RugbyWA continues to showcase the power of sport as a tool for inclusion, with General Manager – Rugby, Dane Lazarus, and General Manager – Commercial, Marketing and Media, Liz Fotiou, representing the organisation at the ActiveOps Capacity25 Conference in Melbourne this month.
As part of the panel discussion “Try for Good: Using the Power of Sport to Change Lives,” the pair shared insights on how rugby can create meaningful opportunities for participation, inclusion, and community connection, particularly through RugbyWA’s All Abilities program.
The invitation follows the success of RugbyWA’s collaboration with ActiveOps and the Great Britain 7s earlier this year, which saw the expansion of the Try for Good campaign to the Perth leg of the HSBC SVNS. The initiative put the spotlight on inclusion in sport, with every try scored by Great Britain at HSBC SVNS PER raising funds to support RugbyWA’s All Abilities players. Those funds went directly towards making the Southern Lions’ team’s first international tour a reality - an eight-day trip to New Zealand in September 2025.
Over eight days, the Southern Lions team experienced the rugby culture of New Zealand firsthand, playing matches against the High School Old Boys Tri Rugby team and engaging in cultural experiences across the country.
Program Manager Mike Penhaligon said the growth of the team was “unbelievable,” adding that the players “gave the home side a bit of a shock” with their skill and passion. Head Coach Justin Arthur reflected on the pride of representing Western Australia on the international stage, saying, “We did it for the club, and for All Abilities Rugby, and WA. Pretty proud that we put a stamp on things over there and showed the Kiwis that All Abilities Rugby in Perth is going great.”
The Try for Good campaign was a key catalyst in turning this dream into reality - demonstrating the tangible impact that corporate partnerships can have when aligned with community-driven initiatives.
Through continued collaborations like this, RugbyWA and its partners are proving how sport can be a platform for empowerment and social change - breaking down barriers, building connections, and showing that rugby truly is a game for all.
