School of Hard Knocks charity rugby match breaks world record
School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) – the social inclusion charity that uses sport, mentoring and an evidence-based curriculum to improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing – broke the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon of full-contact rugby union.
During one of the hottest bank holiday weekends the UK has witnessed, SOHK went to head-to-head with children’s rugby charity, Wooden Spoon, with only 23 players per side to play rugby continuously for over 30 hours.
The match was initiated to raise £100,000 for SOHK’s life-changing programmes across the UK, which helps vulnerable adults and at-risk children using rugby, boxing and strongman training.
The SOHK line up included high-profile ambassadors including, World Cup finalist Andy Gomarsall MBE, Scottish International Ben Hinshelwood and English International referee, Wayne Barnes.
The two-day event attracted a number a sponsors who helped make the record a success, with charity partner and renowned steak restaurant, Gaucho, serving a BBQ for the spectators.
Sports scientists from Catapult, were able to record some impressive metrics from the team despite running in heat for 30 hours.
Joshua Lee, Sports Scientist at Catapult Sports, was full of admiration for the players; “For players to be hitting speeds of over 30kph after playing continuously for 30 hours is a huge achievement.
The athletes were exposed to a high player load over the duration of the match, and the volume of work they would have done over the 30 hours would be difficult for even the fittest of athletes.”
“For players to be hitting speeds of over
30kph after playing continuously for
30 hours is a huge achievement”
SOHK are thrilled to have reclaimed their title, having held the record in 2015 with a time of 28 hours and 30 minutes, however they were beaten by The Fire Fighters Charity in 2017.
The event raised in excess of £40,000 but they hope to reach their record, with donations still pouring in from online platforms.
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