Meet Freddie Hayes, one of Eastbourne RFC’s newest rugby recruit, and Sown, the young software business backing him for the season ahead. Freddie may be only three months into his rugby journey, but he has already experienced the highs, lows and physical challenges that come with the game. Meanwhile, Sown is building a business around the power of real people, real products and genuine word of mouth.

Meet the Player: Freddie Hayes

At just 20 years old, Freddie Hayes is still finding his feet in rugby, having been persuaded to give the game a go by his mate, Jack Curtis. Playing on the wing or at centre, Freddie has quickly discovered that rugby offers something a little different from the sports he has played before.

“I enjoy that it’s a lot more of a physical game than what I’ve played before, which for me is a lot more enjoyable,” he explains.

Away from the pitch, Freddie works at B&Q, regularly hits the gym and enjoys football and kickboxing. He also likes heading out to the local, although rugby is now giving him another way to spend time with the mates who have always been part of the club.

For Freddie, choosing Eastbourne RFC was never really a difficult decision. “It’s the team my mates have always played for, so there was never going to be another option for me.”

His introduction to rugby was certainly memorable, although perhaps not for the reasons he would have hoped. Freddie suffered a knee injury just 20 minutes into his first-ever match, making his most embarrassing rugby moment one that will be hard to beat.

Thankfully, that early setback hasn't put him off. With the knee behind him, Freddie is looking forward to getting more involved and enjoying everything the game has to offer.

His best piece of rugby advice so far is refreshingly simple: “Run hard and you’ll be alright.”

And what has been his highlight to date? Having played just one game, Freddie has already picked out a memorable moment watching one of his mates, who hadn't played rugby for two years, “melt the opposition’s 13”!

It sounds like Freddie is already getting a proper feel for what makes rugby, and Eastbourne RFC, special.

Meet the Sponsor: Sown

Sown is a young software business with a straightforward ambition: help consumer brands get their products into the right hands and turn the people who love those products into genuine advocates who help sell them.

Rather than simply encouraging people to post about products online, Sown wants to help brands understand who has received their products, what happens next and which customers go on to generate real sales through word of mouth.

The idea came from a problem Cam, who runs a family skincare brand, kept encountering. Businesses often give away large quantities of products in the hope of generating interest, but rarely discover what happens after those products leave their hands.

Sown is being built to close that gap, connecting product distribution with real outcomes. The skincare brand is its first customer, giving the team a practical way to test and develop the idea.

Although still in its early days, Sown is already putting its values into practice by supporting its local rugby club.

Why Eastbourne RFC?

For Sown, the decision to sponsor Freddie and Eastbourne RFC was an easy one - and Freddie himself played a big part in it.

Cam explains that Freddie was just 20, only three months into rugby, when he injured his knee 20 minutes into his first-ever match. Despite that early setback, he was still there, keen to be part of the club.

For a young business, that attitude struck a chord.

As Cam puts it, Freddie is exactly the sort of person you want around a growing business: someone who takes an early knock and stays anyway.

Sponsoring Eastbourne RFC also gives Sown the chance to be part of something tangible and local. Much of the team's working life is spent behind screens, so supporting a club full of people of different ages and backgrounds provides a welcome connection to the community beyond the digital world.

It is a reminder that, whether you're building a business or a rugby team, the people involved matter far more than the numbers on a dashboard.

A Season of Firsts

This is Sown's first season sponsoring the club, so there are no previous sponsorship stories to look back on just yet. As Cam jokes, we'll have to ask again in a year.

For now, the focus is on watching Freddie get properly stuck into rugby now that his knee injury is behind him, while also getting down to games and meeting people face to face.

It's a season of firsts for both player and sponsor, with plenty of opportunities to build relationships and become more involved in the Eastbourne RFC community.

Cam also has a message for other local businesses considering getting involved in rugby sponsorship: you don't need to be a big company to make a difference.

Sown is a small business itself, but believes supporting local sport is one of the few forms of marketing that genuinely feels good. Instead of simply shouting into the internet, businesses can stand behind real people in their own area and see the impact for themselves.

It's an approach that fits neatly with Sown's own philosophy: making connections between brands and real people that mean something.

One Last Question…

If Cam could invite any rugby figure to a dream rugby dinner, his choice would be former international referee Derek Bevan.

As a Welshman who referees himself, Cam has a particular appreciation for Bevan's achievements. Bevan was one of only two Welshmen to referee a Rugby World Cup final, taking charge of the 1991 showpiece, and later coached and mentored Nigel Owens.

Cam reckons he would happily skip pudding just to sit and listen to him.

It's a fitting choice for someone who understands that rugby isn't just about the players on the pitch — it's also about the people, personalities and stories that make the game what it is.

With Freddie looking to put his injury behind him and Sown beginning its first season as an Eastbourne RFC sponsor, here's to a season of new experiences, stronger connections and plenty of rugby.

Find out more about Sown: trysown.com