Swansea University rugby team cancel night out in support of Big Night In campaign

A men's university rugby team are boycotting their sports' social night out in a bid to raise awareness of drinks spiking.

Swansea University men’s rugby team are showing solidarity with the Big Night In Campaign, boycotting nightclubs and bars after reports of an increase in spiking incidents - including people being targeted using needles.Rhidian Fawkes-Williams, a member of the rugby team, said: "It's important to show solidarity with the Big Night In and show support for women's safety on nights out, because it affects everyone."They are among the first male clubs to show their support to the boycotts.

"We wanted to be one of the first clubs to do something about it, because everyone knows someone that this has happened to and we want to change that."Recently the campaign changed its name from ‘Girls Night In’ to ‘Big Night In’ to become more inclusive to all those who have been spiked or felt unsafe on nights out, no matter their gender.

Rhidian said: "There’s this stigma of toxic masculinity associated with rugby boys, but we support this cause 100% and we want to do everything we can to make everyone feel safer in clubs.

"It's important that everyone does everything they can, especially doing something like sharing something on social media, just to show what a drink would look like if it's been tampered with and how to spot loads of different things."

Swansea isn’t the only city boycotting nightclubs and bars this week. Cities across the UK have joined in unison to raise awareness of spiking on nights out, following reports of new injecting spiking methods.

The Big Night In campaign started a couple of weeks ago on Instagram, as numerous stories of spikings flooded social media.

Another member of the team, Gwyn Parks, said: "We've all put it on our Instagrams, and we’ve shared it around group chats, we want to show our support because we are there for those involved.

"I think it's also a key part, that when we do start going back into nightclubs that we are also just keeping an eye out in the right way, and looking out for everyone.

"We've got some who have been affected by spiking so we're all behind it and desperate to show our support. Hopefully, our small part can play a big part overall."

Swansea’s Big Night In on October 27 comes after South Wales Police received a small number of reports, which are currently under investigation.

The force said: "We are aware of posts circulating on social media about spiking incidents involving injections.

"We have an excellent history of partnership working in South Wales and we provide training to staff at city centre licensed premises to help them identify and safeguard vulnerable people and we regularly see examples of where this training has paid off.

"In addition, we are working with licensed premises to alert them to spiking methods that have been reported in other areas of the UK and asking them to be extra vigilant at this time."

South Wales Police encourages anyone who believes that they have been a victim of spiking in any form to contact them.