From Old Brodleians to Zimbabwe – how one family trip became the start of something much bigger

Grassroots rugby has always been about more than what happens on the pitch. It is about people, communities, opportunity and a willingness to help others — and a recent initiative involving Old Brodleians Rugby Club is a powerful example of exactly that.

What began as a family trip to Zimbabwe has developed into a growing connection between a Yorkshire rugby club and young players thousands of miles away.

Old Brods Youth Chair Paul Turner travelled to Zimbabwe primarily to attend his daughter's wedding. While preparing for the trip, another family sporting achievement also provided inspiration. Paul's nephew, Ethan, had been selected as a goalkeeper for a Zimbabwe national football team, and the original plan was simply to buy him a new pair of football boots.

But the more Paul looked into grassroots sport in Zimbabwe, the more he realised that the need was far greater.

Many government schools and community teams have access to very little funding, meaning basic sporting equipment — shirts, shorts, socks and boots — can be difficult to obtain. Paul began exploring whether there was a way he could help.

A post on a Zimbabwe rugby website led to contact with Carlos Matematema, a Zimbabwe Sevens international who is also hoping to put himself in contention for the country's national team ahead of the next Rugby World Cup.

Carlos had established the Matematema Ghetto Rugby Foundation, an initiative helping give young boys and girls opportunities to take part in rugby.

That conversation became the starting point for something much more meaningful.

Three full kits from Yorkshire to Zimbabwe

Old Brodleians donated three complete playing kits, while local charities and supporters also contributed clothing and sporting equipment.

During his time in Zimbabwe, Paul met Carlos and young players involved with the foundation, personally handing over the donated kit.

But the visit was about more than simply delivering equipment.

Paul spent time speaking with the young players before everyone got involved in a game of touch and pass — bringing together people from two rugby communities separated by thousands of miles but united by the same game.

For players in the UK, having access to a rugby shirt, shorts, socks and boots can easily be taken for granted. In communities where resources are scarce, those same items can help give someone the opportunity to take part in sport, join a team and experience everything that comes with belonging to a rugby community.

A rugby family helping another rugby family

Paul has now returned to Yorkshire, but the story also reflects the strong family tradition behind his involvement at Old Brodleians.

His son Louis, pictured on the left in the accompanying photographs, is the third generation of the Turner family to play for Old Brods.

Louis' grandfather, Bruce, previously served as Club Chair, while his aunt is currently Joint Junior Chair.

That tradition of giving time back to rugby is mirrored across Old Brodleians itself.

The club currently supports three men's teams, one women's team, girls' teams across every age group including U10s, and boys' teams across every age group — a thriving grassroots rugby community built around players, families, coaches and volunteers.

This is only the beginning

Most importantly, Paul does not see the Zimbabwe initiative as a one-off donation.

The next ambition is to provide socks, shorts and boots, while longer-term ideas include fundraising towards rugby goalposts and finding other ways the wider rugby community in Yorkshire can support the Matematema Ghetto Rugby Foundation.

Paul also hopes the relationship could eventually create opportunities beyond equipment alone.

One longer-term ambition is to explore whether talented senior players in Zimbabwe might one day be able to secure the necessary visas, come to Yorkshire, play rugby with Old Brodleians and potentially find employment — creating an opportunity that could have a lasting impact both on and off the field.

It is an ambitious idea, but one born from a simple starting point: seeing a need and deciding to do something about it.

More than a game

This story demonstrates everything that makes grassroots rugby special.

A family wedding became an opportunity to help.

A pair of football boots became three rugby kits.

A social media post became a new friendship.

And a journey from Yorkshire to Zimbabwe has now become the beginning of a relationship that could continue for years to come.

Congratulations to Paul, Louis, the Turner family, everyone at Old Brodleians and all those who contributed equipment and support.

From West Yorkshire to Zimbabwe, it is another reminder that rugby's greatest impact is not always measured by results.

Sometimes it is measured by the opportunities we create for somebody else.

One game. Two communities. A worldwide rugby family. ??

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