Cheltenham amateur rugby club completed an incredible journey in 2025 as they lost a collective 350 kilos of unwanted weight.
MAN v FAT Rugby is a club based in Gloucestershire created for overweight and obese men in the local area.
The club initiative has helped members, specifically aimed at men with a BMI of over 27.5, lose over 350kg (770 pounds) through weekly sessions.
Across the UK, the programme runs 170 football and rugby clubs, with around 8,500 men involved and a staggering 900,000 pounds lost in weight since 2016.
Players arrived and were weighed at Cheltenham Tigers RFC before they competed in small-sided games of touch rugby.
Teams that won matches and whose players lost weight are awarded with points and an overall winner was crowned at the end of the 14-week season.
MAN v FAT Rugby member, Cosimo Trinca joined the Cheltenham club a year ago and weighed over 15 stone.
He discussed his experience and how the journey began, “Over the last couple of years, I put on quite a bit of weight and I wasn’t feeling great about myself. Then one day I saw an article on the BBC News website about MAN v FAT Rugby and thought it sounded like a more fun way to lose weight compared to other things I’ve tried.
“In my area there’s a football group and a rugby group, though I decided to join the rugby group becuase I have always enjoyed watching it. Even though I had no experience playing it, I now look forward to playing every week.”
Trinca continued and shared the dynamic within the group, “There’s a range of sporting abilities, but everyone is welcome and has a place, the best part for me is the camaraderie in my group. We have a lot of banter both on and off the pitch and it’s great to feel part of a team.
“At the beginning I didn’t feel very fit, but I found that I started wanting to get fitter so I could play better for my team. This motivated me to start training regularly at the gym.”
Karl White, who leads the programme in Gloucestershire, added: “Cosimo’s a fantastic example of someone that has really thrown themselves into our programme and it’s great to hear how his experience at our club in Cheltenham has improved his physical and mental well-being.
“We are very lucky to be able to hold sessions at Cheltenham Tigers RFC, who are tremendous partners and hugely supportive of what the lads at the club are trying to achieve individually and collectively.
“As a group, the guys have achieved incredible results in the last 12 or so months, the community spirit and atmosphere at the club is electric. We have spaces for new players, so if you are feeling inspired by the Six Nations and want to grab an oval ball in a friendly, non-judgemental environment, MAN v FAT Rugby is for you.”
