Movember has always gained huge support in the rugby community, but Mo Bros Rugby has taken that support to new levels and receives Rhino’s fourth nomination
For almost two decades, men’s health charity Movember has worked hard to raise awareness of issues ranging from prostate cancer and testicular cancer to mental health and suicide prevention. The rugby community has always played a big role and our fourth nominee is Mo Bros Rugby, an invitational side formed this year to help further spread the word through the rugby diaspora.
The side played its first game of fifteens last month at Richmond Rugby against Kew Occasionals RFC, having previously played sevens at the Bournemouth Sevens. The shirt is hoped to become a must-have item to raise funds for the charity and there’s plans for a schedule culminating in a Dubai 7s appearances for the side.
Founded by Zein Jallad and Fraser MacDonald-Lister, the Mo Bros Rugby joins an effort that regularly raises six figure sums for the charity.
Oswin Croft, fundraising manager for sport at Movember, commented: “Mo Bros Rugby unites the most passionate Mo Bros from the top rugby teams supporting Movember – teams which together raised over £100,000 in 2020 for men’s health.
“The game at Richmond united a group of guys together who are generating thousands of conversations through their clubs about Movember and men’s mental health.”
Nick Darke, a coach at Richmond Rugby, who helped arrange the fixture said: “We had players from all over the UK come to play in the side and, for the first-ever fifteens fixture, it went really well. We even had 20 players from Farnham RFC who walked overnight to Richmond, 30 miles away, to help raise awareness.
“This is the starting point and next year we’ll be really cranking it up, with more tournaments, an annual match and maybe an overseas tour.
Commenting on the Rhino Grassroots Rugby Award nomination, co-founder and captain Fraser, said: “We are really honoured and delighted to be nominated for the Rhino Grassroots Rugby Award this year – the nomination of course recognises not just our team and its efforts but also everyone in rugby who does their bit for Movember each year.”
Mo Bros Rugby completes the shortlist for 2021 Rhino Grassroots Rugby Award, joining Chew Valley RFC, UMRio Rugby of Brazil and Kenya’s Rugby Gem in the final. The winner will be announced w/c 20th December, 2021 via Rhino social media channels.
The Rhino Grassroots Rugby Award, now in its seventh year, recognises clubs, organisations and individuals globally who show the true spirit of rugby at community level.
Past Winners:
2015: TAG RUGBY TRUST (UK)
2016: KAMPUCHEA BALOPP (Cambodia)
2017: SKRUM (Eswatini/Swaziland)
2018: SHIBUYA INTERNATIONAL RUGBY CLUB (Japan)
2019: KHELO RUGBY (India)
2020: RICHMOND RUGBY (UK)