more than a fresh coat of paint, this is a moment to reflect on just how far we've come. From a dream of reaching 525 young people, to over 4,500 lives touched across London, Sussex and Yorkshire - Matt's legacy is growing, and it shows no sign of stopping. Come on in, have a look around, and if what you see moves you - get involved.
We've been named charity of choice for the Wasps Legends Long Lunch 2026 - and every penny raised goes straight into TackleLondon, our rugby and mentoring programme for young Londoners. Join us on Thursday 8 October at The Anthologist for an Old Skool afternoon of legends, laughter, and a good cause. Save your seat now.
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