Season’s greetings!
16 Sep 2025 12:49
Published by:
Scott Callan
Raising awareness: Sandbach’s men and women sides took on LooseHeadz (Photo credit Josh Randle)
By Rhys Fullerton
SANDBACH welcomed back LooseHeadz for an entertaining afternoon of rugby, with the main aim of raising vital awareness around mental health struggles in the game.
LooseHeadz is a charity aiming to place a mental health lead in every rugby club around the world and to help to tackle the stigma around mental health.
This was the second meeting between Sandbach and LooseHeadz and this time it was bigger and better.
The day kicked off with Sandbach Sabres taking to the field for their inaugural match against LooseHeadz Women XV. This was a historic moment as it was the first match for a Sandbach women’s team in more than 20 years.
With the Women’s Rugby World Cup under way, this was a fitting moment and was made possible by the dedication of all those involved with the team.
The Sabres had a squad made up of players from Sandbach, Crewe and Nantwich RUFC, Eccleshall RUFC, Lichfield RUFC, Ophir RFC and Stone Roses RUFC.
A Sandbach Social XV then faced LooseHeadz XV in the ‘Bradley Peace Memorial Cup’. The cup is named in memory of Mike’s brother Bradley, who tragically took his own life two years ago.
The day was part of the club’s preparations for the new season. Sandbach’s director of rugby Andrew Bird said: “We have been delighted with the commitment and enthusiasm from the players towards the pre-season programme.”
Sandbach, who finished third last season in the Northern Division – Regional 2 North West and reached the quarter-final of the Papa John’s Men’s Community Cup - Regional 2 North Plate, will start their season away to Burnage.
The first home game of the season at Bradwall Road will see a team from Douglas travelling across the Irish Sea from the Isle of Man.
Sandbach’s first local derby will be away to Northwich on Saturday September 20. They will head back to Northwich on Saturday November 29 to play local rivals Winnington Park.
Macclesfield RUFC have announced that leading payments solutions provider Acquired.com has agreed a three-year partnership to become the club’s new headline sponsor.
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