Wooden Spoon Down Under: Making an Impact with the Lions

During The British & Irish Lions thrilling Test Series in Australia, Wooden Spoon – the Children’s Charity of Rugby and an Official Charity Partner of the The Lions Trust – made an equally meaningful impact off the pitch. At the heart of that work was Wooden Spoon CEO Sarah Webb, who spent the Tour proudly representing the charity, engaging with the rugby community, and highlighting the power of sport to transform lives.

“It’s been a privilege to work alongside the British and Irish Lions and our fellow partner charities whilst on the Tour,” said Sarah. “I have seen first-hand the power of the rugby community travelling across the world – the four countries that we work within uniting to support one goal.”

From stadium fan zones to grassroots clubhouses, Sarah has spent the tour connecting with people who know and support Wooden Spoon’s mission – and introducing the charity to many more. Her schedule included attending the Captains Run on 18th July and soaking up the electric atmosphere at the Lions Den and the first Test match in Brisbane on the 19th. She was also at the First Nations and Pasifika XV v Lions match on the 22nd, and supported at the Gullivers Travel Wooden Spoon rugby match at Melbourne RFC on the 25th – a fantastic opportunity to combine rugby, fun, and fundraising. followed by a trip back to the Lions Den and a ticket to see the Lions win the Series at MCG, Melbourne.

“I feel extremely privileged to have recently represented Wooden Spoon on the British and Irish Lions Tour. This was made possible by our partnership with The Lions Trust and our very supportive partners Gulliver’s Sports Travel.

I was thrilled to see so many of our amazing volunteers whilst in Australia – all primed and ready to support with our awareness and fundraising and some of them even donning their boots to play at Melbourne rugby club to represent Gulliver’s Wooden Spoon Barbarians. One of the players came straight from the plane and onto the pitch!

Raising awareness on this international platform has been an amazing opportunity for which I will be forever grateful..”

For Sarah, two of the most powerful moments of the Tour so far came off the field. On 29th July, she visited Sargood on Collaroy – a world-leading rehabilitation facility that supports individuals and families living with spinal injuries, in partnership with the Matt Hampson Foundation. “Sargood is a truly inspirational centre. Seeing the impact they have on people’s lives was both humbling and energising.” That same day, she joined Wooden Spoon’s fellow charity partner LooseHeadz at Hunters Hill RFC in Sydney for a mental health awareness session. “LooseHeadz delivered a vital message about the importance of mental health in our clubs. It’s initiatives like this that make real, lasting change.”

Wooden Spoon funds life-changing projects for children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland. From inclusive playgrounds and specialist equipment to mental health support and education initiatives, every project is driven by one mission: to harness the spirit and community of rugby to create positive, lasting impact.

As the Lions inspired on the pitch, Wooden Spoon – led by Sarah Webb’s passionate presence in Australia – continued to inspire off it, proving once again that rugby’s reach goes far beyond the game itself.