OVER 20 of LAUNCESTON Rugby Club’s players and coaching staff have shown their support for Movember this month by sporting some rather interesting facial hair.

Club legend, Crispin Earle, who does an incredible amount of work around Polson Bridge, is currently receiving treatment for prostate cancer and as a result, the squad were keen to support him.

Assistant coach, Oli Bastion, who came up with the idea, said: “The man we’re doing it for is the man for every need. Crispin does everything, so when we found out about what he had, I put it in the group chat and most of them were very keen. It was well received and they were fully behind it from the outset.

“Crispin was quite keen as well to support a charity and we were aware of the Movember Foundation so we thought it’d be the perfect thing to do.”

Oli was also full of praise for Crispin’s efforts despite his ongoing battle.

He said: “It’s a weird one. Everyone is so supportive of Crispin. He’s carried on as normal through his treatment, he’s still doing everything and anything to help anyone and you wouldn’t be able to tell. He’s an example of staying positive and getting on with it.

“Unless you knew you wouldn’t have an inkling, everyone has that image in their head of someone with cancer, but he’s an example to everyone.

“He’s also trying to encourage everyone that if you have an inkling there’s no shame in getting checked out.”

As for the beards themselves, Oli joked it was a mixed bag.

He said: “There are differing levels of growing hair ability in the team but we’ve got between 20 and 25 doing it. I’ve gone for a handlebar, some of them had full beards which now look like long goatees and then a few who might need until next November. But they’re still participating and trying despite their poor efforts!”

So far nearly £350 has been raised and Oli just wants everyone to support in whatever way they can.

He said: “We’ve got the link on the Facebook which is on the club website. There was a collection at the recent Devonport Services game and there will be one in the clubhouse after the game on Saturday when we play Keynsham.

“All the boys will be doing a moustache-based fancy dress after the game for our Christmas social and to finish off the Movember month. But whatever people can afford is fine. There’s no set target but we want to raise as much as possible.”

To donate to the cause, visit https://uk.movember.com/team/2321479