Former Chiefs take on Charity Climb

By Mark Stevens
26/6/23

As the world of rugby prepares for the sport’s biggest tournament in France, three former Exeter Chiefs stars are taking on the formidable challenge of scaling the highest peak of Western Europe, Mont Blanc.

Greg Bateman, Phil Dollman and Kai Horstmann will be tackling the 4,808m summit (the equivalent height of 48 rugby fields!) as part of a programme of mental health awareness and fundraising efforts in support of rugby charity LooseHeadz.

For the trio it's a formidable challenge, but one which Greg, the the founder of craft beer brand People’s Captain, in particular is keen to help, having received support from the charity in overcoming his very own mental health struggles towards the end of his playing career.

Greg has been openly vocal about his mental health struggles in recent years. Following a life-changing conversation with a close friend over a pint, where Greg first admitted he was struggling, People’s Captain was founded. The brand’s central mission is to encourage these meaningful social moments and conversations that often take place over a drink with mates.

The climb's goal is to raise £50,000 for The LooseHeadz Foundation, an initiative that sits at the heart of the LooseHeadz brand to raise money for positive mental health action, whilst combating the stigma around mental health within the rugby community.

LooseHeadz continues to have a growing influence within the sport as it pursues its mission to have a mental health lead in every rugby club around the world. A mental health lead offers a clear and professional support avenue for players in the largely ‘macho’ rugby dressing room, an avenue Greg himself feels would have been hugely beneficial to him had it been available during his playing days.

One of LooseHeadz’s key fundraising avenues is its clothing brand, which will design and manufacture bespoke merchandise for the three former Chiefs to be kitted out for the Mont Blanc climb. The limited edition People’s Captain x LooseHeadz merch will be exclusively available on the LooseHeadz website, with all sale proceeds adding to the climb’s fundraising pot.

Not to be left out, People’s Captain is also launching a product of its own for the collaboration, in the form of ‘LooseHeadz Lager’. The 4.5% crisp, refreshing pale lager, boasting an earthy flavour with subtle nectar fruits, will be available online and on draught at select rugby clubs and pubs in the build up to and during rugby’s showpiece tournament in France this September and October.

Greg said: “Mental health is a notoriously tricky subject to talk about. I speak from experience, despite finding myself in dark head spaces before, I feel so passionately that it’s in the safety of social moments we’re going to encourage those who don’t feel able to speak up. Because overcoming this hurdle and opening up is the single best thing somebody can do to get the ball rolling in receiving the support they need.”

“I’m from rugby and I know what a family, community club can feel like and the support they can offer. While awareness is amazing, we need action, we need to have tools for people to access so they can get the help they need. This is what this partnership is trying to encourage. LooseHeadz is already doing a load of great stuff within the sport, so we’re delighted to support its fundraising efforts. People’s Captain and other sponsors are getting us up the mountain, so every pound donated will support Looseheadz mission.”

Dave Nicoll, Co-Founder at LooseHeadz, added: “We're incredibly excited to launch this partnership with Greg and People's Captain. Their mission of making the social moments count aligns perfectly with our vision of getting people to talk in the rugby club environment. Given that LooseHeadz started as a chat at the end of a rugby club bar, we believe this is an exciting way to help engage more people and encourage a few more of those conversations that matter.”