Tanglin Alumni Reunite at Touch World Cup

When our students venture into the wider world, fate often has a way of bringing them back together – much like how a group of Tanglin Alumni met at the 2024 Touch World Cup in July. 

Jaaziel Job (Alumni Executive)

“It is incredibly heartwarming to see so many Tanglin Alumni continue their passion for Touch many years after their time at Tanglin. Many of these players began their Touch careers at Tanglin, and it has been phenomenal to see them play on the world stage representing their individual countries. We were also pleased to see that, despite playing for different teams and spanning almost 10 years of cohorts, our alumni made the time and effort to gather for a group photo. We are so proud of each and every one of you. GO LIONS!”

What do our Tanglin Alumni have to say about their serendipitous meeting? We catch up with them to find out:

Loulya Mekkawy (Cohort 2019)

Meeting my fellow Tanglin alumni at the tournament was such a special experience! There was a mix of excitement, friendly competition, and a shared understanding of our roots that made the tournament all the more meaningful. I was also very grateful to see some of my Tanglin alumni friends who were there supporting all of us. 

What has Loulya been up to?

Since graduating from Tanglin in 2019, I completed my Undergraduate Physiotherapy degree at Cardiff University. Since then, I have been working as a specialised Paediatric Physiotherapist in one of the largest trauma centre hospitals in the UK.

Charlie Thompson (Cohort 2016)

It's always amazing to see other Tanglin alumni at such significant events. Touch rugby was such a big part of the culture and my social life at school, so seeing fellow alumni at the tournament brought back a lot of great memories. It’s especially impressive to witness current students playing at such a high level.

What has Charlie been up to?

I graduated from Tanglin in 2016 and went straight to the University of Exeter to study Medical Sciences. After completing my degree, I moved to London, where I currently work in marketing for the Heineken Company.

Emily Crowe (Cohort 2015)

I was so impressed with Tanglin's representation at the World Cup. It was lovely to meet fellow alumni and bond over having Miss P as our coach.

What has Emily been up to?

Since leaving Tanglin, I attended Loughborough University and took a gap year. During that time, I worked as a sports intern at Tanglin for six months, followed by a ski season in Val-d'lsère. I lived and worked in London for four years before moving to Vancouver with my work. I’ve been here for nearly a year!

Anna Crossley (Cohort 2022)

It was great to reconnect and catch up with the other alumni and hear what they had been up to since leaving Tanglin. I am in regular contact with some players, but there were so many others - some playing for other countries and others working as physios. Seeing everyone also added to the sense of community at the tournament. 

What has Anna been up?

I finished my schooling in Chester, England and then took a gap year - working in Australia and travelling in Southeast Asia. I then started at The University of Manchester studying Biomedical Sciences. 

Nina Donaldson (Cohort 2024)

Phoebe and I played for the Singapore Women’s Opens. It was really inspiring to see Tanglin Alumni competing at the Touch World Cup and how the school has shaped so many talented athletes. Being part of that community was very exciting and I loved hearing about everyone’s different journeys that led up to the tournament.