Simon Shaw - 71 Caps

Simon joined the Atlas team in 2018 with a particular focus on Atlas France. He has 71 Caps for England and 2 for the British and Irish Lions. He was the first player to reach 200 appearances in the premiership and the first lock to ever kick a successful drop goal!

He visited kids in the Kibera Slum in Nairobi to help with their Atlas rugby programme

See his photo log here Photo Log

Balls for Bucks

Help continue his work in Nairobi. Make a donation and Shawsey will send you a Simon Shaw rugby ball as a thank you

Balls for Bucks

Personal Messages

Book now for $20

2019 Trek to India

Shawsey joined the Atlas Trek in 2019 and helped raise over £100,000 for our work with the poorest of the poor in India.

See his story here Trek 2019

Latest

Tackle London. Creating Change for Young Londoners

Tackle London is a joint initiative between three charitable organisations: Star Scheme, The Atlas Foundation and The Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation. Our goal is to use rugby as a means to improve the lives and experiences of young people in London and counter Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES).
Study Cat kicks off at Khelo!

Atlas is working with Study Cat to provide children at Khelo rugby with essential technology to improve their education. This programme is a game changer and is making education accessible for these children. With your continued support we can continue to provide more children with life changing opportunities like this!
Women’s Barbarians join The Atlas Foundation to inspire the next generation

The Women’s Barbarians joined The Atlas Foundation at Ocean View High School for a coaching day ahead of their South African test. The Baabaas and kids shared skills, stories and an unexpected lesson in hurling from their Irish contingent. The girls at Ocean View and Masiphumelele were inspired by the Baabaas and were exhilarated to spend some time with female rugby role models.
James' Story

When James joined Star* he was struggling in school, and was in Alternative Provision. The support James has from Star* has changed his life, helping to go back to mainstream school, and gain a 100% sports scholarship to a prestigious independent school!

Jason Leonard OBE - England 114 Caps

England Rugby’s most-capped player, with 114 caps for England, a further 5 for the British & Irish Lions, and in 2003 a Rugby World Cup win in Australia. He was awarded the OBE in 2004 for services to sport, and in 2015 was the RFU President. He founded the Atlas Foundation in 2015 and remains its Chairman.
Maro Itoje - Current England Player

Maro is an established international for England and the British & Irish Lions. Beyond the game Maro has a degree in politics and is interested in international development, gender equality and human rights. His family is Nigerian and he brings a focus to the Board to improve the reach and impact of Atlas’s work with children across Africa.
Gavin Hastings OBE - Scotland 61 Caps

Andrew Gavin Hastings, OBE is a Scottish former rugby union player. A fullback, he is widely regarded to be one of the best ever Scottish rugby players and was one of the outstanding players of his generation, winning 61 caps for Scotland, 20 of which as captain.
Alycia Washington - Current USA Player
Mako Vunipola - Current England Player

Mako Vunipola, Loosehead Prop for Saracens, England and the British and Irish Lions. He is working with Atlas to establish work in Tonga which will allow younger players there to succeed in their own country.
Sir Graham Henry

Sir Graham Henry KNZM is a world-renowned rugby union coach who reformed the Welsh national team taking them to huge success; and leading them to hark to one of their famous hymns in calling him ‘The Great Redeemer’. Sir Graham went onto coach his own national team, the All Blacks, where he became one of the most successful rugby coaches of all time, leading his team to a series victory over the British and Irish Lions in 2005, five Tri Nations titles, and winning the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
Joe Marler - Current England Player

Joe has had an incredibly successful with 58 caps for England and 2 for the British and Irish Lions.
Shane Byrne - Ireland 41 Caps

Shane is a former hooker for Ireland and also won four caps with the Lions on the New Zealand tour of 2005. Shane is much loved and remembered for his fearsome mullet haircut. He is now a successful businessman, commentator and burgeoning media celebrity. In 2020 he became Chairman of Atlas Ireland.
Babalwa Latsha - Current Springbok Player

Babalwa Latsha is a current Springbok Player, and was Africa's first female professional rugby player. She currently has 22 caps for the Springboks, and has been named one of the top 12 leading women in rugby in Africa. She is helping Atlas to inspire women and girls in our projects in South Africa, helping them to become empowered and uplift their community.
Humphrey Kayange - Kenya 49 Caps

Humphrey is a Kenyan rugby union player who captained their famous Sevens side during a period of national success. He is also an organic chemist and an Atlas Rugby Champion helping as a role model with boys and girls across Kenya and Africa.

Jungle Crows - Khelo Rugby

The Atlas Foundation supports The Jungle Crows with the Khelo Rugby project in 35 locations in Kolkata and North Bengal, benefiting nearly 2000 children each week.
Top 10 Benefits of Rugby

An opinion piece from a Health and Fitness Journal, rather than an empirical study, but a valid list of benefits nonetheless.
What We Do
Anita, Alex & Annabel Nicholson Memorial Fund

Set up by Ben Nicholson in memory of his wife Anita and their two children Alex and Annabel who tragically lost their lives in the Sri Lanka bombings on Easter Sunday 2019.
Front Row Club Closure
England Deaf Rugby Union

EDRU was set up by a group of deaf sports enthusiasts with the purpose of promoting the playing of rugby union by deaf and hard of hearing players.
Ben Nicholson interview Easter Sunday 2020

Read the moving interview with Ben Nicholson in the Sunday Times. “Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings: one year on from the terror that killed my wife and children.”
History

Don't need summary
Richmond Heavies Foundation Presents ‘A Series of Extraordinary Events’

The Richmond Heavies Foundation are organising A Series Of Extraordinary Events around the world, which include extraordinary superhuman challenges as well as achievable social activities, allowing all to get involved. All monies raised will go to the Richmond Heavies Foundation, which was founded after Richmond Rugby lost 3 very special friends, far too early.
Ed Cooper Memorial Fund

Ed was a big personality who lived life to the full, was loved dearly by his family and friends, and is missed hugely by all who knew him. He was a talented sportsman who enjoyed playing both codes of rugby and cricket. Following Ed’s death in 2016, this Memorial Fund was established to honour his memory.