Saturday 22nd August 2026 is set to be one of the biggest days of the summer at Yeovil Rugby Club, as we welcome The Coldstream Guards and Hucclecote Women to Church Lane for a very special day of rugby, entertainment and fundraising.
The Big Game, presented by Paul McHugh and Andy Hoggarth, will bring together two rugby fixtures, military connections, live music, food, a charity raffle and auction, and a full afternoon and evening of entertainment – all while raising money and awareness for The Bridge for Heroes.
And with FREE ENTRY for everyone, we want to see Church Lane packed with members, supporters, families, friends, veterans and people from across the local community.
The bar opens from 12 noon, so come down early and make a full day of it.
TWO GAMES OF RUGBY AT CHURCH LANE
The day begins with our Yeovil Women, who welcome Hucclecote Women to Church Lane for a 12:30pm kick-off.
Yeovil Women v Hucclecote Women
Kick-off: 12:30pm
It is another opportunity to get behind our women's section as preparations continue for the new season, and we would love to see plenty of support on the touchline for both teams.
The main event then follows at 2:00pm, when Yeovil Men take on some very special opposition.
THE BIG GAME
Yeovil Men v The Coldstream Guards
Kick-off: 2:00pm
This is not simply another pre-season rugby fixture.
The visit of The Coldstream Guards brings a very special military connection to Yeovil Rugby Club and to the people behind the event.
With Paul McHugh and Andy Hoggarth themselves former Guards, there is a personal connection behind bringing the day together, and the fixture provides an opportunity to celebrate the camaraderie, friendships and shared values found within both rugby and the Armed Forces community.
Expect a fiercely contested but friendly afternoon of rugby – and probably plenty of stories being exchanged in the clubhouse afterwards!
MORE THAN A GAME
While there will be plenty happening on the pitch, The Big Game is about much more than 80 minutes of rugby.
Throughout the afternoon there will be fundraising and entertainment around the club, with everyone encouraged to stay after the rugby and enjoy the social side of the day.
On the day you can expect:
- 🏉 Two games of rugby
- 🍻 Bar open from 12 noon
- 🌭 The Little Green Horsebox
- 🎟️ Charity raffle
- 🔨 Charity auction
- 🎸 Live music from Michael Mochan
- 🎶 Post-match entertainment
- 💙 Fundraising for The Bridge for Heroes
- 🎟️ FREE ENTRY
Whether you come for the rugby, the military connection, the charity, the food, the music – or all of it – everyone is welcome.
RAFFLE & CHARITY AUCTION
There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the day to help us raise money, including our raffle and charity auction.
The auction will form an important part of the fundraising, with supporters having the opportunity to bid while helping us generate as much as possible for the cause.
There will also be raffle prizes up for grabs, so make sure you get your tickets during the day.
Every ticket bought, every bid made and every donation helps us turn a brilliant rugby occasion into something that can make a difference beyond the rugby club.
More details of the auction lots and raffle prizes will be announced as we get closer to the event.
SUPPORTING THE BRIDGE FOR HEROES
At the heart of The Big Game is a cause that means a great deal to those involved.
The day will be held in aid of The Bridge for Heroes, a registered charity supporting members of the Armed Forces community.
The charity works with serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families, providing support, companionship, information and opportunities for social connection.
Its work can include supporting people experiencing loneliness and social isolation, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, financial or housing concerns, employment and training needs, family difficulties and the challenges that can come with adjusting to life outside the military.
Sometimes that can mean structured help and guidance. Sometimes it can simply mean having somewhere welcoming to go, meeting people who understand and having a brew and a conversation.
That sense of camaraderie, community and looking after one another is something that rugby clubs understand very well too.
This is why The Bridge for Heroes is such a fitting cause for this particular occasion.
💙 Find out more about the charity and the work it does here:
https://www.thebridgeforheroes.org/
One rugby community. One Armed Forces community. Coming together for a purpose.
COME HUNGRY – THE LITTLE GREEN HORSEBOX IS JOINING US!
We're also delighted that The Little Green Horsebox will be joining us at Yeovil Rugby Club for The Big Game.
They'll be serving up some serious match-day food, including:
🌭 Loaded hotdogs
🧀 Loaded nachos
🥤 Luxury milkshakes
☕ Tea and coffee
🧊 Cold drinks
So whether you're arriving for the women's game, staying for the men's match or settling in for the evening entertainment, there will be plenty available to keep you going.
And judging by those loaded nachos, you may want to arrive hungry!
LIVE MUSIC FROM MICHAEL MOCHAN – 7PM
The final whistle certainly won't mean the end of the day.
After the rugby, everyone is encouraged to stay at the club as The Big Game turns into The Big Social.
We're delighted to have Michael Mochan performing LIVE from 7:00pm, bringing live music to the clubhouse and helping us round off what promises to be a fantastic day.
So don't rush home after the rugby.
Grab some food, get yourself a drink from the bar and stay with us into the evening.
🎸 Check out Michael's music and give him a follow before The Big Game:
https://www.instagram.com/michaelmochanmusic?igsh=Zzkwb2o1ZGozNHRn
A DAY FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
One of the things we want most from The Big Game is for it to bring people together.
You don't need to be a rugby player.
You don't need to be a member of Yeovil Rugby Club.
And you don't need to have a military connection.
Everyone is welcome.
Bring the children. Bring your friends. Bring your teammates. Bring former players. Bring someone who has never watched a rugby match before.
Come for an hour or come for the whole day.
Entry is completely FREE, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy some rugby, soak up the atmosphere and support a fantastic cause at the same time.
THE BIG GAME – FULL DETAILS
📅 Saturday 22nd August 2026
📍 Yeovil Rugby Club
Church Lane, Yeovil, BA22 9TR
🍻 Bar opens – 12:00 noon
🏉 Yeovil Women v Hucclecote Women
⏰ Kick-off – 12:30pm
🏉 YEOVIL MEN v THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS
⏰ Kick-off – 2:00pm
🎟️ Raffle throughout the day
🔨 Charity Auction
🌭 Food from The Little Green Horsebox
🎸 Michael Mochan LIVE – from 7:00pm
💙 In aid of The Bridge for Heroes
🎟️ FREE ENTRY
LET'S PACK CHURCH LANE
This promises to be one of those days that represents everything good about grassroots rugby.
Two matches.
Two communities with a strong tradition of camaraderie.
The Coldstream Guards at Church Lane.
Women's and men's rugby.
Great food and a few drinks.
A raffle and auction.
Live music into the evening.
And, most importantly, an opportunity to come together and raise money and awareness for a charity supporting those who have served, those who are still serving and their families.
Saturday 22nd August isn't just about The Big Game.
It's about making it a BIG DAY for a great cause.
Please share the event, invite your friends and family and help us spread the word.
COME DOWN. GET BEHIND THE TEAMS. SUPPORT THE CAUSE. STAY FOR THE SOCIAL.
THE BIG GAME – SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST – FREE ENTRY
We'll see you at Church Lane.
