JAECOO UK joins LooseHeadz for recordbreaking 28hour rugby mental health challenge

• JAECOO UK partnered with rugby mental health charity LooseHeadz as headline sponsor of its recent 24/7s fundraising challenge
• The challenge centred on a Guinness World Records attempt for the longest men’s and women’s rugby sevens matches, aiming to surpass the existing 24-hour and 30-minute benchmark

• The campaign has already raised more than £69,000 in support of LooseHeadz’s mental health work across the rugby community
• A JAECOO 8 SHS-P supported the challenge on site, demonstrating its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability by providing power for the recovery ice bath and sauna throughout the event
• The partnership reflects JAECOO UK’s continued commitment to supporting communities alongside its growing UK presence through a 146-strong retailer network

Held at Sandbach RUFC in Cheshire, Guinness World Records titles for the longest men’s and women’s rugby sevens matches were successfully attempted, subject to formal review and verification by Guinness World Records. Both marathon matches continued for 28 hours and one second, comfortably surpassing the previous benchmark of 24 hours and 30 minutes.

More importantly, the event brought together players, coaches, volunteers and supporters from across the rugby community to raise awareness of mental health while generating vital funds for LooseHeadz. Founded in 2017, the charity has grown into rugby’s leading mental health movement, supporting more than 1,300 clubs across 36 countries through free education, resources and dedicated mental health champions, with the ambition of placing a trained mental health champion in every rugby club worldwide.

As headline partner, JAECOO featured as the front-of-shirt sponsor throughout the challenge, supporting an event that united grassroots players alongside former international rugby stars, including former England and British & Irish Lion George Kruis, former England Sevens captain Ollie Phillips, former Irish international Anna Caplice and former Fiji internationals Niko Matawalu and Vereniki Goneva.

Alongside its headline sponsorship, JAECOO also supported the challenge on site with its all-new, flagship-status JAECOO 8 SHS-P Executive, using its 6.6 kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability to power the recovery ice bath and sauna throughout the event. As players completed more than 28 hours of continuous rugby, the practical technology demonstrated how the flagship SUV can deliver reliable power in a wide range of real-world situations.

The partnership follows a series of collaborations between JAECOO UK and the rugby community, including its role as title partner of Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), Official Automotive Partner of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), and its long-standing relationship with former England captain Chris Robshaw.

Victor Zhang, Managing Director of JAECOO UK, said: ‘At JAECOO, we look to partner with organisations that make a genuine difference within their communities, and LooseHeadz is a fantastic example of that. The 24/7s challenge was an incredible display of determination and teamwork, but, more importantly, it encouraged open conversations about mental health. It was inspiring to see so many people come together in support of such an important cause, demonstrating the sense of community that sits at the heart of rugby.’

Rob Shotton, Co-Founder of LooseHeadz, said: ‘Having JAECOO on board as our headline partner for the 24/7s World Record attempt is incredibly special for LooseHeadz. Partnerships like this give us the platform and support to take on major fundraising challenges, bring the rugby community together, raise vital funds, and continue our mission to place a mental health champion at every rugby club in the world.

‘Ultimately, every challenge we take on is about tackling the stigma around mental health and making sure that no one in the rugby community feels like they must struggle alone. We’re super grateful to JAECOO for believing in our mission and joining us for this bonkers challenge.’

Having already raised more than £69,000 in donations, the campaign continues to build momentum towards its £100,000 fundraising target. The funds will help LooseHeadz continue its work supporting rugby clubs through free mental health resources, education and dedicated mental health champions. Donations to support the challenge and LooseHeadz’s work across the rugby community can be made here: justgiving.com/campaign/24-7s

As JAECOO continues its rapid expansion across the UK through a 146-strong retailer network, the brand’s adventure-focused SUV range now spans from the JAECOO 5, priced from £24,555 OTR*, to the flagship JAECOO 8 SHS-P, priced from £45,500 OTR*, with a choice of efficient petrol, hybrid and electrified powertrains across the line-up. Alongside its growing product portfolio, JAECOO remains focused on supporting partnerships that create a positive impact within local communities while building lasting relationships with customers, partners and organisations that share its values.

* All prices quoted are correct at the time of writing, July 2026
Photo credit: JAECOO
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