Egg Chasing Going Swimmingly
After many Saturday morning trips to watch his children's swimming lessons, Mark Dolton discovered that other dads at the poolside shared his love of rugby and decided to take a rugby ball along to play touch with them. He had no idea how big the group would grow.
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It was in November 2017 when the dads started having fun playing touch and as word got out, more people joined in and Egg Chasing for Breakfast or ECFB rugby was born. They focus on a hybrid version of touch rugby, 15-a-side on a full pitch, with kicking, and non-contested set pieces.
Bring it to Tring
Three years ago, local rugby club, Tring heard about Mark’s group and contacted him to offer ECFB a home at their club. By this time there were over 40 players who all became members at Tring, and fully integrated in the set-up. The group has now grown to over 80 players and for many of them, it became a steppingstone to get back into contact rugby. No fewer than 18 of the players have joined a newly created 4th XV who have a number of friendly fixtures throughout the 23/24 season.
The influx has seen the club also gain new volunteers, additional sponsorship, an annual tour, and an annual intra-club touch tournament which this year involved players from the 1st XV through to Colts. Plans are already in place for a bigger and better tournament for 2024, to also involve juniors and the women’s and girls’ teams.
Home in time for breakfast
One reason Mark Dolton thinks that the group is so successful is the timings of their training.
“We play at 7:15 on a Saturday morning, which we never thought would work long term. However, it means there’s nothing in the way of people joining and it doesn’t impinge on other commitments. We’re back in time for kids, family, and other things we like to do at the weekend.”
As well as the physical benefits of being active, being part of the club has brought the members so much more.
“After people stop playing sport, life can get a bit lonely as you can lose those links. Starting this group has reengaged many who had lost connection to their local rugby club and has given people a sense of community and a route to have some fun again,” said Dolton.
“I think starting a non-contact team is a massive opportunity for other clubs to reengage lapsed players and grow clubs’ communities.”
