At the end of last season Teddington RFC donated unwanted rugby balls to a charity one of our members (Sue Wells) supports – Porridge and Rice. The balls were sent to Nairobi and distributed in the schools the charity supports.

We have been sent a short report from the charity chairman and some pictures of the balls in action – one of the teachers (in the pictures) plays for Nairobi Harlequins and was there when the balls arrived. In the photo rugby balls 9, you can see the Teddington logo on the ball!

The club will be once again supporting the charity this year with all of our unwanted rugby balls.

Report from charity chairman, Ken Surridge
“Porridge and Rice supports five schools in the Nairobi slums, representing over 2000 pupils. The schools serve some of the poorest children in the world, without any government support. The schools struggle to make ends meet, and items like sports equipment, are unattainable luxuries. The schools have thus never owned rugby balls and only three have ever owned a football.

The rugby balls were shared between the 5 schools and caused great delight. Rugby is not well known in the Nairobi slums so we are fortunate to have a teacher who is an ardent member of the Nairobi Harlequins. He is running classes teaching the children the basics of the game. We hope to develop this further possibly supporting children joining or founding a local club.

Ken Surridge
Porridge and Rice