Ahead of the Guinness Six Nations this weekend, Rugby World Cup winners Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson are encouraging the nation to rekindle relationships.
Reunited: Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson
It’s all part of a Greene King Fans Reunited campaign, giving customers the opportunity to reconnect with pals by watching a Six Nations match at one of their pubs. And those who do will be offered a pint on the house.
It follows new research by the pub company and brewer that reveals that, as a nation, we’re not the best at tackling the relationships that have fallen by the wayside.
Over half of Brits (58%) regret losing touch with people who once played an important role in their lives. School friends are the most commonly lost connection.
As a nation, sport is one of the great unifiers. Many of our strongest friendships are forged through shared sporting moments. Nearly a third of people (30%) say their friendships played a key role in sparking their love of sport, while more than a quarter (28%) say it brings back fond memories of time spent together.
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When it comes to where those reunions happen, the pub stands out as one of the UK’s top reunion hotspots. Almost a third of people (31%) choose their local, rising to 36% among 45– to 54-year-olds.
“Fans Reunited celebrates the unique role that sport, and the pub atmosphere, plays in bringing people together,” said Zoe Bowley, managing director of Greene King pubs.
“By launching alongside the Guinness Six Nations and offering reunited fans a free pint on us, we want to spark those moments where old friends reconnect over a pint.”
Martin Johnson added: “Rugby has a unique way of bringing people together. Friendships formed through sport are unbreakable, and the ones that endure last a lifetime — exactly what Greene King’s Fans Reunited campaign celebrates.
“Combined with the atmosphere of the pub, it takes the experience to the next level. It’s not just about the game; it’s about creating moments that reconnect old friends and strengthen the sense of community that makes rugby, and Fans Reunited, so special.”
