Thanks to generous sponsorship, Kendal Wasps have a brand-new kit this season. Rather than letting our old kit sit unused, we wanted to give it a new life and help it reach women who can benefit from it.

Through the Atlas Foundation, we’ve connected with the Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute (GWRI) in South Africa, and we’re incredibly excited that our old kit will be heading there.

One of our players, Laura, is flying to South Africa in October and will take the kit with her to its new home.

About the Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute

GWRI does much more than provide women with the opportunity to play rugby.

The Institute supports young women from disadvantaged communities, including those who have experienced gender-based violence. It provides a safe place to live, with accommodation, food and hygiene products, alongside opportunities to study and train.

Through rugby, education and mentoring, the Institute helps women build confidence, develop skills and pursue future careers in coaching, refereeing and rugby administration. It also supports access to further education.

Many participants go on to become coaches, mentors and role models for younger girls in their communities, helping create opportunities for the next generation too. (The Atlas Foundation)

Why this matters to us

Rugby has changed or shaped the lives of every one of us at Kendal Wasps.

It has given us friendship, confidence, belonging, opportunities and a community we’re incredibly proud to be part of. We want more women to have the chance to experience that too.

Our kit donation is a small way of helping, but we’d love to go a step further by raising money to support the work of the Atlas Foundation and GWRI.

Every donation, no matter how small, can help create more opportunities for women to access rugby, education and support, while helping them build a more independent future.

Thank you for supporting us, and supporting women’s rugby 🖤🏉💛