World record attempt at Thetford Rugby Club

A member of Thetford Rugby Club has organised a world record attempt at the club’s ground next week.

Organiser Mark Laws, who runs a performance coaching business, said the idea began with two of his clients.

He said: “Both women had children with disabilities and wanted off-road wheelchairs so their children could play with their families outdoors.

“The world record attempt for the longest rugby match, which stands at 31 hours, has been on my mind for about five months and thought this was a good way to combine the two.”

The attempt will start on Friday, August 17, and finish on Saturday, with the money raised also going to five other charities – Moth in a China Shop, Oddballs Foundation, Wooden Spoon, Scotty’s Little Soldiers and Cardiac Risk in the Young.

The Mundford Road ground will be hosting fun days during the match, including face-painting, zorbing, music from Skasouls and Curtis Cronin on Friday and classical soprano Hayley Moss and 2005 X Factor favourite Chico on Saturday.

Rugby World Cup winner Neil Back will also attend on the second day and there is a silent auction with prizes from a Jonny Wilkinson shirt, Challenge Cup Final tickets and hospitality tickets for Tottenham Hotspurs versus Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Mark said: “It is one of those events you don’t realise how big it is as you are in the centre of the storm, but looking at it now, it is massive.”

The free entry event is at Thetford Rugby Club from 10am on both Friday, August 17, and Saturday, August 18.

To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/world-record-rugby-match-attempt?member=395792 or for event details and the silent auction, email www.mark@marklaws.co.uk