supporting
Rugbywise
Start Date
23/03/93
End Date
05/02/26
Location
United Kingdom
Lead
Youth Charter and Rugby Football Union (RFU)
Report
main Impact Outcome
1. Education - SDG 4
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The Youth Charter and the RFU have enjoyed a 12-year collaboration that has saw the RFU emerge as the leading sports governing body in terms of social inclusion. The equipping of RFU staff to engage, motivate and inspire young people has been extremely successful and disseminating the learning from the experience will further enhance the Youth Charter’s reputation.
The Government drive for an increase in physical activity follows worrying trends in childhood obesity, educational non-attainment and anti social behaviour. Game Plan identified that a lack of physical activity cost the UK in excess of £2 billion each year; a 10% increase in physical exercise would reduce this liability by £500 million. Sport, as ever, has an important part to play in demonstrating strong ethics and equity.
Initiatives such as the British Asian Rugby Association (playing both Union and League) campaign to help combat racism, build bridges between Asian communities and provide role models for young people. True success will come when all teams including the national team truly represent their communities.
The aim of this report is to outline the contribution to the social inclusion agenda made by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), supported by the Youth Charter. Reflecting on the last 12 years (1993 to 2005), this report will examine the benefits of the collaboration and identify how this partnership can sustain the investment to date and continue to present rugby as the leading social sport for change in the UK.
The impact of the Youth Charter's Rugbywise programme can be found in the following ongoing programmes:
RFU - Rugby in Education
RFU - Diversity & Inclusion
Prem Rugby - Social Impact
Six Nations: Turning Rugby’s Greatest Asset into a Youth Legacy
Options for Action: From Tournament to Transformation
1. Six Nations Youth Legacy Partnership
Establish a formal partnership between the Six Nations and Youth Charter to support Community Campuses in host cities and priority regions.
Impact: A visible, values-led legacy programme aligned to rugby’s ethos and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Rugbywise Investment Fund
Create a ring-fenced fund - supported by broadcast revenues, sponsors, and unions - to scale Rugbywise delivery through Community Campuses over a 5-year cycle.
Impact: Sustained funding for grassroots impact, with clear outcomes in participation, education, and wellbeing.
3. Social Coach Six Nations Pathway
Launch a Six Nations–branded Social Coach Leadership pathway, training thousands of community coaches, teachers, and youth workers.
Impact: A new generation of role models equipped to use rugby as a tool for social change.
4. Host City Community Campus Pilots
Each Six Nations host nation commits to at least one flagship Community Campus, linked to its national union and local authorities.
Impact: Place-based legacy that connects elite rugby to everyday community life.
5. Measurement, Voice, and Accountability
Embed youth voice, data, and independent evaluation into all Six Nations–linked development activity.
Impact: Credibility, transparency, and evidence of rugby’s contribution to society.
Inputs
Time Utilisation
Hours
Investment
Outputs
7500
Stakeholder Partners
1200000
Young People or Participants
10000
Social Coaches
Video Gallery
Image Gallery
Impact Outcomes
Youthwise Project Outcomes are set against the following 7 UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that deliver the Youth Charter Community Campus Model and Legacy Cultural Framework:
Education
The Youth Charter's Rugbywise work with the RFU contributed to it's now well established Rugby in Education programme with the aim of reaching out to state Primary and Secondary schools who would not normaly play Rugby.
Health
The Rugbywise programme brought Rugby to underserved communities where health inequality disparities are most prevelant. Rugby, along with other sports, provide the opportunity to reduce health inequalities by helping to get young people and communities phsyically active.
Citizenship
Yes
The Rugbywise programme brought Rugby to underserved communities where youth crime and violence was more prevelant, and with the RFU applied the values of Rugby - Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship - to help divert young people away from crime and violence.
Environment
Yes
The Rugbywise programme increased access to rugby facilities for young people who would not ordnarily have the opportunity to play rugdy.
Further & Higher Education,
Employment & Entrepreneurship
Yes
The Rugbywise programme between the Youth Charter and RFU led to the Premiership Rugby Hitz programme that delivered education and employement with young people who were classed as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
Collaboration & Partnership
Yes
The Rugbywise programme was primarily developed in partnership between the Youth Charter and the RFU, but was expanded out to thousands of schools and community organisations.
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Participation (EDIP)
Yes
The Rugbywise programme brought Rugby to underserved young people and communities who would not normally have access to opportunities to Play Rugby thus helping to improve Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Participation in Rugby at all levels.