Liverpool Brings Smokefree Sidelines to Youth Rugby at Magic Weekend 2026

Key Points

• Liverpool is launching Smokefree Sidelines at the Mersey Magic youth rugby competition during Magic Weekend (4–5 June 2026).
• The initiative urges parents, carers and spectators to avoid smoking and vaping near pitches to create healthier role modelling for children.
• Smokefree Sidelines expands on a successful rollout in youth football across Liverpool, supported by an independent evaluation showing reduced smoking and vaping at matches.
• Local figures supporting the move include former Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher, Councillor Harry Doyle, Professor Matthew Ashton, and Ben Hardman of Saints Community Development Foundation.
• The city aims to make all youth sport smokefree over time, with ambitions to extend beyond rugby into other sports.

Liverpool Council (Liverpool Standard) July 04, 2026 – It will introduce Smokefree Sidelines at the Mersey Magic youth rugby competition during Magic Weekend (4–5 June 2026) to encourage parents, carers and spectators not to smoke or vape around pitches and to create healthier role models for children.

Why is Liverpool expanding Smokefree Sidelines to youth rugby and what evidence supports the move?

As reported by Liverpool City Council and local outlets, the expansion builds on the success of Smokefree Sidelines in youth football across Liverpool. An independent evaluation by Liverpool John Moores University found overwhelming support from parents and coaches — 99% endorsed the approach — and documented reductions in observed smoking and vaping at matches following the initiative’s introduction. The evaluation recorded a fall in reported smoking at youth football matches from 85% to 61% and a fall in reported vaping from 89% to 71%, leading evaluators to recommend extending the approach into other youth sports.

How will local sports figures and community groups support Smokefree Sidelines at Magic Weekend?

As reported by local media and the council, former Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher publicly backed the initiative, stating: “We want to create a healthy, positive environment for kids. Sport, not just football, should be about young people staying fit and healthy. Smokefree Sidelines in Liverpool is a great initiative, so get behind it.” Ben Hardman, Head of the Foundation at Saints Community Development Foundation, said the charity is proud to support Smokefree Sidelines at the Mersey Magic Competition and across its community rugby league clubs, highlighting rugby league’s capacity to bring families together while promoting positive environments for children.

Who is leading the public health push in Liverpool and what are their reasons?

Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Liverpool City Council, told local outlets that the council wants young players to enjoy sport in the best environment possible and that Smokefree Sidelines helps keep the focus on sport, teamwork and supporting young people. Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, explained the public health rationale, saying the scheme is about protecting children and promoting healthy environments where they can thrive, reducing exposure to harmful smoke and normalising healthy behaviours.

What are the short-term goals and long-term ambitions for Smokefree Sidelines across Liverpool?

According to the council and community partners, the immediate goal is to implement Smokefree Sidelines at youth rugby events during Magic Weekend and to work with clubs and volunteers to promote the message among spectators. The long-term vision is for all youth sport across Liverpool to be smokefree, extending beyond football and rugby to a wide range of sports and competition settings to support healthier futures for children and families city-wide.

What does the independent evaluation say about community support and measurable changes after Smokefree Sidelines?

The independent evaluation (Liverpool John Moores University) found near-universal support among parents and coaches (99%), and recorded measurable declines in the presence of smoking and vaping at youth football matches after Smokefree Sidelines was introduced — smoking reports fell from 85% to 61%, and vaping reports fell from 89% to 71% — indicating the policy is associated with reduced exposure to tobacco and nicotine use in youth sport settings.

What practical steps will organisers take at Magic Weekend to implement Smokefree Sidelines?

Organisers will promote Smokefree Sidelines messaging at pitches used during the Mersey Magic youth rugby competition, work with Saints Community Development Foundation and local clubs to brief volunteers and coaches, deploy signage and communicate the scheme through event communications and social media, and encourage respectful compliance from parents and spectators to keep the sidelines free from smoking and vaping.

What do supporters say about the expected benefits of making youth sport smokefree?

Supporters quoted in council and local media materials argue that smokefree sidelines offer visible positive role modelling for children, reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, and contribute to a culture that normalises healthy behaviours. Councillor Harry Doyle emphasised creating a positive atmosphere focused on sport and young people; Professor Matthew Ashton framed the policy as protective of children’s health and developmental environments.

Liverpool City Council has confirmed the introduction of Smokefree Sidelines at the Mersey Magic youth rugby competition during Magic Weekend (4–5 June 2026), extending a citywide effort to keep young sports environments free from smoking and vaping. The scheme asks parents, carers and spectators to avoid smoking or vaping near pitches to help create positive role modelling for the children taking part.

Who is behind the initiative and what evidence supports its expansion?

As reported by Liverpool City Council and local outlets, the expansion follows a successful roll-out of Smokefree Sidelines in youth football in Liverpool. An independent evaluation by Liverpool John Moores University found overwhelming support from parents and coaches — 99% endorsed the approach — and documented reductions in observed smoking and vaping at matches following the initiative’s introduction. The evaluation recorded a fall in reported smoking at youth football matches from 85% to 61% and a fall in reported vaping from 89% to 71%, leading evaluators to recommend extending the approach into other youth sports.

Which local and community figures have publicly supported the scheme?

As reported by local media, former Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher backed the initiative, urging the community to support a healthy, positive environment for children involved in sport. Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Liverpool City Council, said the move would help ensure young players enjoy the game in the best possible environment and that spectators’ behaviour stays focused on supporting teams. Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, described the policy as a measure to protect children from harmful smoke exposure and to normalise healthy behaviours. Ben Hardman of Saints Community Development Foundation affirmed the foundation’s support for Smokefree Sidelines at Mersey Magic and within local rugby league clubs.

What is being done at Mersey Magic to implement the policy on the ground?

Event organisers and community partners will display Smokefree Sidelines signage around pitches, circulate guidance to clubs and volunteers, and include messaging in event communications to encourage compliance. Saints Community Development Foundation, which runs community rugby projects, will work with clubs to brief parents and carers and support respectful enforcement of the scheme at matches and training sessions during the weekend.

How will the initiative be evaluated going forward?

Liverpool City Council and partner organisations plan to monitor the initiative’s uptake and community response, building on the methodology used in the football evaluation to track observed smoking and vaping around youth sport fixtures. That approach will inform any future expansion of Smokefree Sidelines across other sports and venues in the city.

What are the stated long-term goals for smokefree youth sport in Liverpool?

City leaders and health officials say the ambition is to extend smokefree settings across a wide range of youth sports, making environments where children play consistently free from smoking and vaping to support healthier lifestyles and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke.

Background of the development

Smokefree Sidelines began as a local public health initiative aimed at reducing children’s exposure to smoking and vaping at youth football matches in Liverpool. The approach encouraged voluntary compliance among parents, carers and spectators, using signage, club engagement and community advocacy rather than legal prohibitions. Liverpool John Moores University conducted an independent evaluation of the football rollout which reported high levels of support from parents and coaches (99%) and measurable reductions in reported smoking and vaping at matches. Those findings prompted calls from public health officials and community groups to expand the initiative to other youth sports. Liverpool’s public health leadership, including Professor Matthew Ashton and elected city councillors, have framed Smokefree Sidelines as part of broader efforts to create healthier environments for children and to normalise non-smoking behaviours in everyday settings where young people learn by observation. Community organisations such as Saints Community Development Foundation have collaborated with the council to deliver the scheme at grass-roots sporting events, emphasising partnership with clubs and families.

Prediction: How this development can affect parents, clubs and young players in Liverpool

• Parents and carers: The initiative will likely increase awareness about the effects of smoking and vaping on children and may encourage some parents to reduce or quit smoking near sports settings. The voluntary, community-driven nature of the scheme means most parents will be asked to comply through signage and peer encouragement rather than penalties.
• Clubs and volunteers: Local clubs may need to adopt clearer communications and brief volunteers to manage spectator behaviour, which could require modest additional time and coordination but is unlikely to impose major costs. Clubs that actively promote smokefree sidelines may see improved perceptions among families seeking supportive, health-focused environments.
• Young players: Reduced exposure to smoking and vaping at matchdays can contribute to a healthier atmosphere and better role modelling, potentially influencing children’s perceptions of tobacco and nicotine use. Over time, normalising smokefree youth sports may lower the social visibility of smoking behaviours around young people, supporting longer-term public health benefits.
• Community and public health: If the rugby rollout mirrors the reported effects seen in football, Liverpool could demonstrate a scalable model for other cities seeking to reduce youth exposure to smoking and vaping in sports settings. The initiative’s voluntary and partnership-based approach may make it easier to replicate across sports without requiring legislative change.