Yorkshire RFU

COMMUNITY RUGBY REACHING ACROSS THE WORLD

From Old Brodleians to Zimbabwe – how one family trip became the start of something much bigger

Grassroots rugby has always been about more than what happens on the pitch. It is about people, communities, opportunity and a willingness to help others — and a recent initiative involving Old Brodleians Rugby Club is a powerful example of exactly that.

What began as a family trip to Zimbabwe has developed into a growing connection between a Yorkshire rugby club and young players thousands of miles away.

Old Brods Youth Chair Paul Turner recently travelled to Zimbabwe for a family wedding. Before travelling, Paul discovered that many people in the local community were keen to take part in sport but had very limited access to basic equipment such as playing shirts, shorts and boots.

Determined to help, Paul set about taking as much sports kit with him as possible.

Old Brodleians donated three complete playing kits, while local charities and supporters also contributed clothing and sporting equipment.

During his time in Zimbabwe, Paul met Carlos Matematema, founder of the Matematema Ghetto Rugby Foundation, and young players involved with the programme, personally handing over the donated kit and seeing first-hand the difference it could make.

The Foundation is built around a simple belief: every young person should have the opportunity to discover their potential, regardless of the circumstances they were born into.

Working in communities where access to sporting equipment and other essential resources can be limited, the Foundation uses rugby, education and community support to create opportunities, develop talent and provide young people with a positive environment in which they can grow.

For players in the UK, having access to a rugby shirt, shorts, socks, boots and a ball can easily be taken for granted. In communities where resources are scarce, those same items can be the difference between wanting to play and actually being able to take part.

A rugby family helping another rugby family

Paul has now returned to Yorkshire, but the story also reflects the strong family tradition behind his involvement at Old Brodleians.

His son Louis, pictured on the left in the accompanying photographs, is the third generation of the Turner family to play for Old Brods.

Louis’ grandfather, Bruce, previously served as Club Chair, while his aunt Diane is the club’s Girls Rugby Lead, continuing the family’s long-standing commitment to supporting and developing rugby at the club.

That tradition of volunteering and giving something back is reflected throughout Old Brodleians itself.

The club currently supports three men’s teams, one women’s team, girls’ teams across every age group including U10s, and boys’ teams across every age group.

It is a thriving grassroots rugby community built around players, families, coaches and volunteers — and now that community spirit is reaching far beyond West Yorkshire.

This is only the beginning

Most importantly, Paul does not see the Zimbabwe initiative as a one-off donation.

Following the success of the first collection, the next project will look at providing socks and shorts, alongside further equipment that can help more young people access rugby.

There are many ways the wider rugby community can support the Matematema Ghetto Rugby Foundation, whether through donating rugby kit, boots, balls and clothing, providing financial or sponsorship support, offering useful connections or simply helping to spread awareness of the work being done.

The support already provided by Paul, Old Brodleians and everyone who has contributed shows how a relatively simple act of generosity can have a much wider impact.

Paul hopes the relationship can continue to grow, creating lasting links between rugby communities in Yorkshire and Zimbabwe and opening up further opportunities for players and young people in the future.

More than a game

This story demonstrates everything that makes grassroots rugby special.

A family trip became an opportunity to help.
Three rugby kits travelled thousands of miles.
A new relationship was formed between two rugby communities.
And what began as a simple act of generosity has the potential to become something much bigger.

Congratulations to Paul, Louis, the Turner family, Old Brodleians Rugby Club, Carlos Matematema and everyone who has donated, supported or helped share the initiative.

From Yorkshire to Zimbabwe, it is another reminder that rugby’s greatest impact is not always measured by results.

Sometimes it is measured by the opportunities we create for somebody else.

Want to support the project?

Whether you are an individual, rugby club, school, business, charity or organisation, there are opportunities to get involved and help this relationship continue to grow.

For UK enquiries, donations or offers of support:

Paul Turner – Old Brodleians Rugby Club
Phone / WhatsApp: 07942 089799
paulljturner@gmail.com

To contact the Matematema Ghetto Rugby Foundation directly in Zimbabwe:

Carlos Matematema
Phone / WhatsApp: +263 714 211 413
Carlosmatemai@gmail.com
Instagram: @matematema_foundation

One game. Two communities. A worldwide rugby family.

#YorkshireRugby #OldBrodleians #GrassrootsRugby #CommunityRugby #RugbyFamily