Rugby School hosts Ukrainian children for the first historic visit by a Ukrainian cricket team to the UK

Rugby School hosted Ukrainian children this week for the first-ever visit by a Ukrainian cricket team to the UK.

The eight young players, a mixed team of boys and girls, were joined by Kobus Olivier, leader of the Ukrainian Cricket Federation, and stayed in Cotton House at Rugby throughout the week.

They received masterclass training sessions with Head of Cricket and former Warwickshire CCC captain, Michael Powell, and welcomed a special visit from Neal Radford, former England and Worcestershire CCC player. The sessions included a variety of batting and bowling exercises in the nets.

As part of their stay, the children also enjoyed guided tours of the School and a memorable trip to Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

At a time when life in Ukraine remains deeply challenging, this visit highlights the remarkable resilience of these young players and the power of cricket to bring joy, connection, and hope across borders.

Read the full Telegraph article here.