Jess Breach, a 2025 Rugby World Cup Winner and standout England women's rugby union player, has been named as the Official Starter for the 2026 Brighton Marathon on Sunday 12 April.
Playing as a winger for both England and Saracens, Breach has made a significant impact in women’s rugby both on and off the pitch. Her love for rugby developed as a child growing up in Chichester and she is now a local hero, inspiring young girls to find a love for sport.
The success of the Rugby Rodeo podcast, which Breach hosts with fellow Red Roses Player, Ellie Kildunne, is a testament to her role in growing the wider public interest in women’s sport, especially rugby.
After signalling the start of the Brighton Marathon for around 15,000 participants in Preston Park, Breach will make her way to the Finish Line at Hove Lawns where she will hand out medals and celebrate the achievements of those completing the UK’s third biggest marathon.
Jess Breach said: “I am delighted to return to Brighton, a city that means so much to me, to be the Official Starter for the Brighton Marathon. I spent a lot of time here growing up and I am so proud to play a part in a day that celebrates inclusivity and everything that makes Brighton so unique. Good luck to everyone taking part, and you never know, it could be me who hands you your medal at the end.”
The Brighton Marathon is the centrepiece of the Brighton Marathon Weekend, held over April 11 and 12. The festival of running gets under way with the Brighton Miles in Preston Park on Saturday 11 April, a free-to-enter series of mile events designed for children, families and communities who want to feel part of the weekend buzz.
In addition to the Brighton Marathon on Sunday 12 April, participants can still sign up for the Brighton & Hove 10K and be part of the weekend’s celebrations. There’s also an exciting new addition: the Brighton Trail Marathon which starts in Stanmer Park and then joins the Brighton Marathon route for the final 6K. Sharing the same Finish Line, it’s the first event of its kind in the UK, bringing trail and road running together in one unique experience.