From Our First Sessions to an International Cap: Saffron's Story
Three years ago, Saffron was finding her feet through TackleLondon. This week, she earned her first international cap for the European Under-15s Touch Rugby Championships.
Every so often, a moment comes along that reminds us exactly why this work matters. This week, that moment belongs to Saffron.
Three years ago, Saffron was one of the young people finding her feet through TackleLondon, our rugby and mentoring programme for young Londoners. This week, she stepped onto the pitch wearing number 12 for the European Under-15s Touch Rugby Championships - her first international cap.
We can't take credit for what Saffron has achieved. That belongs entirely to her: her hard work, her talent, her determination to keep going. But we're proud beyond words to have been there at the start, and to have watched her carry that beginning somewhere extraordinary.
Where it started
Back when we first spoke to Saffron for International Women's Day, rugby was already becoming something more to her than just a sport. She told us what it meant to have a space where girls could simply enjoy playing together, and what it felt like to watch the first all-female match take place - an experience she described as giving her "a boost of confidence and a bit more hope."
Even then, she talked about wanting to be a role model for the younger girls coming up behind her. She wanted them to see that they could grow into an influence - on the pitch, and off it.
Hearing those words back now, alongside the news of her first cap, it's a genuinely moving thing to witness. The same young woman who once spoke about hope and confidence is now representing her country. The European Youth Touch Championships 2026 run from 13–16 August, hosted by the University of Warwick. Fixtures and updates are available via the Federation of International Touch's official page.
Congratulations, Saffron. We're so grateful to have been there for the start of your journey.
Why we do this work
Saffron's story is a striking example of something we see time and again through TackleLondon: what happens when young Londoners are given a real route into sport. For many of the young people we work with, that first taste of organised rugby is about far more than the game itself. It builds confidence, discipline, teamwork, and a sense of belonging that lasts well beyond the final whistle.
That's what programmes like TackleLondon are really for. We open a door. What each young person chooses to do once they've walked through it is entirely theirs to decide; a local league, a school team, a national squad, or simply a Tuesday session with friends they look forward to seeing every week. The opportunity is the same either way. What it does for how a young person sees themselves, and what they believe they're capable of, reaches far beyond the pitch.
And every young person who takes that opportunity and runs with it becomes something else, too: a visible example for the next group coming through. Somewhere, right now, there's a young player on the sidelines watching Saffron's story and wondering if they could do the same. That ripple effect - one young person's journey opening the door a little wider for the next - is exactly why this work matters to us.