A Future Worth Fighting For
Rugby has always been more than a sport. A way of life, a force that shapes character, builds resilience, and unites people from all walks of life. It is, and has always been a game for all.
Truth be known. Rugby is at a Crossroads.
The game which has given so much to so many is facing a moment of reckoning. For rugby to thrive, more than a professional sport, as a vehicle for personal growth, community building, and social change? We need step up to protect its players, its values, and the future of the grassroots game.
Rugby: Tough, But Not Reckless
In its purest form rugby is physical. It demands courage, commitment, and resilience. Each player who laced up its boots knows the thrill of the contact, the pride of a well-earned bruise, and the camaraderie built in the trenches of competition.
It’s important for the game to evolve without losing its essence. Making it safer, smarter, and more inclusive will motivate more parents to encourage their children to play. More schools will invest in the game, and communities embrace the values of the game.
For it to grow, rugby must be recognised as sport where players can give their all, without sacrificing their future health and well-being.
It requires education, better protection, and embracing open minds. Safer doesn’t mean softer. It calls for better coaching, smarter training, and leveraging advancements in player safety. Recognizing that while injuries happen it should not negatively impact a player’s future.
Beyond the Physical: Mental and Emotional Well-being
The battle doesn’t come to an end when the final whistle is blown. Many players, notable those who dedicated years to the game, struggle with life after rugby. The sudden loss of structure, identity, and purpose can be devastating. Mental toll of injury, early retirement, or not making it to the top can be as damaging as any physical hit.
We need to support players not only while on the field, but long after they’ve hung up their boots. Rugby should never leave people behind; players should be appreciated, looked after and recognised for their contribution as heroes of the game.
The Game Needs More Than Players
Rugby’s impact extends far beyond those who play. The sport’s future is reliant on coaches, mentors, administrators, medical experts, and community leaders who, in turn, dedicate themselves to passing on the game’s values.
Yet, too often, these critical roles are undervalued or purely voluntary. If patrons of the game are serious about rugby’s future, they need to invest in the right people keep it alive. Rugby should not be a part-time passion project; it has the potential to provide a viable career path committed to shaping the next generation.
When committed mentors engage with players at a young age, more than develop better rugby athletes—they shape better human beings.
A Game for All, Not for a Privileged Few
If rugby fails to evolve, it risks becoming a game for the privileged few, those with access to elite programs, top-tier resources, and financial support. But rugby’s greatest strength has always been its inclusivity.
The game is played in elite academies and on dusty community fields. It thrives in private schools and in townships, in packed stadiums and on makeshift pitches. It’s a sport where a child, regardless of background, can find a home, a purpose, and a team that feels like family.
But for that to continue, we must break down the barriers to entry, financial, geographical, and social. We must ensure that rugby remains a sport where a child’s determination matters more than their postcode, and where opportunity isn’t dictated by privilege.
Sport Has the Power to Change the World
Nelson Mandela once said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”
Rugby has that power, to uplift, to unite, to transform lives. Sadly, it happens only happens when we fight for it.
The Unstoppables isn’t about nostalgia for a game we love. It’s about securing rugby’s future, for it to serve, inspire, and uplift the millions of young people who need it most.
Getting it right means everyone wins. Kids. Communities, Society and Rugby wins.
The question begs: Who is willing to stand up to make it happen?
One for All. All for One.
#unstoppabletogether
Photographs: Copyright © 2025 Fortunate Irankunda – Uganda
