Founded in South Africa in 2017, School of Hard Knocks (SoHK) is part of an international non-profit network operating in the UK, New Zealand and South Africa that uses rugby to connect traumatised young people to child friendly psycho-social support in order that they improve their well-being, perform better in school and exit school with a positive plan for the future.

The School of Hard Knocks addresses this urgent need by using a proven combination of psycho-social counselling from supportive adults and life skills through rugby coaching to challenge, engage, motivate and inspire vulnerable youth from violent communities, with data showing that they leave school with increased wellbeing, a growth mindset, a sense of achievement and raised aspirations for their future.