Vodafone's partnership with LooseHeadz sees an initiative to raise mental health awareness across the sport.

Vodafone has announced its partnership with LooseHeadz, through which it will provide the rugby mental health charity with free access to digital resources such as SIM cards to improve contact with club members.

Vodafone's everyone.connected initiative aims to address inequalities in digital access while raising awareness for mental health issues. It will see mental health leads assigned to clubs as a point of contact for mental health issues.

Marking the partnership's launch, an event addressing club culture and mental health was held at Old Penarthians RFC by LooseHeadz co-founder Rob Shotton and ambassadors Gwen Crabb and Hannah Jones. “The fact [Vodafone] is giving away these SIM cards to our mental health leads means we can all make sure we stay in touch and check in on people,” says Old Penarthians team manager Emma White. 

“There’s a lot going on in people’s lives other than just rugby, so [this] is going to really help.”

Shotton describes the initiative as a "game-changer", adding: "It's more than a partnership. It's a commitment to using the power of connectivity with the strength of rugby to champion mental health, whilst emphasising the importance of staying connected and looking out for one another.

“We're especially thrilled to focus on women and girls' rugby in Wales, supporting their health and wellbeing. LooseHeadz is immensely proud to start working with Vodafone to make a lasting impact in rugby.”

Vodafone chief commercial officer Max Taylor says: “I'm very proud to be supporting the crucial work LooseHeadz do in building mental health resilience and breaking down stigmas within the rugby community across the UK.

“Their mental health leads play a key role in this, and we are thrilled to be keeping them connected to players, coaches and staff through our everyone.connected programme on Vodafone's reliable award-winning network."