The former England football manager Gareth Southgate bumped into key figures from the Oceania Rugby League Group and the Talk Your Walk Foundation in prison this week – as part of a pioneering scheme led by the Foundation and Doncaster RLFC to reduce reoffending.
Quentin Laulu-Togagae, the former Samoa international who has been based in South Yorkshire for well over a decade – and whose son, Phoenix, is currently impressing in the Super League with Catalans Dragons – explained the programme to Southgate at HMP Leeds.
QLT and the Doncaster forward Suaia Matagi formed the Talk Your Walk Foundation five years ago with the vision of working in prisons and schools, aiming to empower individuals from all backgrounds. They have brought Matagi's Dons team-mate Pauli Pauli on board to help facilitate the programmes and have now worked alongside Doncaster's CEO Carl Hall for more than two years, delivering their eight-week Reduce Reoffending programme across many HMP prisons in South and West Yorkshire, as well as Stockton-on-Tees.
“Honestly, it’s phenomenal seeing how it’s gone,” said Hall, a former Junior Kiwi international who has settled in Yorkshire since first signing for Doncaster in 1988 - and was a driving force behind the introduction of the Oceania Rugby League Group supported by Rugby League Cares during the Covid pandemic. “These are tough guys who have had troubles of their own, and that means they can connect with people who have also taken a wrong turn and are looking to get back on the right path and pick the ball up and run it straight.
“There’s a combination of classroom sessions and getting out on the pitch. We talk about the importance of teamwork, communication, goal-setting, and resilience – and then put some of that into action. We use a lot of rugby analogies and real-life experiences which they can relate to.
"We'll ask the guys to think of landing in here - prison - as the equivalent of the end of your first half in a sporting context. Our sessions are half-time - we try to correct all our errors so we don’t make the same mistakes in the second half. Your second half starts when you go out of those gates.
“I really think it shows our Pacific Islander Rugby League guys at their best – and it’s been great to see them develop through delivering the programme as well. It’s a pleasure to be a part of it.”
After meeting Southgate – a keen follower of Rugby League in his playing career who met up with England Rugby League coach Shaun Wane during the build-up to the 2022 World Cup – QLT posted:
Feeling incredibly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to meet one of the legends, Gareth Southgate. It was a true privilege to discuss our shared mission of creating positive role models and mentors in schools, prisons, and young offenders institutions.
The Talk Your Walk Foundation extends its work into schools, instilling confidence and belief in young people that no matter their environment, they can chase their dreams and goals. Having positive role models plays a massive role in guiding these individuals toward a better version of themselves, fostering hope and the understanding that anything is possible. Together, we’re not just aiming to change lives—we're building a brighter future for all.
Thank you, uso!