Corné du Rand, the founder of THE RUGBY UNIVERSE, and creator of the different programmes, 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 Corné’s belief that sport has a major role to play in people's lives, their communities and the wider world we live in.

Corné deems that he has been very fortunate being part of fantastic team environments as he grew up. He played rugby from the age of 6 at school and captained various teams, including playing for the University of Pretoria and various club levels in the United Kingdom. He played representative rugby for his provinces at school (Mpumalanga Pumas) and at university (Blue Bulls), in South Africa, before he played professional and semi-professional rugby in the Republic and the UK. His coaching journey started at university but his first paid position was as a player-coach for Ealing Trailfinders senior men’s first team in London in 2006. As a RFU Level 3 qualified coach and Director of Rugby, Corné has coached and managed clubs, and across all different ages, from toddlers and minis rugby to junior and adults, and at all levels from amateur and development to performance programmes.

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 is passionate in keeping kids active and get them to love physical activity and learning skills through different sports especially rugby!