Now, more than ever, young people are struggling with their mental fitness. Shockingly, suicide rates in young people have increased by 67% since 2010.
We’re also aware that following the 2020 COVID pandemic, young people in our rugby league towns and communities are one of the groups who will be the most impacted with regards their mental health.
Research shows that 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24. That is why Ahead of the Game is so important.

Rugby League World Cup 2021 is working with Movember and Rugby League Cares to deliver Ahead of the Game, a ground-breaking programme that will teach all young rugby league players the importance of looking after their mental fitness.
The partnership follows the launch in January 2020 by Harry, Duke of Sussex of the tournament’s Mental Fitness Charter which aims to eradicate the stigma associated with mental health and promote the importance of mental strength alongside physical fitness.
The programme will be available to every young player (aged 12-18), their parents/guardians and their coaches across all RLWC2021 host areas teaching them how to look after and build their own mental fitness and the mental fitness of those around them.
In 2021 the best players, coaches and referees in the world, along with the tournament’s volunteers and staff, will join the young players across our communities in receiving the Ahead of the Game programme, helping everyone to be the best they can be at the sports pinnacle event.

You are entitled to receive, for free:
• A mental fitness workshop for each of your U12 to
U18 teams
• A mental fitness workshop for all U12-U18 team parents/guardians. This workshop will support parents/guardians to identify if their child is struggling with their mental fitness and gives them the skills and tools to be able to deal with it in the best possible way.
• A mental fitness workshop for all U12-U18 team coaches. This workshop works with coaches on how to build the mental fitness of their teams
as well as the physical fitness. It also supports coaches to identify and respond if a young player within their team is struggling with their mental health.
• A resilience and ‘Path to Success’ workshop and online programme for all U12 to U18 teams which works with young people on the skills, characteristics and attributes young players will need to be a successful athlete.
• Uniquely, every single one of these workshops will be delivered by a team of current and former rugby league heroes. These recognisable rugby league faces will use stories and examples from their outstanding careers to help young players recognise the importance of staying mentally fit.

Contact your Team Manager by the 19th May if you would like booking on the workshop scheduled for the 15th June.