Douglas Rugby Club members showed the true meaning of "team" after taking on a head shave for a cancer charity.

About £6,000 was raised by the rugby club towards the Anthony Nolan Trust at the weekend, a charity close to the men’s hearts as one of the club’s ex players has recently been diagnosed with myeloma - a type of blood cancer.

Bryn Snellgrove, who had been growing out his long locks for more than 15 years, spearheaded the initiative as he is related to the ex player diagnosed with cancer.

The club player’s hair was separated into pigtails, which were cut off by different ’bidders’ before the clippers came in for a clean finish.

Bryn shared that his hair would be donated to The Little Princess Trust where it would be made into a wig.

Minutes before the event, he said: ’I’m excited [to have my hair shaved off].

’I’ve been wanting to get my hair cut in a while and it’s a good excuse to do it and raise a bit of money. I’m off to Mexico in about five weeks and I can’t think of anything worse than having long hair in Mexico.

’Everybody keeps coming up to me and saying that they don’t think they’ll be able to recognise me. I’m not going to be able to recognise myself as well!’ he said.

Thirteen other brave players and club members had their heads shaved alongside Bryn following their win against Wirral Rugby Club with 14-12. For every head shaved on the day, Bryn donated £10.

His original fundraising target was £2,000, an amount that his sister Sian Killey says he has ’absolutely smashed’.

’[Our family member’s diagnosis] really prompted my brother to think "what can I do to support, what can I do to fundraise?" as an individual, but also "what can we do as a club?",’ she said.

’We’re such a massive family club and there are loads of people down here to show their support.’

Both Bryn’s wife, Carly Snellgrove, and grandmother Christine, affectionately known as ’granny Maddox’ by the club, had a go at lopping off a lock each.

Sian was given the important duty of shaving the heads of all those who volunteered.

After the long-awaited buzz cut, Bryn said: ’It feels really, really weird.

’I’m looking forward to having a shower because I’ll be able to dry my hair straightaway and then move on.

’Washing my hair will probably take me about 30 seconds, it’s going to be great!’

The Anthony Nolan Trust matches individuals willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people who desperately need lifesaving transplants.

For more information or to make a donation: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bryn-snellgrove