MAN v FAT Rugby: Cheltenham’s new club for fitness and fun

A new rugby club that aims to help Cheltenham men lose unwanted weight at a healthy and sustainable pace has kicked off in the town.

The programme has become the first of its kind in the UK and organisers are encouraging more local men to take part, following 25 men attending its first weekly session.

MAN v FAT Rugby Cheltenham is designed for overweight men with a BMI of over 27.5 and is inspired by a hugely successful football-based programme, MAN v FAT Football, that has helped tens of thousands of men lose 700,000 pounds of unwanted weight in the last ten years.

READ MORE:Wales boss Warren Gatland selects five Gloucester Rugby stars for the Autumn Nations Series

READ MORE:Huge Manchester rock band announced as Wychwood Festival 2025 headliner

But the initiative isn’t just about kicking fat into touch, MAN v FAT players across the UK have spoken about making new friends, building confidence and improving their mental health with the help of the programme.

The Cheltenham club started on Wednesday and will take place each week at Cheltenham Tigers RFC, Newlands Park Sports & Social Venue from 8pm until 9pm.

At a session, players have a quick catch-up with their teammates and coaches before being weighed to track their weight loss or gain across a week. They then take to the pitch for small-sided touch rugby games where points are awarded to the winning teams. The points on the pitch then combine with team members’ personal weight loss progress to contribute to overall standings in the Cheltenham club’s league table.

Matches are managed by qualified referees, with trophies and medal awarded to winning teams and outstanding individual players at the end of a season.

MAN v FAT Rugby Lead, Karl White explains: “We were really encouraged by the interest shown in MAN v FAT Rugby ahead of the programme launching in Cheltenham and pleased to have 25 guys with us, now that sessions are underway. The Cheltenham club is the first of its kind in the UK and we hope that it’s just the start for a format that we play to roll-out in multiple locations, nationwide.

“Despite our name, MAN v FAT Rugby is about a lot more than just losing weight. In many cases, we’re providing men who haven’t picked up an oval ball in years the chance to get back into playing a sport that they love, without the fuss of having to get a group together or book facilities. Equally, if you’re worried about not being fit enough, that’s OK - we will help you play at a safe pace that you are comfortable with.

“We’re also aiming for our Cheltenham club to become a real community for the men that get involved. We’ve seen through our football programme that sessions are genuine highlights in our players’ weeks and somewhere that they build confidence, make new friends and improve their mental health, while losing weight.

“The club has spaces for new players and it’s never too late to join. More players means more teams within a club and we find that the more competitive our clubs are, the more weight our players lose.”