Bolton rugby group TRY Talking holding match for charity

TRY Talking was set up in 2024 by Jon Hurst, aiming to break the stigma around men speaking about their mental wellbeing.

The group has grown in the time since, going from four members to over 30 regular members each week, playing games of tag rugby and gaining a chance to relax and have a laugh.

Now, TRY Talking will be playing a match in aid of Bolton Manbassadors against charity rugby team Fat Monkey.

Jon, aged 46, said: “The lads have been keen, because it has been going for a while now, so we decided to set up a game to raise awareness of what we are doing.

A rugby group will be holding a match for charity (Image: TRY Talking)

“Lots of them support the idea of what we are doing to promote mental health, and are keen to get us out there and show off our skills.

“We have lots of lads who had never touched a rugby ball when they came down, one lad had never done so but now is one of the first picks for the Westhoughton Lions Masters team.”

The match will take place at the Westhoughton Lions’ ground on Cunningham Road in Westhoughton from 6pm on April 10.

There will be fundraising in the club, including bingo, with food and drink being available.

To learn more about TRY Talking, see their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566764082540

TRY Talking (Image: TRY Talking)

Jon added: “The success of it has been the belief from the lads that what we are doing is a good thing, and needed in the community.

“We found at the beginning that it was tough to get going, men’s mental health is a tough subject for people and lots weren’t sure whether they would have to come down and talk about their problems.

“But then I didn’t push the mental health side of it, instead focusing on the camaraderie, a chance for a social session and somewhere to have a laugh and relax.

“Then organically, the lads on the Whatsapp group ended up supporting each other and talking about their issues.”

He added a thank you to Bluegyp Ceilings and Partitions for their financial support with TRY Talking.