ChildFund Rugby’s Ambassadors are pioneers, leaders, role models, and change-makers who use the spirit of rugby to inspire young people, champion gender equality, and drive stronger, more inclusive communities – both on and off the pitch.
ChildFund Rugby’s Ambassadors
Meet the team who are making a difference with ChildFund Rugby.
American rugby union player Ilona Maher is a formidable Olympian and a member of the USA Rugby team. She is also an influential TikTok star with over 1 million followers, whose relatable and humorous content has rugby pundits saying that she is changing how the public perceives rugby.
Beyond the pitch, Ilona has been known for using her platform to advocate for mental health and body positivity, empowering young people across the globe who look up to her as a role model.
Abbie Brown
England
Ambassador
A double Olympian, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, and leader in the GB Rugby Sevens programme, Abbie brings experience, drive and authenticity. With over 40 caps, she knows rugby is about more than the game – it’s about people, purpose and growth.
Abbie believes in rugby’s potential to build skills and strengthen communities, and she’ll be working alongside ChildFund Rugby to leverage the power of the game for lasting impact.
DJ Forbes
New Zealand
Ambassador
A World Rugby Hall of Famer and New Zealand 7s rugby legend, DJ captained one of the most successful sevens teams in history, earning six World Series titles, a Commonwealth Games gold medal, and a Rugby World Cup Sevens title. Off the field, he is a leader in athlete advocacy, with a particulate interest in the athlete-coach relationship.
Zainab Alema (Zee)
United Kingdom
Ambassador
Zainab Alema is a British-Ghanaian Muslim rugby player who plays for Leicester Tigers and Richmond Women. A dedicated mother of three and former neonatal nurse, Zainab is known for breaking barriers in rugby as the first hijabi Muslim woman in the Women’s Premiership. She began playing rugby at 14, training with Ealing Trailfinders U18s, and has since made significant strides in her career.
Her accolades include winning the Sunday Times Grassroots Sports Woman of the Year in 2020, the Woman of the Future award in 2022, and the Muslim Woman Award (Sport) in 2022. In 2023, she was named a Future Leader by Rugby Blacklist.
Pun Wai Yan
Hong Kong, China
Ambassador
Hailing from Hong Kong, China, PY is a national team rugby player with a strong commitment to both the sport and community.
PY represented Hong Kong China Women XVs at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland, showcasing her talent on an international platform. In 2023, she was honoured to be named as captain of the team, and competed in WXV3 in Dubai in October 2024, chasing a Rugby World Cup 2025 spot.
As a qualified Physical Education teacher, PY is devoted to supporting young athletes and believes in the profound impact rugby can have on children and youth.
Ron Rutland
South Africa
Ambassador
Ron Rutland is a South African adventurer known for his epic cycling expeditions. In 2013, he cycled solo from Cape Town to London, covering 42,000 km over 27 months to reach the Rugby World Cup. In 2019, he cycled 20,093 km from London to Tokyo, delivering the match whistle for the Rugby World Cup opener and raising over €130,000 for ChildFund Rugby. Rutland’s adventures, including golfing 2,000 km across Mongolia, reflect his passion for sport, charity, and pushing boundaries.
Tamara Taylor
England
Ambassador
From captaining England in the 6 Nations to winning the Rugby World Cup, Tamara Taylor has led on and off the pitch. As a coach and mentor, she has seen how rugby builds leadership, resilience, and inclusion. Tamara is now joining ChildFund Rugby as an ambassador, bringing her experience and dedication to help create opportunities for young people to play, learn, and lead through rugby.
Shaunagh Brown
United Kingdom
Ambassador
Shaunagh Brown is a trailblazer in women’s rugby and a strong advocate for equality in sports. A former Commonwealth Games hammer thrower, she transitioned to rugby at 25, making her England debut in 2017. She earned 30 caps, played a key role in four Women’s Six Nations titles, and won the Allianz Premier 15s with Harlequins in 2021.
Beyond rugby, Shaunagh has been a firefighter and a vocal proponent of diversity and inclusion. Since retiring in 2022, she continues to drive social change, empowering women and breaking stereotypes, cementing her status as a leader in women’s sports.
Rikki Swannell
New Zealand
Ambassador
Rikki is an accomplished sports broadcaster with more than 20 years’ experience in television, radio and live events. She is a play-by-play TV commentator for World Rugby, working on men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups, and the HSBC SVNS Series.
Rikki is also a lead commentator for Super Rugby and New Zealand domestic competitions, as well as working on numerous other sports, the Olympic, and the Commonwealth Games.
With her passion for rugby and a commitment to social impact, Rikki is keen to support us to amplify our message around the transformative potential of rugby, particularly for girls and women.
Jessy Tremouliere
France
Ambassador
A former French national team player, both in 15s (73 caps) and sevens (23), Jessy was honoured as World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year in 2018 and Women’s 15s Player of the Decade in 2020.
Although retired from her rugby career, Jessy continues to be a role model, dedicated to making a positive impact off the field.
Coumba Tombe Diallo
France
Ambassador
Coumba represented France at the 2014 Rugby World Cup and was part of the squad that won a fourth Six Nations title in 2014. She currently plays and works for Stade Francais Paris and is a TV commentator.
Coumba firmly believes that rugby can play a significant role in daily life, serving as a vital tool for empowerment and she aims to use her experiences to inspire girls and women globally.
Dinesvaran ‘Duke’ Krishnan
Malaysia
Ambassador
Originating from Sungai Petani, Malaysia, Dinesvaran ‘Duke’ Krishnan rose from local rugby to international leagues with Yamaha Júbilo in Japan, the Chicago Hounds in the USA, and he now plays for the Royal Malaysia Police team.
Understanding the profound impact rugby has had on his life, Duke hopes to give back to his community and grow the sport in his country.
Emily Chancellor
Australia
Ambassador
Emily is a dynamic force in international rugby, showcasing her skills as part of Australia’s loose forwards. Additionally, she brings her talent to the NSW Waratahs in the Super W competition and competed for Australia’s at the Rugby World Cup 2021, solidifying her status as a key player on the global stage.
Mere Baker
Ambassador
Born and raised in the small town of Riverton, in 2000 Mere debuted with the Aotearoa Māori Women’s Sevens. She then embarked on a decade-long career as an internationally renowned athlete and coach, seeing her playing professionally in Europe, Australia and in the States under contract to the Washington DC Furies. She returned to Invercargill, New Zealand at the beginning of 2019 to take up the position of Women’s High-Performance manager with Rugby Southland.
Using her personal and playing experiences – Mere developed the newly minted Hapori Project, a Southland based coaching, cultural and life skills programme. She also created the Hapori Festival- a day-long coaching, cultural and life skills initiative for rangatahi and their extended whānau. Passionate about rugby and what rugby can do for communities, Mere is proud to be an ambassador for ChildFund Rugby.
