Corné du Rand, the founder of THE RUGBY UNIVERSE, and creator of the different programmes, such as Tiny Tacklers, strongly believes that rugby is a game for all. He believes that kids learn valuable life skills, build confidence, and are healthier in body and mind, when they are involved in good sports environments. Such environments promotes fun, purposeful learning, inclusiveness and leadership development.

Born in South Africa, a country with a strong rugby culture, he fell in love with the game from a very young age, making lifelong friends, cherishing everything the game added to his life. In 1995, while studying a business degree in Recreation and Sports Management at the University of Pretoria, Nelson Mandela, a world leader and president of the new post-apartheid South Africa, handed over the Webb Ellis Cup to the Rugby World Cup tournament hosts, South Africa. Crowning the country's beloved Springbok rugby team as the new world champions!

Experiencing firsthand, the power of sport, in binding a nation’s people together, has been a key influence in his belief that sport has a major role to play in people's lives, their communities and the wider world we live in.

After working for numerous rugby clubs (including the University of Pretoria, Ealing Trailfinders, London Scottish, Grasshoppers RFC, London Cornish) to help design, lead and deliver beneficial development rugby programmes in communities, Corné gained invaluable experience and felt it was time to put his ideas, beliefs and experience all to work, and THE RUGBY UNIVERSE was created.

Corné leads with passion and loves seeing kids having fun while being active and developing skills and confidence through sports activities.