On the evening of Tuesday 19th May 2026, something special happened in South London. Young people aged 10 to 19, their families, teachers, and coaches gathered together to celebrate – not just rugby skills, but the values, character, and growth that sit at the heart of everything TackleLondon does.
The 2026 Matt Ratana Rugby Awards brought together the TackleLondon community from across the London Boroughs of Croydon and Bromley, with guests including representatives from the Metropolitan Police Service, the Civic Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Richard Chatterjee, and Su Bushby – Matt Ratana’s partner – whose presence made the evening all the more meaningful.
36 Young People. 36 Stories.
Thirty-six young people were presented with awards on the night – each one introduced by their coach or mentor, who took the time to explain publicly and personally why that young person was being recognised. It’s a small detail that says a lot about how TackleLondon works: these aren’t just trophies handed out at the end of a session. They are a reflection of consistent, trusting relationships built over time between coaches and the young people they work with.
Award recipients came from fifteen partner schools and the recently founded Matt Ratana Academy, spanning primary through to post-16 education:
Meridian High School, Thomas More Catholic School, Orchard Park High School, Riddlesdown Collegiate, Oxted School, Sackville, Imberhorne, Harris Academy Purley, Buller’s Wood School for Girls, Chislehurst Girls School, Langley Park Girls’ School, St Peter’s Primary, Forest Academy, Forestdale Primary, and Chestnut Park Primary School.
Special recognition was given to our Junior Coaches – older young people from the programme who are being mentored by our coaches to develop their own coaching skills and begin their own journey in rugby leadership.
Players of the Year
This year’s Boys’ Player of the Year was Kobi from Thomas More Catholic School, and the Girls’ Player of the Year was Freya from Chislehurst School for Girls. Both were recognised not only for their rugby ability, but for the dedication and character they have shown throughout the programme.
The Five Pillars Awards
Five young people were selected by their peers and coaches to receive the Five Pillars Awards – one for each of the values that sit at the core of the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation’s mission:
Wellbeing and Inclusivity: We want people to feel that they belong – and we want people to welcome others too, and know the value of that.
Respect for People and Culture: We want to nurture mutual trust, fun, understanding, and relationship repair.
Benefits of Team Sport: We value a selfless commitment to improved communication, resilience, and responsibility.
Discipline and Fairness: We appreciate honesty, and we recognise how boundaries keep everyone safe.
Sporting Values: Fair play, integrity, and humility are strengths that we want to see.
This year’s Five Pillars winners were Maily from Buller’s Wood, Phoebe from Chislehurst School for Girls, Alfie from Orchard Park High School, Patrick from Thomas More Catholic School, and Lacey from Meridian High School.
Su Bushby presented these five trophies, speaking movingly about how proud Matt would have been of every young person in the room – and particularly those who had shown such growth, both in skill and in character.
The Floyd Steadman Award
The final and most poignant award of the evening was The Floyd Steadman Award, presented to a young woman who had faced real adversity and chosen, again and again, to keep going. The award went to Josephine from Thomas More Catholic School, who received The Floyd Steadman Cup and a signed copy of Floyd’s book.
Floyd Steadman OBE DL’s story is one of extraordinary resilience. Born to Windrush-generation parents and raised in care, he became the first ever Black captain of a top-tier English rugby club, leading Saracens in the 1980s as a scrum-half and captain. After retiring from rugby, he went into education, becoming a headmaster and mentor — including to England and Lions Captain Maro Itoje, who credits Floyd as the person who inspired him to play rugby.
Floyd was unable to attend in person on the night, but sent a video message sharing his story — a reminder that resilience, determination, and a commitment to lifting others are qualities that transcend the game.
Closing the Evening
The ceremony closed with a screening of our most recent TackleLondon impact film — the story of a young man, his relationship with rugby, and how the programme gave him a safe space to express himself and build positive relationships. It was a fitting end to an evening full of exactly that: community, connection, and the quiet, lasting impact of sport done right.