ChildFund Rugby

What ChildFund Rugby does

ChildFund Rugby is a nonprofit Sport for Development organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia, operating under the ChildFund Alliance umbrella. The organization leverages rugby as a delivery mechanism for social impact programs targeting children and young people in vulnerable situations, with a particular focus on gender equity, social-emotional learning, and disaster recovery. Its flagship offering, Pass It Back, is an integrated rugby and life skills curriculum built around five structured learning modules (Playing for Gender Equity, Planning for the Future, Being healthy, Feeling Safe, and Recovery) delivered through play-based methodologies. The company also operates two additional core programs: Grassroots to Global, a community leadership initiative connecting young rugby leaders through forums, and Union Boost, a capacity building program for rugby unions using the proprietary Union Development Questionnaire (UDQ) assessment tool.

The business model is donor-funded rather than revenue-generating. ChildFund Rugby operates as World Rugby's Global Social Impact Partner under a partnership established in 2019 and extended through Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 and 2029, with branding appearing on match official jerseys and an integrated donation mechanism at the 2027 ticket checkout. Programs are delivered through 34+ national rugby federations and 31 National Governing Bodies across 36 countries, enabling capital-light scaling without direct service delivery infrastructure. Funding sources include corporate partners (Menzies Aviation, DHL Express), government development funding (Australian Government DFAT), and individual donations via the website. The organization has reached 87,455+ player registrations globally, trained 3,388 accredited coaches, and achieved 56% female participation across programs, with recent geographic expansion into Kenya and post-trauma deployment in Türkiye following the 2023 earthquakes.

Name

ChildFund Rugby

Legal name

ChildFund Rugby / ChildFund Australia

Website

https://childfundrugby.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ChildFund Rugby is a nonprofit Sport for Development organization that delivers integrated rugby and life skills curricula through national rugby federations across 36 countries, serving children and young people in vulnerable situations as World Rugby's Global Social Impact Partner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport for Development Nonprofit Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Sport for development
• Youth life skills
• Community rugby programs
• Capacity building
• Social impact charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Surry Hills, Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: ChildFund Rugby accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support programs for children and young people. Donations can be made through the website and at Rugby World Cup 2027 ticket checkout.
2. Partnership Funding: Funding from corporate partners including Menzies Aviation, DHL Express, and government partners such as the Australian Government (DFAT) to support program delivery and expansion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ChildFund Rugby is a Sport for Development nonprofit that delivers integrated rugby and life skills programs to children and young people in vulnerable situations across 36+ countries. Its flagship Pass It Back curriculum combines rugby coaching with five social-emotional learning modules (Playing for Gender Equity, Planning for the Future, Being Healthy, Feeling Safe, Recovery), delivered through 34+ national rugby federation partnerships. Complementary programs include Grassroots to Global (community leadership forums) and Union Boost (rugby union capacity building in governance, inclusion, and safeguarding).

Product overview

ChildFund Rugby offers a comprehensive Sport for Development program consisting of three interconnected core products. The primary offering is Pass It Back, an integrated rugby and life skills curriculum with five learning modules (Playing for Gender Equity, Planning for the Future, Being healthy, Feeling Safe, and Recovery) that helps children and young people build social-emotional skills through play-based learning. This is supplemented by Grassroots to Global, a community leadership initiative connecting young rugby leaders worldwide through forums and project development, and Union Boost, a capacity building program supporting rugby unions and clubs in governance, inclusion, and development areas. Together, these programs are delivered through partnerships with national rugby federations globally, with World Rugby as the organization's primary global partner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pass It Back: Integrated rugby and life skills learning curriculum designed to equip children and young people to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change, and 'pass it back' to their communities.
• Grassroots to Global
• Union Boost

Products and services

• Pass It Back An integrated rugby and life skills learning curriculum designed to equip children and young people to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change, and 'pass it back' to their communities. Features five key learning modules: Playing for Gender Equity, Planning for the Future, Being healthy, Feeling Safe, and Recovery. Delivered to participants aged 11-16 through national rugby federation partnerships across 36+ countries.
• Grassroots to Global A community leadership initiative that connects young grassroots rugby leaders from around the world through dynamic forums to explore barriers preventing young people from joining or staying in rugby, and identify key drivers that fuel participation. Particularly focused on supporting female community leaders and emerging young women in community coaching roles.
• Union Boost A capacity building program for stronger rugby unions and clubs, providing tailored support packages in governance, inclusion, financial management, outreach, gender inclusion, safeguarding, fundraising, communications, and community engagement. Uses the proprietary Union Development Questionnaire (UDQ) to assess needs and inform tailored support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87,455+ player registrations globally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Rugby (Rugby World Cup 2027)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2027Official Social Impact Supporter of Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, building on partnership established since Men's Rugby World Cup 2019. The organization works with World Rugby and rugby stakeholders to support social impact beyond the pitch, with visibility opportunities at the tournament.
• World RugbycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019ChildFund Rugby is World Rugby's global Social Impact Partner, a long-standing partnership built on shared commitment to using rugby for positive change. The partnership leverages World Rugby's global platform to reach communities where opportunities are most needed. ChildFund Rugby receives visibility on match official jerseys during major tournaments including the Nations Championship. The partnership supports delivery of Pass It Back through national federations.
• Kenya RugbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering Pass It Back program in Kenya. Kenya Rugby led delivery of the inaugural season, training youth Coaches and supporting young players aged 11-16 through structured 90-minute sessions combining rugby skills with life skills learning. Female players made up 65% of players, with more than 50% of Coaches being female.
• National Rugby Governing Bodies (31 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner31 National Governing Bodies globally hosted national community leadership forums in 2025 as part of Grassroots to Global initiative, feeding into a global forum during Women's Rugby World Cup 2025. These partnerships support female community leaders and project proposals focused on increasing women in community coaching roles.
• Rugby Unions (Union Boost Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRugby unions worldwide receive tailored support through Union Boost, with packages built around the Union Development Questionnaire (UDQ) tool. Support areas include governance, inclusion, financial management, safeguarding, fundraising, communications, and community engagement.
• European ParliamentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildFund Rugby Ambassador Coumba Diallo participated in a European Parliament event marking the International Day of Play, hosted by MEP Maria Guzenina with support from Vice-President Ewa Kopacz. The event explored how sport can provide structured play benefits at scale.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PeacePlayers International: Uses basketball to bring together children from divided communities and develop leadership skills. Comparable to ChildFund Rugby's use of rugby as a vehicle for social-emotional learning, leadership development, and conflict-sensitivity outcomes.
• Women Win: International nonprofit advancing gender equity through sports. Highly comparable to ChildFund Rugby's Pass It Back curriculum, which centers gender equity as a learning module and reports 56% female participation globally.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global foundation funding and convening sport-for-development programs. Comparable mission overlap with ChildFund Rugby and shared access to corporate partners, sport federations, and impact-measurement frameworks.
• Beyond Sport: Global sport-for-development collective that supports and convenes organizations leveraging sport for social impact. Comparable as a peer in the sport-for-development ecosystem with overlapping funder networks and partner federations.
• Right to Play: Global sport-for-development organization using play-based programs to protect, educate, and empower children in vulnerable situations. Direct comparable given similar mission, youth outcomes focus, partnership-driven delivery model, and multi-country footprint.

Others

• ChildFund Alliance: Parent network of ChildFund Rugby and nine other child-focused development organizations. Related via direct ownership and shared mission, with overlapping donor, beneficiary, and governance relationships.

Emerging players

• Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA): Kenyan grassroots sports-for-development organization using football to engage youth in slum communities. Comparable community-based methodology and Kenya operational context, though focused on football rather than rugby.
• Active Communities Network: UK-based sport-for-development charity using sport to address social exclusion and youth crime. Comparable in its use of sport as a tool for social-emotional outcomes and youth development outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF Sport for Development: UN agency with global sport-for-development programming focused on child rights, education, and gender equity. Comparable youth-development mission and outcomes framework, though as a much larger multi-cause organization rather than a specialized sport-for-development nonprofit.
• International Inspiration: UK government-funded sport-for-development initiative delivered through sport partnerships. Comparable in mission and federation-driven delivery model, though much larger and government-backed rather than a specialized NGO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChildFundRugby
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/childfund-rugby
• Instagraminstagram.com/childfundrugby

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ChildFund Rugby