Recent News

The latest and greatest
from the foundation

From school sessions to showcase fixtures - follow our journey and see the difference your support makes.

  1. From the Care System to Captaining Saracens: Floyd Steadman OBE's Message of Hope at the First Tackle London Matt Ratana Awards
    News 15 SEPT 2026

    From the Care System to Captaining Saracens: Floyd Steadman OBE's Message of Hope at the First Tackle London Matt Ratana Awards

    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.

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  2. From Our First Sessions to an International Cap: Saffron's Story
    News 15 SEPT 2026

    From Our First Sessions to an International Cap: Saffron's Story

    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.

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  3. Our Tuesday Academy Sessions Stay On Through Summer
    News, Story, Fundraising 15 SEPT 2026

    Our Tuesday Academy Sessions Stay On Through Summer

    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.

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  4. Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation Awards Evening
    News 15 SEPT 2026

    Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation Awards Evening

    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.

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  5. New Website Launched!
    News 15 SEPT 2026

    New Website Launched!

    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.

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  6. We've been chosen as the Charity of Choice for the Wasps Legends Long Lunch 2026
    News 15 SEPT 2026

    We've been chosen as the Charity of Choice for the Wasps Legends Long Lunch 2026

    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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