About the longest game
18-19 June 2025 | Mullingar Rugby Football Club, Westmeath, Ireland
In an extraordinary show of endurance, community, and commitment to good causes, The Longest Game aims to set two Guinness World Records for the longest marathon playing rugby union — one for men and one for women. The records to beat? 30 hours, 29 minutes, and 41 seconds for the men’s game, and 24 hours, 5 minutes, and 15 seconds for the women’s. But, both teams are aiming to get consecutive records of 36 hours!
The Longest Game will be played under full World Rugby laws, with two teams — the LooseSpoons and the WoodenHeadz — competing in both 15 a-side men’s and women’s fixtures. Each squad consists of 23 players, meaning a total of 92 players (46 men and 46 women) and 6 referees, will take part across both matches. To meet the gruelling demands of a world record attempt, each player and referee is expected to clock approximately 24 hours of game time. To manage fatigue and ensure player welfare, the format allows for breaks inline with World Rugby Law, with substitutions and rotations carefully scheduled throughout the event. This ensures the integrity of the competition while pushing the boundaries of endurance in the name of charity.
This isn’t just about records — it’s about raising over £100,000 for three inspirational charities: LooseHeadz, Wooden Spoon, and the British & Irish Lions Trust.
These brave — and some might say foolhardy — players are set to push their limits for causes that matter. They need your support to cross the line. Follow the journey, spread the word, and donate if you can — let’s help them make history.
itinerary
Wednesday
06:30 - 07:00 Players Arrive at Mullingar RFC
08:00 Kick Off - Both games
Thursday
Circa 08:00 known women’s record for longest game broken
14:30 DJ and music pitch-side
Circa 15:00 standing Guinness World Record broken
Circa 20:00 Guinness World Record attempts for the Longest Game ends with new records
20:30 Post match food available and celebratory drinks
22:00 Event Closes
Friday
11:00 Players leave Mullingar and head to Dublin City Centre
20:00 British & Irish Lions v Argentina kick off at Aviva Stadium
20:40 Longest Game World Record Holders half time pitch walk & recognition
Saturday
Farewells, thank yous & depatures
About the club
Mullingar Rugby Club was founded in 1924 and has grown into a thriving community club.
Today, they proudly field teams in Men’s Leinster League Division 1B, Women’s Division 2, U20s, Youths, Minis (Boys & Girls), Disability Tag Rugby, and Summer Tag Rugby.
At Mullingar RFC, community is at their core. As a volunteer-led club, they aim to enrich lives through rugby, promoting inclusion, teamwork, and development for players of all ages and abilities in a safe and supportive environment.
Fundraising plays a vital role in uniting the club and driving their shared goals forward—ensuring rugby continues to be accessible and rewarding for everyone in their community.
Thank you Mullingar
“On behalf of Wooden Spoon & LooseHeadz, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone at Mullingar RFC for your incredible support and warm hospitality. A special thank you to Ciaran and Paul for your tireless work, to Dave Smyth for the fantastic catering, and to everyone who contributed behind the scenes. The facilities and spirit shown are exceptional—your commitment truly reflects the power of rugby to bring people together for a great cause. Thank you.” — Sarah Webb, CEO of Wooden Spoon
Mullingar RFC
About LooseHeadz
The challenges we face
On average
1 person dies by suicide around the world.
LooseHeadz CONNECT - An online community hub that has been built by Capgemini will help bring the global rugby community together like never before.
700,000 every 40seconds around 75%
that’s around 700,000 people a year
SUPPORT is an ongoing pilot in the form of a gold standard clinical support service, providing immediate access to professional support for those most in need.
1200 rugby clubs of suicides in the UK are men* in 28 different countries
LooseHeadz DELIVER - An innovative new training programme, tailored specifically for rugby clubs and their mental health leads.
LooseHeadz work with over 1,200 rugby clubs in 28 different countries.
* World Health Organisation Suicide: one person dies every 40 seconds report *mentalhealth.org- men and mental health report.
LooseHeadz is rugby’s mental health charity on a mission to save lives by placing a mental health lead at every rugby club in the world.
The charity uses rugby as a vehicle to drive and open up the conversation around mental health and tackle the stigma.
1 in 4 people struggle with their mental health each year, and suicide one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
LooseHeadz has recently announced a new strategy to CONNECT, DELIVER, and SUPPORT the rugby community.
About Wooden Spoon
Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby, dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young people living with disabilities, disadvantage, or social exclusion. Harnessing the spirit and values of the rugby community, the charity funds lifechanging projects across the UK and Ireland to offer better opportunities and brighter futures.
Projects supported by Wooden Spoon include sensory rooms, specialist playgrounds, adapted sports equipment, and inclusive education programmes. Since 1983, they’ve committed over £30 million to more than 1,300 initiatives — positively impacting the lives of over a million children and young people.
The challenges we face
In the UK, it is estimated that
children in the UK are Neurodivergent*
Wooden Spoon has funded over 100 sensory spaces across the UK and Ireland, totalling over £4.6 million and helping over 202,000 young people.
3 in 4 1 in 5 1 in 5
children with disabilities don’t play sport at school*
Wooden Spoon Tag Fest gives players with mild and severe learning difficulties the opportunity to be a rugby player.
1 in 3
children have a mental health issue* children live in poverty*
Wooden Spoon supports The Wave Project which reduces isolation and enhances confidence and wellbeing of young people through surf therapy.
Wooden Spoon supports The Boathouse Youth in Blackpool who work with children and young people from socio-economically deprived communities.
* NHS, England Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 report; Child Poverty Action group 2024; Gibson, O. (2024, September 1). The Guardian.
About the Lions Trust
The Lions Trust supports Lions players in need while promoting the spirit, values, and ethos of The British & Irish Lions across rugby clubs in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The Trust is led by former Lions, including chairman Gavin Hastings and trustees Richard Hill, Jamie Roberts, and Tommy Bowe. It reflects the values of the Lions Tour—respect, unity, and generosity of spirit.
A key focus is the welfare of past players who may lack access to financial, medical, or personal support. The Trust aims to honour the Lions’ legacy while safeguarding its future through meaningful, practical support.
staff and volunteers
A heartfelt thank you to everyone behind the scenes—our incredible staff, dedicated volunteers, first aiders, physios, water carriers, independent witnesses, and more. Your time, energy, and spirit have made this extraordinary event possible.
To the teams: LooseSpoonz and WoodenHeadz—made up of players from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and around the world —your passion, humour, and resilience embody the very best of what this challenge represents.
We couldn’t have done it without you. Here’s to teamwork, endurance, and making history—together.
Alwyn Thornton
Andrew Burgess
Andy Jones
Anne-Lise Costerg
Aoife Conaghan
Ashton Spicer
Caoimhe Morris
Catherine Jones
Chloe Harte
Chris North
Dave Nicoll
Dylan O’Keefe
Edward Legge
Ellyanna Madden
Ethan Ritchie
Fionnuala Wharton
Francesca Cates
Gerry Winston
Hannah Possart
Hannah Stallard
Heather Lewis
Imogen Robinson
Jeanetter McDonnell
Jenny Bond
John Sim
Karanpreet Brar
Kelly Boyce Jordan
Kerrie Webber
Laurence Hemary
Liam Town
Lois O’Flanagan
Lucy Ellis
Lucy Hopwood
Lucy Roy
Mark Byrne
Matt Mallinder
Matt Mitchell
Neil Kemp
Orlaith Sheerin
Rachel Lawrence
Richard Hopwood
Rob Russell
Rob Shotton
Robert Harvey
Ryan Parker
Sarah Rowland
Sarah Webb
Skye Butts
Stephen MacKinnon
Sue Reynolds
Suzanne Whitfield
Tom Hughes
Wayne Edward Jones
Aurélie Lemouzy
Edward Reed
Jonny Cartwright
Josh Bate
Simon Turner
Stuart Bage referees
Thank you
men
Andrew Letts
Andy McGrory
Cliff Street
Colin Stuart
David Luxon
Don Farrell
Gareth Hummerston
John Clements
Jon Morton
Joshua Jones
Kieran Lynch
Maheson Balasundaram
Mark Whitfield
Max Brown
Neal Patterson
Ni Butler
Odin Hopwood
Patrick Cronin
Paul Sullivan
Robin Callaway
Sean Farrell
Stafford Butt
Zachary Johns
Team
Loosespoons
Team
Loosespoons
women
Ali Mackenzie-Cooper
Bella May
Chloe Cranfield
Chloe Payne
Ella Wylie
Jacqueline Louise Davis
Jess Courtman
Jess Kneebone
Joanne Smith
Katherine Brinsley
Laura Turner
Lauren Hanley
Lauren Roberts
Lisa Richardson
Paige Anastacia
Rachel Massey
Rachel Murphy
Rebecca Smart
Rebeckah Mallard
Roisin Winston
Sarah Coleman
Tamara Taylor
Tilly Bennett
Adam Kentell
Andy Collings
Brett Bader
woodenheadz men Team
Cameron Findlay
Dan O’Rourke
Jack Badhan
James Burge-Davies
James Catlin
Jason Baker
Jeremy Foster
Johnathan Zemlik
Josef Webber
Joshua Ovey
Ken Sugden
Mark Kane
Matt Bishop
Murray Stewart
Nigel Brierley
Niki Davies
Sean Harrison
Simon Beadle
Tapuwa Chabata
Zac Sutton
Team
woodenheadz
women
Amanda Burton
Beena Chadha
Carlene Willis
Carole Mage
Eleanor Ferrie
Emma Riach
Gemma Wilson
Hailey Coutts
Hazel Malakoty
Izzy Beadle
Jess Cheesman
Kelli Nusum
Kirstie Standish
Lee Murru
Lucy Jefferies
Melanie Burge-Davies
Nicola Caldwell
Olivia Martin
Sam Moore
Shawna Ball
Tracey Smith
Yasmin Crehan
Yvonne Tunnicliff
Corporate support
canterbury
THE ORIGINAL RUGBY BRAND
Since Canterbury kicked off in 1904, we’ve designed kit that’s crafted for this demanding game. From the very beginning, our roots stood firm in New Zealand soil. Years later, and the three Canterbury kiwis are etched not just on our jerseys, but into the history of rugby. Today, over a century of knowledge goes into creating our world-class kit. Built to last. Truly tough. Designed for players.
LMAX Group is a global financial technology company and the leading independent operator of multiple institutional execution venues for FX and digital assets trading. With offices in 9 countries and a global client base, the Group builds and runs its own high performance, ultra-low latency exchange infrastructure, which includes matching engines in London, New York, Tokyo and Singapore.
ICS Mortgages is a residential mortgage lender in the Irish market. ICS Mortgages is a trading name of Dilosk DAC, which is an Irish owned financial services company. We are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland as a Retail Credit Firm and comply with all the relevant regulatory codes applicable to mortgage lending in Ireland.
Nextgen helps creative studios, production companies and those who support them better position for the future.
Opro
Founded more than 25 years ago in 1997 by Dr. Anthony Lovat BDS., OPRO is the world’s most technically advanced mouthguard company and a leading pioneer in oral protection. From our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hertfordshire (UK), we’re dedicated to creating the ultimate in dental protection by using innovation and technology for the good of athletes at all levels of sport.
Why not grab yourself a professional level mouthguard you fit at home. Available in three protection levels with OPRO Instant Custom-Fit mouthguards. Use code: WOODENSPOON10 for 10% off sitewide at www.opro.com
Valid until 27th June 2025
d3 tape
On the sidelines of a sports field, three dads wondered why good strapping tape was so hard to find and so expensive. That question led to the creation of d3 — a brand committed to delivering high-quality, reliable, and fun sports support products that help all bodies move better. From injury prevention to rehab, d3’s range supports everyone from active individuals to elite athletes. With a focus on value, quality, and customer needs, d3 is now stocked by major retailers and expanding globally — all while keeping movement at the heart of everything it does.
nocco
No Carbs Company
NOCCO is a beverage with BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) and vitamins, developed by No Carbs Company in Sweden. The beverage is preferably consumed in connection to a workout. No Carbs Company launched its first product in December 2014 and is today available in more than 30 markets. All NOCCO products are carbonated, sugar-free and low calorie.
Previous World Record
In a monumental display of endurance, teamwork, and heart, the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) and Wooden Spoon joined forces to set a Guinness World Record for the longest marathon playing rugby union—an incredible 30 hours, 29 minutes, and 41 seconds. This historic match took place from August 25 to 26, 2019, at Hazelwood, West London—the home training ground of London Irish RFC. More than just a physical feat, the event served a higher purpose: raising over £50,000 for two remarkable charities dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and young people across the UK.
Now, the record is under challenge once again—this time in Mullingar, Ireland, where a determined group of players will attempt to break the record for three life changing causes.
”When asked to take part in the Guinness World Record event again, I couldn’t say no. Despite the memories of pain and fatigue, the players and supporters made it such an overwhelming experience — one I can only look back on with a smile. The chance to share that feeling with a new group of people, while raising funds for amazing charities, is something I just couldn’t pass up.”— Ni Butler, taking on his 6th World Record attempt, having already helped set the record four times before.
#LongestGame2025 #HelpingKidsThroughRugby #TackleTheStigma #TacklingDisadvantage
Instagram: @looseheadz | Facebook: LooseHeadz | X: @LooseHeadz TikTok: @looseheadz | YouTube: @looseheadz
Instagram: @charityspoon | Facebook: Wooden Spoon Charity X: @charityspoon | YouTube: @WoodenSpoonTV