The Chris Kokta Memorial Trust was set up to help support young people through the game of rugby. Sport has great benefits to physical health and also contributes to a sense of self worth and achievement. Rugby can offer opportunities for young people to become team players and to gain leadership skills. This can help them learn to become responsible and healthy young adults of the future.

Northampton Saints is at the forefront of developing young players through its work with the Academy and Community Department. The club assists schools, clubs, local teams and some young people who have difficulty remaining within conventional education. The Chris Kokta Memorial Trust is proud to be associated with these schemes. It is hoped that young players will become ambassadors for their sport, and their clubs and schools, and take pride in themselves and their achievements.

Chris Kokta  (1948-2004)

Chris Kokta was born in Kettering in 1948. He lived in Desborough and went to Kettering Grammar School where he started playing rugby. He then went to the University of Wales and later worked in IT. He played for Kettering Grammar School, Kettering RFC, teams at the University of Wales and in South Africa and finally for Milton Keynes RFC. He was a lifelong rugby enthusiast and shared this with his second wife, Carolyn. Together they supported Saints and both believed in the support for young players to make the grade as club and national players. Chris died in 2004 and Carolyn decided that the trust in Chris’s name would be something he would be proud of.

Each year funds will be made available to a player or players in the Northampton Saints RFU Academy to support them through their transition into the Academy and into the senior teams, and to enable them to continue with their education or training. This will help them to become balanced and effective individuals as well as nurturing their talent as rugby players. These individuals can either be nominated by the director or coach, or can apply to the trust themselves through the Academy.

Funds will also be made available for young people in the community who are gaining skills and enjoyment out of the game of rugby. Young people can apply to the Chris Kokta Trust for funds to help them to take part in the sport in schools, clubs, and community coaching schemes. They can apply for support with kit, travel, coaching fees or anything relevant to the learning and playing of this sport. These grants will normally be between £10 and £100 unless there are exceptional circumstances. This is to enable the trust to help as many young people as possible.

The trust is solely dependent on donations, fundraising and other voluntary contributions. You can help by making a donation, by organising a fundraising event or by providing a legacy through your will. All donations will be acknowledged and you can be kept in touch with the activities by post or email, or by looking at the website link on this website. Any contributions are very gratefully received.... and will make a real difference to the lives of young people.

Young people can apply for support by completing an application form and sending it to the trust at Northampton Saints' offices. You will be asked to tell us why you would like the funds and what they will be for (for example, help with the purchase of some rugby kit, help with fees for the coaching clinics etc). Simply send in the form and you will be informed about the progress of your application within a couple of weeks. Adults can apply on behalf of a young person and, in any case, will be asked to support any application.

Click here to download a Donation Form and an Application Form