The Atlas Foundation, founded by former England and British & Irish Lions prop Jason Leonard, is a rugby charity based in 16 countries around the globe. The Foundation works to improve the lives of the poorest people on earth through the power of rugby. Harnessing the power of the global rugby family, Atlas focuses on projects centred around rugby and education, developing the tools and support networks to lift these youngsters and their communities out of poverty.

In the true spirit of paying it forward, Scotland 7s put on a coaching clinic for the Atlas Foundation SA on their day off earlier this week [Wednesday], in a preamble to the Cape Town 7s taking place this weekend [starting today, Friday]. The UK High Commission in Pretoria facilitated the morning, which was memorable for everyone involved.

Sue Anderson, Manager of The Atlas Foundation SA, said: “A group of Atlas boys and girls arrived from three impoverished but proud Cape Town communities – Masiphumelele and Ocean View, where we have an Atlas All Schools Programme in place, together with older boys from the Busy Bee RFC in Langa, which made up the group who arrived singing their way to meet the Scottish 7s side.

“Coaching stations were set up and the children enthusiastically moved around and were coached by the Scottish team. It goes without saying that the young Atlas boys and girls will hold that time of engagement, recognition, skill and play with the Scottish sporting legends forever in their minds. No one can take that away from them and it is sure to be a guiding and motivating pointer for ever and a day!

“It was clear that all walked away with something special and always with the reminder that team unity, spirit, the game, song and friendship can truly uplift all even from the darkest of places that is surely there for some of those young boys and girls.”

Scotland 7s Head Coach, Ciaran Beattie, said his squad were thrilled to be there. He added: “The group bought into the concept of visiting The Atlas Foundation from the moment it was suggested to them.

“It was a very valuable and humbling experience and one that will live long in the memory for us all. It’s important to use tools away from rugby to strengthen the squad as a unit and seeing the work carried out here certainly does that.”

If you would like to know more about The Atlas Foundation please have a look at www.atlasfrc.org and indeed if you would like to find out more about our projects in South Africa, please contact [email protected]. Atlas SA supports a number of projects in SA and works largely with the respected SA Rugby Legends in SA.