Rugby rivals pull up their socks for Mental Fitness in Orange

You’d have been forgiven for doing a double take as hundreds of rugby players took the field at grounds across central west NSW for this year’s Gotcha4Life Mental Fitness Round of the Blowes Clothing Cup.

More than 600 players across the region all wore the same Gotcha4Life socks as conversation starters - to get people talking not just about footy, but mental fitness. 

The Orange Emus invited rival clubs - Orange City, Cowra, Dubbo, Bathurst and Forbes - to join the cause and they answered the call, coming together to support Gotcha4Life’s work bringing mental fitness to grassroots sporting clubs. 

After the sunset on the scoreboard at Orange’s Endeavour Oval where a huge crowd had gathered to see the Emu’s First XV take on Cowra, the rivals scrubbed up in their finest evening wear to join a sell out crowd of almost 400 in the clubhouse for their annual charity ball, the Orange Black Tie Scrum. 

Online auctions and raffles raised about $16,000 to support Gotcha4Life’s continuing work with the club and wider community. Hotly sought after items included the one-off Gotcha4Life jerseys worn by the Emu’s mens and women’s First XV, tickets and memorabilia from the Australian and NSW Rugby Unions and a stack of goodies donated by local businesses.

Club volunteer Sophie Currenti was a driving force behind this year’s Mental Fitness Round. She knows only too well the value of social connections in a community. When she arrived in Orange in 2019 with her partner, she knew no-one and nothing about rugby.

“The club is the lifeblood of the community. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here. I quickly discovered everyone would meet up at the rugby on Saturday and that’s where I made friends. We’re very lucky to have such a social club, and one that cares about mental fitness too.”

The club’s mental fitness journey began in 2021 when a local mining company engaged Gotcha4Life to deliver programs in and around Orange. As one of the largest clubs in the area, Emus got right behind the initiative.

Gotcha4Life engaged program partner Tomorrow Man to run a ‘More than the Game’ workshop to break down stigmas and help players open up and engage in healthier conversations as they build connections with the teammates in their ‘village’.

That first workshop had a profound impact on the 30 players who took part. Momentum built. A workshop for a women’s team followed, 12 club volunteers did Mental Health First Aid training, and the Emus created Mental Welfare Officer roles to give a face to the support available.

Funds raised from tickets to this year’s ball facilitated more Gotcha4Life workshops during the Mental Fitness Round, with about 45 men and 30 women taking part.

Among those who came along? Former player Andrew Regan, whose life changed in a blink during a game in early 2022 when a spinal injury left the then 35-year old paralysed from the chest down. 

The workshop was the first time he had been back to the club since his accident.

“Andrew had spoken to our club president. He was nervous about coming back, but because of the mental fitness training, they all felt like they could talk about it. It’s pretty special,” Sophie explained.

Josh Ward from Tomorrow Man, who facilitated the workshop for Gotcha4Life, described the powerful moment.

“After 18 months away - it was like ripping the awkward band aid off. He came up the front and talked about his experience, opening up on what it was like for him. Then other guys then opened up too throughout the night, reflecting back to him, and making him feel like he was not the only one.”

It was the latest of many workshops Josh has facilitated for Gotcha4Life at Orange Emus. His work has given him a front row seat to observe the changing culture at the club.

“One of the players said at his first workshop, he didn’t say anything. The second one, he tried talking a little. By the third one, he said it felt easier because he’d practised and talked it out.” 

“Opening up has become second nature to the leaders of the group who have been to three or four workshops. It’s not hard work for them to have conversations with depth. They now look like strong mental health leaders.”

And for footy fans wondering about the result of the big game, the Emu’s First XV won - but only just. It was close. And that feels right for a Gotcha4Life Mental Fitness Round that was all about bringing people closer together.