New Zealand Rugby launch Movember Ahead of the Game to build mental fitness and resilience in young rugby players

Rugby clubs across New Zealand are known for their tough work and fast plays, but there’s another conversation happening off the field - one about mental fitness.

Movember and New Zealand Rugby team up

Movember, in partnership with New Zealand Rugby, has officially launched Movember Ahead of the Game in New Zealand– a proven, evidence-based programme that harnesses the power of sport to improve mental fitness and wellbeing among rangatahi. The initiative will reach young people aged 12 to 18, along with parents, coaches and volunteers, fostering greater understanding of mental health, break down stigma around seeking help, build confidence, and encourage open kōrero.

Ahead of the Game has been proven to boost mental health literacy, increase intentions to seek help, build confidence to support others, and improve resilience and wellbeing.

“Young people are facing more pressures than ever – and boys in particular often struggle in silence,” said Tom Mulvaney, psychologist and Movember Director of Young Men’s Health Australasia. “Movember Ahead of the Game gives young players the language and confidence to open up and support each other – and shows them that their community has their back. Young men have some of the worst rates of severe mental health – and this programme looks to get ahead of that, building coping skills and changing the game at a critical age.”

Keeping the conversation going with rugby players across New Zealand

After a successful pilot reaching over 100 teenage rugby players across six schools, the program will now be scaled nationally through NZ Rugby’s Mind. Set. Engage. initiative. The Movember Ahead of the Game rollout will begin this year in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Hawke’s Bay, with plans to expand to all regions over the coming years.

Olivia Hart, NZ Rugby’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme Lead, plays a key role in supporting the expansion of Mind. Set. Engage. and is now supporting the implementation and delivery of Movember Ahead of the Game. Olivia commented on the noticeable shift in how mental wellbeing is approached across all levels of rugby, “There’s been a real cultural change,” Olivia said, “Players and teams are more open to these conversations, taking care of their mental health, and supporting others.”

Building on global experience and evidence

We’ve invested nearly $1 million to bring Movember Ahead of the Game to life in New Zealand over the next three years. This launch lays the foundation for long-term community impact, with a strong focus on supporting young people’s mental fitness and resilience.

We’re thrilled to be working with delivery partners including Youthline, Attitude NZ, Challenge 2000 and Wowbeing, with the programme positioned to scale sustainably and drive change at both a local and national level. In order to scale, we will continue to grow a network of partners who share a commitment to youth mental health to expand the programme’s reach.

“We’re proud to be delivering this world-class programme to young Kiwis — and we’re actively seeking partners to help scale its reach and long-term impact,” said Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember. “This is just the beginning of what we hope will become a game-changing movement for young men’s mental health.”

“Rugby is more than a game – it’s a community, and that community has a responsibility to look after its people. This partnership with Movember reflects our deep commitment to the wellbeing of our rangatahi. By giving young players the tools to navigate life’s challenges and look out for each other, we’re helping to build stronger teams and stronger futures,” said Mark Robinson, CEO of New Zealand Rugby.

The Movember and NZ Rugby partnership aims to teach players to value mental health as much as physical performance. With every workshop and every conversation, Movember Ahead of the Game is helping make that goal a reality.