MAN v FAT Rugby member Mariusz Luczakowski is set for an exciting 2026, both on and off the pitch at the Cheltenham club.
Mariusz has been a part of the Rugby community since things got underway in the autumn of 2024 and has lost nearly 15kg of weight in that time.
The weekly sessions at Cheltenham Tigers have been a change of focus for Mariusz after a busy week’s work, where he runs his own company ChoColours as a chocolatier.
We caught up with the 43-year-old to find out more about his successes both in Rugby and the world of chocolate – as well as his special Six Nations product.
What was it that made you sign up for MAN v FAT in the first place?
I had never played rugby before, never really watched it, and didn’t understand the game at all but then I met my wife! She’s from Toulouse, which some would call the town of rugby royalty! She took me to a match and the rest is history.
Since then, I’d always wanted to try playing, but I was worried about getting injured in full-contact rugby, and I wasn’t fit enough at the time. One day I saw an advert on Facebook for MAN v FAT Rugby opening a club in Cheltenham and thought now is the time.
What really encouraged me was the fact that you didn’t need any rugby skills or to be fit to join. I was looking for some sort of activity to help shift some of my fat! So here I am, still very much involved since day one, over 15 kilos lighter, and with some rugby skills to my name.
How has the community supported you to reach your health and wellbeing goals?
I’m very competitive, so every week I tried to lose as much weight as possible to support my team and score tries. That sense of teamwork, support, and motivation really worked for me and kept me going week after week.
I love the game, and I love the Wednesday nights out with the boys. I feel that if you’re having a tough time at home or at work, going out and playing on a Wednesday night helps you forget about your problems for a bit. Having a good game just adds extra satisfaction!
Also, my company sponsored the team during the first MAN v FAT Rugby tournament last year.
Talk to us a bit more about how you got into being a chocolatier as your profession?
I had been working in luxury hotels around the Cotswolds as a head pastry chef. After our little boy was born, I started looking for some alternative options that would allow me to spend more time with my family and watch my son grow. I decided to invest my knowledge and passion into chocolate.
After selling a few chocolates to friends, I spotted a real business opportunity. Now I produce thousands of chocolates to please taste buds across Britain!
What are the challenges and the high points of being involved in the role?
Running your own business is always challenging – daily worries about the supply chain, keeping up with bills, managing corporate orders, and dealing with individual clients. The high point is the freedom. I can create without boundaries.
How do you balance working with chocolate all day and staying on track with your health goals?
Believe me; after spending all day surrounded by chocolate, you don’t really want to eat it. My goal has also been to create relatively healthy chocolate treats. By that, I mean avoiding unnecessary sugars and fats that are often used as preservatives, and instead using pure, high-quality chocolate with quality fruits, nuts, and ingredients.
What made you decide to put together the Six Nations pack of chocolates?
I always try to create something special and unique. This year I had a brainwave while watching my son playing rugby on a Sunday morning. I thought about how I could make something special and connect it with the Six Nations tournament.
First, I designed the look of the chocolates. Each one represents a country, painted with the national flag and created using the most iconic flavour associated with that country. I hope it brings some smiles to rugby fans (And please don’t ask which country I support!)
Want to grab your own pack of Mariusz’s chocolates?
Mariusz has very kindly provided a special discount code for MAN v FAT members to buy a pack of these fantastic Six Nations chocolates!
Simply use the code MANVFAT10 before the end of March to make your saving on the ChoColours website!
