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In rugby, there’s a technique called “the perfect jackal”: a moment when a smaller player, through courage and precise positioning, withstands the full force of charging opponents to win the ball. For 12 years, UmRio, a sport for development organization using rugby to support young people from disadvantaged Rio de Janeiro communities, has been executing their own perfect jackal in the Morro do Castro favela, holding their ground against poverty, limited resources and long odds. Last month, they finally won the ball.
After more than a decade of perseverance, UmRio celebrated the opening of the only fully functional rugby pitch in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The irony is striking: the city that proudly hosted rugby’s Olympic debut in 2016 didn’t have a single functional rugby field until now. This isn’t just any pitch; it’s one of only a handful in all of Brazil – and the only one built within a favela community – in a country where football reigns supreme.
Over 200 young people gathered to mark this milestone, transforming what locals knew as “Gordo’s field” into something far greater than a place to play. For the children and teenagers of Morro do Castro, this pitch is a platform for building futures against the backdrop of intergenerational poverty.
“When you type Morro do Castro in google, you usually see negative images, guns, gangs, police raids, drugs and violence. UmRio is changing that,” explained Welleson Bastos, UmRio’s Head of Programs and a former community resident. “You now see kids playing rugby, staying active, graduating, going to university and now this rugby field. We are changing the narrative of what Morro do Castro is.”
Beyond Sport’s connection with UmRio runs deep. They first came to our attention as one of our 2020 Global Awards shortlisters, and we’ve watched with admiration as they’ve used rugby to tackle the root causes of poverty and organized crime. Through their comprehensive five-pillar development mode, they address the interconnected challenges facing favela youth, with education, healthcare services, employment training and social welfare support all anchored by the values and discipline that rugby instills.
For several years now, they has been a valued grantee of our Rexona Breaking Limits Program, an initiative born from urgent necessity: young people worldwide face significant barriers to movement and physical activity. Research shows that 85% of adolescent girls and 78% of adolescent boys aren’t meeting recommended daily activity levels, with barriers rooted in self-doubt, exclusion and fear of judgment. The Program addresses these challenges head-on through comprehensive training, grants and capacity-building support, empowering organizations like UmRio to transform lives through movement.
“None of this would have been possible without the invaluable support of Beyond Sport and the Rexona Breaking Limits Program,” shared Robert Malengreau, UmRio’s Founder & CEO, reflecting on the journey that brought this dream to life.
For the youth of Morro do Castro, this new pitch embodies that transformation. It’s where they develop resilience, teamwork and self-belief, skills that extend far beyond the game itself. It’s where they learn that with the right support and determination, they too can execute “the perfect jackal,” holding their ground against any challenge.
“For me, UmRio’s rugby field is a huge step forward. We finally have a real space to train, grow and show the strength of our project, said 21-year-old UmRio student, Franklin Cruz. “Seeing this field completed is an incredible achievement. It’s not just about playing rugby — it’s about giving many people the chance to dream and believe they can go far. This field represents everything UmRio has built so far — effort, community and real transformation through sport.”
UmRio has told us that our partnership hasn’t just supported their work. It has inspired them to dream bigger. As we witness the joy radiating from this community, we’re reminded why we do what we do. This rugby pitch, carved out of 12 years of determination and built on partnership, stands as proof that when we invest in young people and the organizations that serve them, we’re not just changing the game. We’re changing lives.
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