England Rugby star on mission to educate vulnerable young South Africans using power of sport

25th August 2014

Former England sevens rugby Captain turned recent Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race sailor, Ollie Phillips, is currently touring South Africa working to educate disadvantaged youth groups.

Because of his extensive sports career and his more recent challenge, taking on tough conditions at sea, Ollie was invited over as a GREAT Britain ambassador for the British High Commission’s Rugby World Cup trophy tour of South Africa.

The trophy tour includes a community coaching programme led by Coaching for Hope, a British organisation that works internationally to support organisations that use sport as a communication and motivational tool for vulnerable, at risk local youth groups within their local communities.

Organisations included in Ollie’s community visits include TAG Rugby’s ‘Learn to Earn’ programme in Cape Town with the organisations ambassador, South African Sevens Captain Kyle Brown; the Inner City Ambassadors Street Children Project in Johannesburg; the JAG Foundation – an anti-bullying scheme in Cape Town; and SKRUM Rugby a charity working with youth at risk of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland.

Ollie visited Cape Town last October whilst competing aboard the GREAT Britain team in the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race, the world’s longest ocean challenge.  

Details of the tour are as follows;

Monday 18- Johannesburg
-Visit to Inner City Ambassador’s Street Children Project.

Tuesday 19 - Johannesburg
-Motivational session with the young coaches (18-23) of theInternational Citizen Service Programme who work with underprivileged kids in their locality.

Weds 20- Cape Town      
-Worked with South African Rugby Sevens Captain Kyle Brown, ambassador for TAG Rugby’s ‘Learn to Earn’ programme - which trains young people coming out of prison to gain skills training to build personal business ventures.      

Thursday 21- Cape Town
-Visit to the JAG Foundation’s anti-bullying programme for U17/U18’s

Friday 22 – Cape Town
-Coaching the British Navy rugby team on board HMS Iron Duke.

Saturday 23 – Cape Town
-Guest attendee at the Western Province v Golden Lions at Newland Stadium.

Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 – Swaziland
Community visit with SKRUM Rugby. SKRUM aims to give African youths at risk of HIV/AIDS the opportunity for freedom and leadership skills through rugby coaching. Due to their work, rugby is currently the fastest growing sport in Swaziland.


Julia Wall-Clarke
PR Manager – Clipper Ventures
jwallclarke@clipper-ventures.com <mailto:jwallclarke@clipper-ventures.com>
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