Our Team

Sean has 25 years experience as a business leader in financial services, financial technology, workplace education (preparing young people for work) and educational travel for young people (residential summer schools).  A builder of diverse multicultural companies with happy, motivated and productive teams.

Sean is a qualified Leadership and Executive Business Coaching Practitioner and has delivered personal development programmes to school-leavers to help them in their transition to the workplace. Sean remains a committed and competitive rugby player who exemplifies the phrase “never too old to learn new skills” and is an excellent role model to younger teammates both on and off the pitch. He holds dear the true meaning of ‘community’.

Archie is a solicitor and a chartered accountant. He has experience advising large financial services and corporate clients on a number of tax, accounting and legal issues. 

Archie has played rugby for the majority of his life and having moved around the country has played for a variety of teams in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Essex, London and Nottingham. He joined East Grinstead Rugby Club in 2019 after moving to the area and became a member of the club’s Leadership Team in 2020.

Antony has over 20 years experience in broadcasting and more than 35 as a volunteer with various organisations, many involving young people, supporting those in need. Away from his work as a journalist, Antony has significant experience in the areas of charity governance and as a grant giver following 6 years as a volunteer with the National Lottery Community fund.

Dad to East Grinstead flyer Henry, Antony helped set up the Supporters Trust at Crawley Town Football Club and was involved as an external trustee in his former University Students Union, an organisation he also served when he was studying. Committed to community projects and sport, Antony now brings his wealth of media knowledge to the Foundation.

In his spare time, you'll discover he's an enthusiastic long-distance runner (more "Slo-Mo" than Sir Mo), a passionate Crawley Town season ticket holder, an occasional visitor to White Hart Lane and a really, really poor golfer.

Ryan has 15 years experience coaching and delivering rugby sessions for all ages and abilities., working closely with schools, colleges, universities and local rugby clubs. He also has 9 years experience managing of global accounts, and oversees a small team.

Ryan was very close with Matt from both a personal and coaching perspective. He is currently the assistant head coach at East Grinstead RFC and is passionate about making Matt’s dream a reality.

Garry has over 30 years of experience in retail and procurement having been group sourcing director for both Primark and M&S. More recently European CEO for Li and Fung Europe he is now board advisor and consultant to a number of companies. For many years he has been involved in charity fundraising through rugby, heading up the Sunshine Sevens Tournament which has to date raised almost £300k for disadvantaged children. Believing there is fun in fundraising, he is continually motivated to introduce his contacts to the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation.

Darren has been a police officer for over 20 years, all with the Metropolitan Police where he is a chief inspector. He has worked in many frontline roles across the capital and at New Scotland Yard, leading large teams delivering emergency response, and neighbourhood policing as well as in community and partnership roles. For several years he has worked in the Met’s custody command where he got to know Matt as a colleague and a friend with a shared a love of rugby.

Darren has played competitive rugby for longer than he cares to remember and has played for many years at Vigo Rugby Club in Kent. He is also a youth coach at Maidstone Rugby Club. At both he attempts to pass on his love of the game (which is huge), and also his knowledge (which is sadly less so!).

Amy's career path has been varied, encompassing education, sport, academia, mentoring, and mental health awareness. She has 26 years of experience in education, including completing a PhD and MA in Education at King's College London. During her teaching career, she was Head of Modern Foreign Languages at a large, boys’ comprehensive school. Amy later took time away from full-time teaching to care for family members and completed qualifications in T.E.F.L and post-natal and baby yoga teaching. She has also been coaching rugby for 10 years and has won awards for inclusion and volunteering. She was recently appointed as the first female Chair of her rugby club where she started the first ever girls’ rugby section. Amy runs England Rugby’s Rugby United program at county level, which aims to encourage traditionally under-represented groups of people to become involved in rugby.

Pete has worked within the logistics industry for the past 20 years, mainly in the communications sector. Pete's main passion is grassroots rugby and supporting local communities in the South East. Rugby is in his blood as a retired semi-pro player, having played for both Richmond and Blackheath.

He now coaches at intermediate level at East Grinstead RFC where he got to know Matt. Pete's main role at the Foundation is heading up the committee which organises the Whānau Cup and our Ratana Toa 7s team. 

Rob played rugby in the front row alongside Matt at London Irish, an experience which left an indelible mark. He is committed to assisting the Foundation and is actively involved in helping to organise rugby and profile-raising events. As a partner with Blake Morgan solicitors Rob advises corporates, banks and developers on real estate transactions.  Problem solving goes with the territory. 

Still an active rugby player (“although a bit slower these days!”), Rob has been pulling on the boots for over 40 years, most recently playing for the Egg Chasers, raising funds and awareness for MND. He is also an experienced mountaineer, and is at happiest backpacking in the Scottish Highlands in all weathers.

Ellen has been teaching for 16 years and has been pastoral leader in schools for much of that time. She has worked in very diverse catchment areas in Oxfordshire and now Sussex, with a huge range of safeguarding and welfare needs.

She is a designated safeguarding lead in her current school and is used to working closely with a wide range of external agencies to ensure the absolute best outcomes for children and their families.  Ellen is club safeguarding officer at East Grinstead and has been a coach for her son's team both here and previously at Gosford All Blacks in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

She is passionate about rugby and the hugely positive role it can play in all children’s and young people’s lives, giving them self-confidence, developing their physical skills, team skills, self-discipline and, above all, giving them a family for life in the rugby community.

Following 25 years as a company director in the transport sector, Murph now freelances as a media manager and content writer, specialising in sport. He plays his rugby at London Irish, where, as part of the Vets family, he was privileged to have Matt as a teammate.

Now splitting his time between London and Achill on the wild west coast of Ireland, his other passions include trad music, long-distance hiking and kayaking. To all these disciplines he brings tireless enthusiasm but only modest ability. 

In his Foundation role, Murph remains fiercely committed to connecting a rapidly growing audience, as effectively as possible, with Matt’s vision and with our work to deliver it.