A global charity that aims to tackle mental health in the sport of rugby has shortlisted
Sandbach RUFC for awards including Club of the Year at its annual awards.
LooseHeadz has links with more than 1,300 clubs in 36 countries and thousands online, and has nominated both the club and Sandbach’s own Mike Grapes as Loosehead of the Year (mental health champion) for the second year in a row.
The nominations reflect the club’s commitment to improving mental health in rugby and its burgeoning relationship with LooseHeadz, which started as a conversation at the end of a clubhouse bar at Wilmslow Rugby Club in 2017 and has grown into a global movement aiming to revolutionise mental health awareness and support within rugby clubs around the world.
Sandbach first worked with LooseHeadz in 2024 when they hosted the inaugural Bradley Peace Memorial Cup between Sandbach Social XV and LooseHeadz RFC.
Last year saw a double header, featuring both women’s and men’s matches.
This year, playing under RFU adapted laws due to the extreme summer heat and the effect on the pitches, the club staged a tournament featuring LooseHeadz RFC, Linley and Kidsgrove RUFC and two Sandbach teams.
This year’s tournament, and the previous year’s fixtures, were organised by Mr Grapes, with the cup named in memory of his brother Bradley. Me Grapes is a player at the club and an age-grade coach.
LooseHeadz started with a question: what to do when a mate struggles, and his friends don’t know how to help. With one in four people in the UK experiencing mental health challenges each year and suicide being the leading cause of death for men under 50 and people under 35, LooseHeadz was formed to tackle the stigma around mental health.
Last year, discussing his involvement with LooseHeadz, Mr Grapes said: “My brother was 27 when he took his own life.
“Once the lads found out, the support was overwhelming and really helped me mentally. I wanted to take something positive from such a tough situation, and linking up with LooseHeadz has been incredible.
“It’s helped spread the message that there’s always a better option and made sure every player at Sandbach knows they’re never alone, all the while keeping my brother’s memory alive.”
The charity’s mission is to place a mental health champion in every rugby club around the world, ensuring that no player, member or supporter has to struggle alone.
Sandbach’s HQ on Bradwall Road is becoming a second home for LooseHeadz, having hosted a Guinness World Records attempts earlier this summer, for the longest games of men’s and women’s rugby sevens. The club welcomed a host of players, physios, caterers, volunteers and support staff, all working together to deliver a successful event.
Reflecting on the club’s involvement with LooseHeadz, Rob Mayor, president of Sandbach RUFC said: “We were extremely proud to host this year’s LooseHeadz charity fundraising match at Sandbach Rugby Club.
“LooseHeadz does tremendous work within the rugby community, using the strength and camaraderie of our game to support people when they need it most.
“We are particularly proud that one of our own players, Mike Grapes, represents LooseHeadz, helping to promote their work and the important message behind it.
“Rugby has always been about much more than what happens on the pitch. It is about friendship, support and looking after one another.”
A LooseHeadz judging panel will now select the top three finalists in each category, with finalists due to be announced this week.
The awards take place on Wednesday, 7th October at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London.
Club of the Year (the flagship award, sponsored by Capgemini) nominations are Jurassic Pork, Loughborough University Women’s Rugby Club, Jersey RFC, Leodiensian RUFC, Chiswick RFC, Mad Refs (Manchester and District Referee Society), Sandbach RUFC, Boroughmuir Rugby, Saracens and Camelot RUFC.
LooseHead of the Year (the mental health champion, sponsored by Onebright) nominations are: John Sergeant and Ben Donald, East Dorset Dockers; Bex Edmonds and Ben Cooper, Vectis RFC; Myles Landick, Jersey RFC; Jacob Holt, Jurassic Pork; Mike Grapes, Sandbach RUFC; Wade Bricknell, Utah Rugby; Rach Massey, Chester RUFC; Neil Jones, Trebanos RFC; Chase Thomas, Petersfield RFC, and Pedro De Sousa Santos, Saracens Amateurs RFC.
