A WORLD record attempt has been converted in Bromsgrove after two of the town’s rugby teams went toe-to-toe for almost 26 hours.
The Guinness World Records has now confirmed a match played on Finstall Park last August lasted 25 hours, 59 minutes and 47 seconds, beating the previous best by one hour and nine minutes.
Bromsgrove Boars and Bromsgrove Barbarians kicked off their match at 12.15pm on August 24 before finishing it at 2.15pm the following day. The Boars won it 1,326-1,229.
The match also raised more than £23,000 for the Scotty’s Little Soldiers, which aims to support the children of men and women killed while serving in the British Armed Forces.
Ian Riley, who organised the event along with fellow ex soldier Ben Copson, said he was delighted to get the world record confirmed.
“We were thrilled when it was ratified,” he said.
“I would not say we were confident, but I knew we had put in a pretty comprehensive set of evidence which included a lot of witness statements and video footage.
“It was not just one side within the club that achieved this, it was the whole club.
“This achievement not only puts us on the map and on the world stage, but it also shows what Bromsgrove is about as it was all done in the name of charity.”
Although seven rolling substitutes could be made throughout the match and breaks could also be taken, the clash proved too much for some as two players had to be taken to hospital.
However, Mr Riley, 43, said this was testament to the effort they put in and insisted it was all worth it in the end.
“You experience everything from the lowest of the lows to the highest of the highs,” he said.
“The lowest moment was probably in the early hours of the morning when the heavens opened, the temperature dropped and everyone was tired, so a few people were really struggling.
“But everybody rallied round them and kept each other going until daybreak and then the highlight was the final whistle when you knew you had completed the challenge.
“It was a real club effort.”
Visit www.bmycharity.com/longestrugbygame to donate funds to Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
