Club Captain, Robert Trigg, has asked Club Members to talk about this important and often avoided topic this week. Director of Rugby, Paul Vidgen shares his thoughts below.

This Month marks Men’s Mental Health Month in the USA. While here in the UK we traditionally observe Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month in November, that should never stop us from talking about it now, or at any time of year.

Mental health doesn’t recognise borders, calendars, or silence. It’s something that affects us all — and if we’re honest, many of us have been impacted in some way during our lives. While mental health is a global issue that affects everyone, regardless of gender, it still remains a taboo subject for many men — especially in environments that prize toughness, like sport, and particularly in traditionally masculine ones like rugby.

This Hits Close to Home

Recent events at our proud club have brought these issues painfully close to home.

Speaking personally, I can say these events have had a profound effect on me.
I’ve found myself wrestling with thoughts like:
• What more could I have done?
• Why didn’t they reach out?
• What impact is this having on everyone left behind?

And I’ll be honest with you all — I’ve cried. A lot.

I’ve leant on my family, my friends, my teammates — and those conversations, that support, that honesty — have helped me begin to come to terms with things.

Rugby Has Changed — And So Should We

I’ve been involved in rugby for over 45 years, and like the world, the game has changed a great deal. For some of us who’ve been around the block a few times, these changes — especially when it comes to opening up and expressing how we feel — can be hard to get used to.

But change is necessary.

I take comfort in knowing that help is there now in ways it never used to be. And I hope the values we pass on to our sons, teammates, and friends help shape a future where asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Whether it’s June or November, the conversation around men’s mental health shouldn’t have a season. As a club, as teammates, and as a community, let’s keep checking in on each other — and make it okay to not be okay.

You never know the difference a simple “how are you really doing?” might make.