About Us
We are a charity committed to creating meaningful, lasting change for young people facing barriers to education, wellbeing and opportunity. Our work is grounded in compassion, evidence-based practice and a belief that every young person deserves access to support that empowers them to thrive.
At the heart of our approach is the RugbyWorks programme, founded by rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio. This initiative demonstrates how sport can be a powerful vehicle for personal growth, building resilience, self-confidence and life skills in young people who need it most. By combining structured rugby sessions with mentoring, educational guidance and ongoing support, RugbyWorks has supported hundreds of young people in the UK, proving that engagement through sport can lead to lasting social and educational outcomes.
Building on the proven impact of Dallaglio RugbyWorks, we will bring the same values and approach to young people here in Victoria, Australia.
RugbyWorks Victoria adapts this internationally recognised model to our local context, using rugby as a tool to engage, inspire and open doors for young people who might otherwise be left behind. Through structured sessions, positive role models and long-term guidance, we will help them develop resilience, life skills and meaningful pathways toward education training and employment.
What we do
Through partnerships with schools, community organisations and passionate mentors, we deliver programmes that not only develop rugby skills but also foster teamwork, discipline and a sense of belonging.
We believe that every young person deserves a positive role model and the chance to reach their full potential and sport gives us a uniquely powerful way to make that happen.
What we do
Our inaugural mentor and CEO is the rugby legend Cooper Vuna.
Cooper Vuna: From Auckland to Melbourne and the International Rugby Stage
Born in Auckland, New Zealand and raised in the rugby-obsessed suburb of Ōtāhuhu, Kerry “Cooper” Vuna emerged from a proud Tongan family with strong rugby traditions. His father, John Vuna, represented Tonga in rugby union, helping inspire Cooper’s early passion for the game. At an early age, Cooper learned the power of mentoring when a school appointed mentor helped him make the difficult choice to choose to spend his time at the rugby club rather than the other options most boys were drawn to in the neighbourhood. After playing rugby union during his school years at Otahuhu College, Vuna switched to rugby league at age 15 when he was identified by the New Zealand Warriors development system.
Vuna made his National Rugby League (NRL) debut for the New Zealand Warriors in 2004 before seeking greater opportunities with the Newcastle Knights. Between 2007 and 2010, he established himself as one of the competition’s most dangerous wingers, scoring 35 tries in 54 matches for Newcastle. His standout performance came in 2010 when he equalled the Knights’ club record by scoring four tries in a single match against the Brisbane Broncos. Internationally, he represented Tonga in rugby league, including at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
The defining move of Vuna’s career came in 2010 when he signed with the newly formed Melbourne Rebels ahead of their inaugural Super Rugby season. Relocating from New Zealand and the NRL heartland to Melbourne, he became part of a pioneering group tasked with establishing elite rugby union in Victoria. Vuna quickly adapted to the 15-man game, earning a reputation for his powerful running and finishing ability.
His success with the Rebels led to Wallabies selection in 2012. Vuna won two Test caps for Australia against Wales, becoming one of the early Melbourne Rebels players to reach international honours. Later, he reconnected with his Tongan heritage, representing Tonga in rugby union from 2016 and adding 16 Test appearances. His professional union career also included successful stints in Japan and England before his retirement in 2024.
Vuna’s journey—from Auckland schoolboy, to Tonga rugby league international, to Melbourne Rebel and Wallaby and finally back to representing Tonga in rugby union—illustrates a remarkable dual-code career that bridged nations, cultures and rugby traditions
Cooper has now come full circle to become that mentor for young people in Victoria - helping to guide towards thriving in employment and away from other easier and less positive pathways.
