Quarantine rugby Facebook group hits 30k in five days

A new Facebook group aimed at rugby fans in the US has become a social media hit with players of the world ‘sharing’ a drink and helping to fight mental health issues during the COVID-19 shutdown

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The snappily named Quarantined Chuggers for Qualified Ruggers. #NoNormies was started on 24th March and by 29th March had 31,445 and while it was started in America, it’s soon spread across the rugby diaspora with players and fans from over 100 countries are now part of the group.

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Although a private group, any rugby fan can join provided they meet the criteria, which includes filming themselves downing a drink – be it a beer from a boot or milk from a glass. Started by James Rogers, a Wales-born rugby player living in Georgia and playing for the Savannah Shamrocks, the group also serves a purpose beyond communal chugging. “There are two passions in my life; rugby and mental health awareness,” says James. “As a Royal Navy Veteran of 12 years who emigrated to a new country alone, I am immersed in three demographics that are the most endangered in regards to mental health issues (veterans, minorities and males). 

“Last year I decided I needed to find a vehicle for which to reach out to people to try and break the stigma of seeking help, and sharing their issues. This was triggered by (no pun intended) at one point me having three firearms in my house from friends who felt they may do something terrible to themselves should they remain in their possession. So they asked me to hold onto them until life got better.

“When the COVID-19 shutdown inevitably reached rugby, the sheer sadness of hundreds of my friends across my Facebook feed was evident. Rugby has saved lives; whether it’s through the physical exertion of the game and the rewards it can bring, or the brotherhood/sisterhood created as a result of such time together. I was out for a run last week when it hit me that it would be reckless to find a way to still be able to play rugby for the people, but creating a medium to keep the “Third Half” (the social) alive was possible. 

“’Chugging’ in a rugby environment is synonymous with being the man of the match or dick of the day. Either way, it is the crescendo of a social that everyone enjoys. With this I asked my closest friends to join my group Quarantined Chuggers for Qualified Ruggers. #NoNormies and just send a video of them cheers-ing to each other.

“People asked if they could invite friends, and from there we went from 20 members to over 30,000 in five days.” The group already believes it must be home to one of the largest online collections of grassroots images anywhere and it’s only days in. The website has also proved to be a source of inspiration for those on the front line. “A nurse rugger sent in a picture of her in her scrubs,” explains James, “she said something to the effect of, ‘I wish I could send a chug to my fellow ruggers, but unfortunately I’m working mega shifts fighting the virus, and now we have to recycle our masks, which is scary’.

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“Within minutes we had multiple people commenting, asking for her hospital’s address, and because of our page some hospital in Albuquerque is getting a free large supply of approved face masks and face shields to help beat the virus and protect our valuable health workers. This came from private business owner ruggers and ruggers with 3D printers.”

Other examples highlighted the mental issues being felt by members of the group. “A lady posted with a variety of coloured hearts ranging from ‘I feel great’ to ‘I’m not coping at all’,” explains James. “She said to write in the comments how you’re doing with the relevant heart. I was so proud that for every heart posted expressing someone struggling, random rugby guys and girls from around the world would comment with something super positive or just a ‘please DM we are here for you’. This is what rugby is.”

Although the idea of ‘chugging’ a drink is a pre-requisite to joining the group, it’s not put anyone off. “We have folk that are sober on our page,” says James. “Either through pregnancy, medical conditions or alcoholism. Every one of them has thanked the group and even posted their own non-alcoholic chug videos.

“What’s even more cool is that in all of the sober chug videos there is not one comment akin to ‘man up’ or ‘drink a beer you loser’, every comment is someone congratulating them on their sobriety and praising how brave they are. I love this.”

The group have now starting working with US mental health charity, Find Your Anchor, as they start to make the most of their unexpected popularity. Hollis Bennett, one of the admins, and former president of Nashville Rugby, said: “We’ve identified a charity named Find Your Anchor that we’ll be partnering with and, longer term, we are going to be doing some fundraisers to identify mental health issues in the rugby community  and support that.  

“In the short term, we’re going to be leveraging our numbers to help front line workers battling this coronavirus shit. We’re all ready for it to be over but this group has been a good thing to come out of it for sure.”

To join the group, visit

 
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