'It’s a special memory': Meet the players that set a rugby sevens world record

During the off season a lot of people involved in women’s rugby in Scotland have had a well-earned rest, but not a bit of it for Katelynn Ashford as she decided to take part in a world record attempt and was involved in sevens match that lasted 28 hours.

It is certainly a different way that usual to get ready for the new campaign, but a very fulfilling one and the 23-year-old, who plays for Arnold Clark Caledonia East/Midlands Two outfit Kirkcaldy, says being part of the event was “a special memory that I will forever think of and cherish”.

So, where did the idea for the world record attempt come from?

The driving force behind it all was rugby mental health charity, LooseHeadz, who uses the power of rugby to start conversations, tackle stigma and save lives.

The charity linked up with hosts Sandbach RUFC to bring together players, officials, volunteers and supporters for an unforgettable challenge that aimed to rewrite the record books while also strengthening the rugby community.

The ‘24/7s’ challenge got underway at 12pm on July 24 in Cheshire when two marathon sevens matches for men and women began. They did not stop until after 12pm on July 25.

The goal for the men was to play for longer than the Guinness World Record of 24 hours and 30 minutes set in 2017 while, for the women, with no record in place the challenge was to put down a marker and create a record that would be hard to beat.

The matches followed official rugby sevens laws, ensuring the challenge remained a legitimate competitive contest, even as fatigue inevitably set in.

And, after an epic two days involving players from all over the place who all had their own personal reasons for getting involved, provisional world records were set for the longest ever men’s and women’s sevens matches lasted 28 hours each.

Perhaps even more importantly, more than £69,000 was raised via the challenge for LooseHeadz and the great work that they do.

“It was an unreal experience it really was and we were tested physically and mentally throughout,” Ashford, who plays 10 or 12 usually in XVs, explained after dusting herself down post-challenge.

“We had a goal to play for 28 hours which when thinking about it seemed like it might never happen, but we all clubbed together, worked hard and we achieved our goal.

“Initially the plan for each player involved was to have three and a half hours on the pitch and two and a half hours off the pitch on a rotation, however, as expected, niggles and injuries crept in and everyone just had to muck in and get involved as and when they could for long spells to somehow get us over the line.

“The most challenging part was definitely playing overnight. Mentally that was tough. But we all pushed on and got the job done. When we finished the collective feeling was amazing and knowing the men had done so well too made it doubly special.

“As well as us all managing to play for 28 hours and not knowing quite how we did it, I also I don’t know how the organisers managed to keep track of the scores, but they did.

“The women’s whites that I was a part of scored 2,545 points to the women’s blacks 2,422 points while the men’s whites scored 2,266 points and the men’s black 2,100 points.”

Ashford got involved in the challenge after hearing about it from her Pigbarians charity outfit team mate Paige Aitken-Robinson.

“She was involved in the Wooden Spoon rugby charity ‘Longest Game’ XVs challenge last year when they smashed the world record [the women completed an astonishing 26 hours 33 minutes of continuous play, and the men 34 hours 48 minutes].” Ashford, who began her rugby journey at local club Glenrothes and also had a spell recently at Scottish Premiership champions Stirling County, explained.

“Once Paige found out that there was a sevens challenge this year, she forwarded me the link and told me I should give it a go and that I’d be amazing at it. I applied and was accepted so there was no getting out of it then and I am just so glad I got involved.

“Now that I have had a few days to decompress and reflect on the challenge it’s a special memory that I will forever think of and cherish. I made new friends and raised awareness and funds for LooseHeadz while doing what I love and that is playing rugby.

“And now I get to head back to Kirkcaldy and tell all my teammates about the experience. The club has been a second family to me, the support and encouragement that you get from the people there is unreal and they will back you in whatever you decide to do.

“I do love tackling people on game days and that attracted me to rugby I can’t lie, but the sport also gives you a place and a space where all your problems disappear because you are surrounded by team mates creating memories on and off the field together, it really is magic.”