SAMURAI’s charity partners, LooseHeadz, debut their bespoke playing kit for their team, the LooseHeadz Barbarians, during a series of rugby matches across the UK.
LooseHeadz is on a journey to spread mental health awareness and is a charity committed to creating positive changes to the way mental health is regarded in rugby. With a simple yet essential mission, The LooseHeadz Foundation aims to place a mental health lead into every rugby club around the world, equipping them with the correct toolkit of resources to help #TackleTheStigma that surrounds the subject of mental health in the rugby community, and begin to turn the tide against poor mental health.
Devised after the Game for Grief in 2022, The Barbarians represent LooseHeadz’s ideologies, with players passionate to take their mission on the road, engaging personally with the rugby players and supporters alike. The Barbarians work as an extension of the charity, spreading the message through the power of rugby, encouraging participation and greater involvement from the wider community.
Throughout February 2024, both the men’s and ladies’ squads took part in matches, starting with the LooseHeadz Barbarians men’s team taking to the pitch to battle it out with Brixham RFC, who along with Wrexham RFC, have partnered with LooseHeadz to aid their cause and engage with the mission.
"It was so great to see players turning up from over 20 clubs. Not knowing each other's names, but all there to play for a charity that meant something personal to them all. The new SAMURAI kit allowed them to look and feel like a unit, what an amazing way to make players feel great whilst playing for a cause they are so passionate about." - Joey Milburn
The game was followed by a wellbeing event at Sidmouth RFC. The annual mental health awareness fixture designed to open up discussions between players and families and see the work going on behind the scenes. Not to be stopped there, the Barbarians are also setting out across the UK throughout the 2024/25 season to continue spreading awareness and encouraging involvement from fans and players within the rugby space.
"We had the first run out in the LH x SAMURAI ladies kit on Sunday, the women representing Looseheadz looked and felt incredible! We had over 20 girls from 7 clubs come together to play an exciting game of rugby [versus Wrexham RFC] - all on a mission to raise awareness about mental health. They looked like a team and played like a team!" - Hannah Stallard
Follow LooseHeadz Barbarians on Instagram to stay up to date on current fixtures and events. For more information on the foundation visit the LooseHeadz website and Instagram to find ways in which you can give back to the community and help #TackleTheStigma.
LH:001 - LOOSEHEADZ REPLICA JERSEY 2023/24 - BLACK
#PUSHFORWARD
Image Credits: © LooseHeadz & Omega Photography