JRFU & Rugby Association of Maharashtra Launch RUCK’ed

The Japan Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Association of Maharashtra (a permanent member of the Indian Rugby Football Union) have jointly collaborated to launch the Youth Leadership Development Programme under the title RUCK’ed it was announced in November 2024.

Under the very mouthy ‘Rugby Uniting Changemakers for Knowledge, Empowerment and Development’ RUCK’ed aims to “harness the power of rugby to tackle pressing environmental challenges, while at the same time, nurturing the next generation of youth leaders.”

Naofumi Yasui, Chief Development Officer, Rugby Development Division of Japan Rugby Football Union said:
“The JRFU is delighted to collaborate with the Rugby Association of Maharashtra on this initiative. This programme aligns with our mission to develop rugby across Asia while addressing social and environmental issues. We look forward to seeing youth leaders from both Japan and India come together and make a meaningful impact through this initiative.”

Taking the Legacy Asian Scrum Project To The Next Stage

The legacy of the Asian Scrum Project, which has been in operation since 2011 and aligns with JRFU’s commitment to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, will be developed under this initiative and has been made possible through the support of the Japan Sports Council as part of SFT Action+, a project support programme open to members of the Sport for Tomorrow Consortium.

What is RUCK’ed?

Nasser Hussain, Secretary of the Rugby Association of Maharashtra and Former Captain of the Indian National Rugby Team commented, “The collaboration between Rugby Maharashtra and Japan Rugby is a testament to the growth and development of the sport within the State and our commitment towards the youth and their future.

We are excited to partner with Japan (a powerhouse in global rugby) and for both our countries to come together, learn, and grow through rugby. We are confident this relationship will not only help further develop the sport, both on and off the field but also impact change and inspire.”

RUCK’ed targets young people aged between 18 and 30 and “guides them to explore innovative solutions for environmental issues through their involvement with rugby. The programme will be run across three phases between December 2024 and September 2025.

Some of the core objectives are to:

• Equip participants with leadership and management skills
• Empower them to take actionable steps in their communities
• Expand their involvement in addressing social issues through sport

Applications are currently open for willing participants who are flexible and open to learning about diverse values, cultures and societies, and using this knowledge and experience to work together to bring valuable, lasting and impactful change said the JRFU. Applications close on Friday, 12 December 2024.

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Aged 18–30
• Hold a passport valid for at least six months from February 2025 with two unused visa pages
• Be proficient in English and willing to actively participate in discussions and activities in English.
• Be available to participate fully in all programme activities.

Rugby Development Announcements 2024-2025

• World Rugby and ChildFund Rugby Set For Next Phase of the Grassroots to Global Forums.
• The Blues (NZ) and Rugby School Japan Launch the ‘Blues Global Rugby Academy’.
• Gallagher High Performance Academy 2024 Female Coaches Announced.
• World Rugby Launches Impact Beyond 2025 Global Impact Programme.