Lawrence Dallaglio on the life-changing power of sport

Sport has a way of bringing people together. It gives young people somewhere to belong, something to work towards and the opportunity to discover strengths they may not have recognised in themselves.

For Lawrence Dallaglio, that is what makes sport so valuable. Having experienced its influence throughout his own life and career, he understands that its benefits reach far beyond competition. The lessons learned through being part of a team, building relationships and working towards a shared goal can shape a young person’s confidence and outlook long after the final whistle.

That belief is reflected in Dallaglio RugbyWorks, which uses rugby to engage disadvantaged youth. Through its support of the programme in Liverpool, Pho3nix Foundation is helping create opportunities for young people to connect with sport and explore what they are capable of beyond it, supporting their progression into education and employment and helping them find their place in society.

“Movement can be the start of something much bigger. Turning up to a session, learning to work with others or trying something you haven’t done before – through sport, young people can discover what they’re capable of, find a sense of belonging and begin to see possibilities they might not have considered,” says Lawrence. “It’s not just about rugby. It’s about helping young people find their place, build confidence and take their next steps.”

Through Dallaglio RugbyWorks Liverpool, Pho3nix is helping make those opportunities available to more young people. It is a reminder that movement does not have to begin with a sporting ambition. Sometimes, it begins with simply turning up, finding a team and discovering that there is a place for you.

Movement is Everything.