We are proud to introduce the official charity partners of the 2026 Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens: the Ruth Strauss Foundation, the Matt Hampson Foundation and Skrum.
These organisations work across different areas, united by a shared commitment to supporting people and strengthening communities. Through their work, they are changing lives: supporting families facing the toughest challenges, inspiring individuals to overcome life-altering injuries and using rugby as a powerful tool for education and opportunity.
We are honoured to support these charities in 2026 and look forward to working together to use the platform and reach of the tournament to help create meaningful and lasting impact.
Ruth Strauss Foundation
The Ruth Strauss Foundation support families where a parent is facing any incurable cancer diagnosis and advocate for more research and awareness into non-smoking lung cancer.
In early 2018, Ruth Strauss, the late wife of former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss, was diagnosed with an incurable lung cancer that affects non-smokers. They faced the toughest challenge: telling their two sons and preparing them for her death.
The Foundation arose out of Ruth’s wish to help others in similar circumstances and has since supported thousands of families, trained healthcare professionals and funded vital research.
For more information or to support, visit ruthstraussfoundation.com
Matt Hampson was just starting a professional rugby career when an accident left him paralysed from the neck down and breathing via a ventilator. But rather than lament what he had lost, he decided to focus on what he could still do and to ‘get busy living’.
He created the Matt Hampson Foundation to support other young people following life-changing injury in sporting activity and opened its Get Busy Living Centre to provide specialist physiotherapy, wellbeing and mentorship. Following his own mantra, Matt is participating in the London Marathon with a team of support runners in April, raising funds to continue to change young lives.
For more information, visit matthampsonfoundation.org
SKRUM
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the world. With 28.8% of the population infected, life expectancy has dropped to just 51, and 45% of young people are classified as orphans and vulnerable children. In response to this crisis, SKRUM was founded in 2008 by Michael Collinson to offer hope to the youth of Eswatini.
SKRUM’s vision is an equal Eswatini, free from HIV/AIDS infection. Their mission is to give hope to young people by using the game of rugby as a powerful tool for engagement, education and inspiration. Through rugby sessions, SKRUM teaches children about HIV/AIDS, promotes better leadership in their communities, raises awareness of gender violence, and champions the importance of school and education. SKRUM shares rugby’s core values of respect, discipline, passion, solidarity and integrity, and its guiding message remains clear: Pass the Ball, Not the Virus.
Since 2008, SKRUM has visited 650 of the country’s 817 schools and reaches 12,000 young people every year. Beyond rugby, SKRUM provides classroom sessions on health, gender awareness and life skills. With rugby now one of the fastest-growing sports in Eswatini and HIV rates beginning to decline, SKRUM is helping – and so can you.
For more information, visit https://skrum.org/