Tom Painter
Rugby For Development Trustee.
Tom’s first encounter with ONERio was through its partner organisation, UMRio. Already working in rugby for development as a coach with Dallaglio RugbyWorks, Tom visited Morro do Castro in 2018 to experience the project and share learning. Participating in the gruelling 30-hour touch rugby match, Tom gained a strong commitment to the programme and community.
Since then, Tom has hosted the 2018 and 2019 UMRio Project Blue students on exchange days with Dallaglio RugbyWorks during their visits to the UK. Through this, the Project Blue students have shared their experience and rugby skills with excluded young people across London and even had breakfast with a world cup winner!
After graduating from Oxford in 2013, Tom began professional life as a rugby coach. However, a trip to volunteer in South Africa in 2015 linked rugby coaching with development work for good. He has worked at Dallaglio RugbyWorks since and is currently the National Employability Manager. Tom’s role as trustee will be to use this experience and focus on rugby for development oversight, working with partner organisations to grow ONERio’s profile in this space.
Away from ONERio, Tom is a keen golfer, and avidly supports his beloved Cherry and Whites at the Shed whenever he can.