Former England second-row George Kruis is coming out of retirement to take part in a world record attempt for a continuous rugby sevens match. The event, which aims to raise awareness and funds for the mental health charity LooseHeadz, will see 48 players try to play more than 24 hours of sevens rugby at Sandbach RUFC in Cheshire.
When and how the record attempt will work
Two matches — a men's and a women's game — will kick off simultaneously at midday on Friday and will not end until after 12pm on Saturday. The goal is to beat the current Guinness World Record of 24 hours and 30 minutes, set in 2017 in a men's match. There is currently no record for a women's match.
Each match will feature two teams of up to 12 players, with rolling replacements throughout to keep the action going. Both matches will follow official sevens rugby laws.
Who is taking part
Kruis, who won 45 caps for England and was part of the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, will be involved. Also taking part is former England sevens captain Ollie Phillips, a former World Sevens Player of the Year. During his playing career, Kruis won three European titles and four Premiership crowns with Saracens before retiring in 2022 to focus on his business career, co-founding the health and wellness brand fourfive with ex-Wales lock Dominic Day.
Fundraising and charity
Further appearances from legends and current players have been teased throughout the event. The fundraising target is £100,000, with around £52,000 raised so far. LooseHeadz is a rugby mental health charity that aims to tackle the stigma around mental health by providing rugby clubs with free resources to support the mental fitness of players, coaches, and supporters.
