During this year’s Six Nations, former player and coach Paul Pook has taken on a striking challenge: making one tackle for every single point scored in the tournament. Armed with a tackle bag from Gilbert Rugby, and stepping into the freezing sea, Pook is completing each tackle on behalf of Tackle Suicide to raise awareness around player welfare and mental wellbeing within rugby.
At its core, the campaign returns to one of rugby’s most fundamental skills. By linking each point scored in the Six Nations to a physical tackle, he has created a simple but visible way of drawing attention to a serious issue – using the language and tools of rugby to start wider conversations.
A tackle bag is a piece of equipment found at clubs across the country, used week in, week out by players of all ages. Taking it into the sea added a layer of physical discomfort that reflects the toughness often associated with the sport, while keeping the message rooted firmly in rugby.
1. Where did the idea come from?
Tackle Suicide launched six months ago as a player welfare advocacy initiative. Research shows that rugby players – and sports people generally – can be more vulnerable to depression and anxiety, particularly post-career.
The idea behind the challenge came from a powerful comparison. The average number of points scored across a round of Six Nations fixtures closely mirrors the number of suicides recorded per week in the UK. For Pook, that statistic was impossible to ignore. When thinking about how to raise awareness, Paul wanted something unmistakably rugby.
It’s called Tackle Suicide, so the tackle bag was a no brainer – used every day in clubs across the country. It’s recognisable. It’s rugby.
2. What keeps you motivated to keep pushing yourself?
The driving force of Paul’s motivation comes from being able to share his lived experience and lead by example. The sport gave him self-belief, lifelong friendships and a professional pathway from playing to coaching.
Tackle Suicide, and the Six Nations challenge in particular, are about reinforcing the values that make rugby special while encouraging greater awareness around player welfare. Furthermore, realising that each tackle also represents a life lost to suicide is motivation enough.
3. You’ve experienced rugby as both a player and a coach – how does your perspective on the game differ now?
Pook’s perspective is shaped by more than two decades in the game. Having played and coached at professional level – including being part of a Grand Slam-winning coaching team in 2009 – player welfare has long been central to his approach.
Throughout his coaching career, managing workload and optimising player energy were key priorities. Performance and wellbeing were never separate considerations; ensuring players could train, compete and recover effectively was fundamental to long-term success.
That same philosophy underpins Tackle Suicide. It is supported by a board bringing together expertise in psychotherapy, research, lived experience, business and finance, alongside ambassadors including Sir John Kirwan, Nigel Owens, Rocky Clark and Keith Wood.
4. What can rugby bring to people?
Rugby is about being connected with your teammates and playing for each other. The camaraderie built through shared challenge is one of the sport’s defining strengths.
That sense of belonging is particularly powerful at grassroots level. For many amateur players, rugby is their means of connecting with other people. It provides structure, friendships, and a network that can last decades.
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5. What is your advice for making a great tackle – physically and mentally?
Technically, a great tackle is about commitment and precision – accelerating into contact, targeting correctly, staying low and driving through. Mentally, it requires focus, bravery and trust in the people around you.
6. What message would you give to young players just starting out in rugby today?
In rugby, communication is constant. Whether organising a defensive line or perfecting a set piece. Applying that same attentiveness off the pitch is just as important. Checking in, asking questions, and being aware of changes in those around you are small actions that reflect the game’s core values.
For young players entering the sport, the message is simple: embrace the camaraderie. Work hard on skills and performance, but apply the same teamwork and communication to supporting one another.
7. How can people support?
As we get ready for Round 3, Paul has completed approximately 300 tackles – one for every point scored – and for every try, that tackle is in freezing water.
With more still to come as the tournament unfolds, those wishing to support the initiative can find more information and donate via his JustGiving page, where funds raised contribute towards player welfare advocacy, research and support for the grassroots game.
At Gilbert Rugby, we are proud to play a small part in a campaign that connects the physical act of tackling with the deeper principles of the game: resilience, courage and looking after your team.
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