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12 November 2021

Rugby Stars Unite to Celebrate the Power of Sport Ahead of Scotland v Springboks Match

Stuart Hogg, Bryan Habana, Gavin Hastings and Springboks stars join forces with Laureus Sport for Good to celebrate the positive power of rugby with kids from the School of Hard Knocks.
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Their teams will face each other in the Scotland v Springboks Autumn Nations Series fixture on Saturday, but today, Scotland captain and Laureus Ambassador Stuart Hogg, Springboks legend and Laureus Academy Member Bryan Habana and members of the Springboks squad joined forces to ensure that when young people use the power of rugby to overcome discrimination and disadvantage in their lives, everyone wins.
Also in attendance at the rugby showcase event at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh were Scotland and British and Irish Lions legend and Chairman of the Lions Trust Gavin Hastings and Springboks players Salmaan Moerat, Joseph Dweba, Marco van Staden, Marvin Orie and Thomas du Toit.
 

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the boys and girls today in Edinburgh was special. I’ve been fortunate as a Laureus Academy Member to experience the inspirational programmes Laureus Sport for Good supports around the world. As athletes, sport plays an incredible role in our lives but for the young people in these programmes, sport gives them hope, inspiration and often a path to a brighter future.  

laureus academy member, Bryan habana    
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At the heart of the visit were 30 young people from the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) programme in Fife. SOHK uses rugby coaching, classroom sessions and mentoring to improve attendance and behaviour at school, with an overall aim of helping at-risk pupils avoid exclusion. Working with young people aged 13-14, the programme builds confidence and resilience, improves physical and mental wellbeing and encourages young people to fulfil their potential in education.
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic as lockdowns were being enforced, SOHK published a wellbeing pack which was shared among programmes using sport as a tool for social change. The pack included tips and advice on how to help young people maintain mental and physical health during times of uncertainty and isolation.

Spending time with the young people from School of Hard Knocks is the reason I joined Laureus Sport for Good as an Ambassador. The pandemic has had a devastating impact throughout society, and the kids in the programmes Laureus supports really felt the impact of lockdowns and isolations with sporting facilities being forced to close and activities being put on hold.

Laureus ambassador, stuart hogg  
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In May, Laureus Sport for Good was announced as the first ever Global Charity Partner of the 2021 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions in place for the entire Series, visits to community programmes couldn't take place. While sport took place in empty stadiums, the impact of lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions were felt throughout the Sport for Good programmes Laureus supports around the world. Sporting facilities forced to close, meant no access to sport and the support Laureus programmes offer to young people in communities around the world.
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