One of the first fundraisers that Tough Enough To Care ran was a rugby match called “Tough Enough To Play.” The tournament united players from numerous different clubs across the country, with the primary goal of raising funds for the charity.

After the games, a number of players approached Tough Enough To Care and talked about establishing a dedicated team that would play two or three times a year to continue to raise funds for the charity. The open and supportive atmosphere of the games and the conversations around mental health that that fostered, really resonated with them.

Recognising the potential, Stu and the Tough Enough volunteers began assembling a team, drawing considerable interest.

The next step was to choose a name. “The Flaming Unicorns” was jokingly suggested and it stuck! It seemed a meaningful choice, symbolising the rarity of men openly discussing their mental health – akin to spotting a unicorn in real life!

With the team in place, the next step involved designing and funding a distinctive kit, with the initial commitment from the team members to self-fund. However, the Unicorns journey took an exciting turn when Steve Arnold from Trojan expressed interest in sponsoring the team.

The rest, as they say, is history. The Flaming Unicorns now play upwards of ten games a year and have introduced both a male and female team. The teams Whatsapp groups boast over 200 people including current players, retired players and referees, all willing to step out in the Unicorns colours.

Together, they share a common mission – to raise funds for Tough Enough To Care and combat the stigma surrounding men’s mental health.