Wigan Warriors tackle male suicide rates

Rugby League World Champions Wigan Warriors have launched a new community initiative to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

The club has opened the Terry Newton Community Garden, commemorating 15 years since the former player took his own life.

The garden is designed to be a safe space for players, staff, and the public to encourage open conversation and foster a stronger community, in a town that records one of the highest suicide rates in the UK.

The initiative is part of the club’s wider ‘We’re all Wigan. We’re all Warriors’programme, which aims to counter the stigma around male vulnerability. The garden features a ‘Wall of Hope’ where people can leave messages.

The opening is supported by a video featuring Newton’s former teammates, his father, current players, and community members affected by suicide. The campaign also signposts to the men’s suicide prevention charity, ANDYSMANCLUB, which hosts support groups.

Kris Radlinski, CEO, said, “Hearing that suicide rates in our town were among the highest in the country was devastating for me personally and for the club. As a cornerstone of our community, we had both the responsibility and the duty to act. Terry Newton was more than a player; he was the heart of our community, a teammate, a friend, and an inspiration. We will use his legacy to drive us to confront this issue head-on.

“This initiative is about raising awareness, supporting one another, and ensuring no one feels alone. It is also our way of honouring Tez—giving his family, friends, and former teammates the chance to remember the man who always had our backs, and reminding ourselves to look out for each other in the same way. “

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