Building global ties through sport: Kellogg students join OURFC tour to Australia
A landmark rugby tour demonstrates how shared sporting endeavour can open conversations, forge international relationships and broaden students’ horizons.
Sport has a rare ability to bring people together across countries, cultures and generations. Two Kellogg students, Michael O’Donnell and John Belcher-Heath, both members of the Oxford University Rugby Football Club (OURFC) men’s squad, recently experienced this first-hand during the Club’s tour to Australia, supported by a Kellogg College grant.
Oxford University Rugby Football Club
The inter-term performance tour – the first OURFC visit to Australia in 30 years – brought students into contact with sporting, academic and community partners across the country. While the tour played an important role in preparing the squad for the Varsity Match against Cambridge, its impact extended far beyond the pitch.
Students engaged with alumni, academics, community groups and young people through competitive fixtures, grassroots coaching sessions and meetings with leaders in higher education and international sport. The tour highlighted both the reach of Oxford’s global networks and the role students can play as ambassadors for their colleges.
Reflecting on the experience, John Belcher-Heath said: “Wherever we went, rugby created an instant connection. It gave us access to conversations, friendships and academic links that would never have happened without sport. Being supported by Kellogg made it possible to take part in something that was genuinely transformative.”
John Belcher-Heath in action on the pitch
Why Kellogg supports sport
Kellogg College offers grants to support sporting activities because of the wider educational and social value they provide. Participation in sport promotes wellbeing, leadership and teamwork, while international tours and competitions enable students to engage meaningfully with different cultures and communities. These experiences support personal development, strengthen alumni and institutional relationships, and enhance the global profile of the College and the University of Oxford.
As this Australian tour illustrates, sporting grants are not simply about funding matches or training. They create experiences that connect people, foster mutual understanding and enable Kellogg students to contribute to international dialogue through shared endeavour.
Michael O’Donnell runs with the ball