Men who have been helped by a suicide prevention charity have gathered at a rugby club to share their experiences.

Doncaster Knights director Sir Ian McGeechan, former Scotland and British & Irish Lions international, spoke at the event in aid of Andy’s Man Club, which provides a forum for men to meet and discuss.

Sir Ian was joined by Rob Smith, who became the lead facilitator for Doncaster charity groups after seeking help himself.

Mr Smith said: “Without Andy’s Man Club there’s a real chance I wouldn’t be here today.”

Andy’s Man Club was set up in 2016 by Halifax rugby league player Luke Ambler after his brother-in-law took his own life, and now has 230 groups across the UK.

The charity aims to give men a safe space to talk about their mental health and supports over 4,500 people.

Mr Smith added: “Growing up you had to be that strong person, you couldn’t show weakness so I never talked about my problems.

“The hardest thing is the first step through the door.”

Mr Smith found out about the group online and after his first session he said: “I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. We didn’t talk much, but knowing I wasn’t alone in the way I felt made it all worth it.

“We started the first night with 10 men there, last week we had over 100.”

During his keynote address, Sir Ian discussed the demands, expectations and challenges he faced during the six Lions tournaments he was involved in as a player and later coach.

He talked about meeting fans, visiting schools and signing autographs.

“It’s not just about what happens on the pitch, it’s about giving a lot of support to young people.”

The event also included a panel discussion on issues facing men today.