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Young rugby players get mullets for teammate

John Henderson,in Exmouthand
George Thorpe,Devon
BBC A young boy is sitting in a chair while a hairdresser cuts his hair. Clippers are being used to cut his hair into a mullet - which is when the hair is cut shorter at the sides and remains long at the back. BBC
The event has raised thousands of pounds

Young rugby players had a trendy close shave together in a move to show solidarity for a teammate undergoing cancer treatment.

Members of Exmouth Rugby Club's under-8s side in Devon went under the clippers to get mullet haircuts as part of a fundraising event in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer.

Alongside raising money for charity, the event was also held to show support to player Iggy, 7, who has non-Hodgkin lymphoma - a type of cancer which targets white blood cells.

So far, an online fundraising page linked to Iggy and the mullet event has nearly raised its target of £12,000.

Two boys sit in chairs while hairdressers cut their hair. There are purple and white balloons scattered around the room they are in. A banner with the Young Lives vs Cancer charity logo on it is up on the wall. A table next to the hairdressers has a number of bottles and hair cutting equipment items on it.
Players from Exmouth Rugby Club's under-8s were among those who got mullet haircuts to show support for Iggy

The idea for Mullet Mission, as the event was called, came after Iggy decided he wanted to have the hairstyle before he started having chemotherapy, which causes patients to lose hair.

A young boy is sitting in a chair while a hairdresser cuts his hair with clippers. His hair is shorter on the sides and longer at the top and back.
The young players lined up to get the hairstyle
Adam (left) and his son Iggy (right) sit on a bench next to a rugby pitch in Exmouth, Devon. Iggy has been treated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma and has a colour plaster on his left cheek. He has has a tube come from his neck. He is wearing a white shirt with his name and the charity Young Lives vs Cancer. He also has a purple and white woolly hat on. Adam has a black T-shirt on with the charity logo on it. He also has a trimmed dark beard and mid-length brown hair.
Iggy, sat next to his dad Adam, had a mullet himself before going through chemotherapy

"I knew that my hair was going to fall out, so that's why I chose to have it," Iggy said.

His teammates lined up to have the cut done on them and they were joined by friends and some of the players' mothers and fathers who also opted for the hair-do.

Iggy's dad Adam said it was an overwhelming and emotional day.

He added: "It's just incredible to see everyone in there so excited about getting their hair cut and they were pleased to see Iggy because he's been away for a while."

Club chairman John Justice said he was delighted with the reaction of players and their families who wanted to support Iggy and the charity, even though he could not get the haircut himself.

"I can't grow a mullet, so perhaps I'll grab a wig or something," Justice, who is bald, joked.

"But it's been incredible and I'm incredibly proud of them all."

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