Traitors finalist and Welsh legends to join freezing tackle-a-thon at Coney Beach
HUNDREDS of supporters — including The Traitors finalist Andrew Jenkins and Welsh rugby greats — are set to gather in Porthcawl on Sunday (Feb 22) in support of a powerful Six Nations-linked suicide prevention campaign.
The event, taking place at Coney Beach from 10.30am, will see former professional rugby player Paul Pook enter the freezing sea as part of the “Rugby Against Suicide – Six Nations Tackle-a-thon”.
The campaign, delivered through his non-profit organisation Tackle Suicide CIC, aims to raise awareness of suicide, mental ill-health and brain health challenges affecting rugby players and the wider community.
Among those backing Sunday’s event is Andrew Jenkins, who has spoken publicly about surviving a life-changing brain injury following a catastrophic car crash. He will be joined by former Welsh internationals Byron Hayward and Kingsley Jones.
The initiative has already received national coverage, including features from BBC. Organisers say the Porthcawl event is “100% happening” and are encouraging members of the public to attend and take part.
Turning Six Nations scores into life-saving action
The concept behind the campaign is stark. On average, 125 people die by suicide each week in the UK — a figure which mirrors the average number of points scored during a week of Six Nations fixtures.
To highlight the statistic:
• For every point scored during the Championship, Paul completes a tackle on land.
• For every try scored, those tackles take place in the cold sea.
Solidarity tackles are also being carried out by players, clubs and supporters across the rugby community. Sunday’s event will include opportunities for former internationals, celebrities and members of the public to hold or tackle the bag themselves in support.
Born from lived experience
Paul founded Tackle Suicide CIC after experiencing his own mental health struggles following elite sport. The campaign centres on a simple but powerful message: talking about suicide saves lives.
Each symbolic tackle represents the “invisible hits” many retired players face — including identity loss, isolation, brain injury challenges and the silence that can surround mental ill-health.
The campaign has the backing of major names from the rugby world, including former British & Irish Lions captain Keith Wood and former All Black John Kirwan, who now serves as a global mental health advocate.
Funds raised will support the development of the Tackle360 digital wellbeing platform, access to talking therapies, lived-experience research within rugby, and suicide-prevention tools for collision sport athletes.
Sunday’s event at Coney Beach is open to players, supporters, clubs and the wider public — with organisers hoping for a strong Welsh turnout as the Six Nations campaign continues.
