WHAT IS IT?​​

Contact rugby is the type of rugby you see the men and women play on TV and the type of rugby often found at your local grassroots rugby club. This game has running, passing and scoring tries like all other formats of rugby and also includes tackles, rucks and mauls. Don’t worry, you can learn about what all these things are when you get started!​

WHO CAN PLAY? ​​

Contact rugby is introduced slowly from Under 9s in the age grade game (what we call the under-18 game) to help young people understand the game while also making sure they learn the proper technique to approaching contact. As players get older, there will be a couple of differences to the game. Most noticeably, the number of people in a team will increase as will the number of laws (rules). Under 14s onwards can play 15-a-side, full contact rugby. ​​

When players are in the age grade game, they stay in their age group until Under 11s. After this, the game switches to single gender from Under 12s to Under 18s. Once players are over 18, they play with anyone aged over 18. There are no mixed gender playing opportunities in contact rugby, but T1 rugby is a mixed gender non-contact offer.

WHAT TO EXPECT?​​

Contact rugby is found in rugby clubs across the country. Reach out to your local club and go down to a training session. Introduce yourself to the coach or manager when you arrive who will direct you to the right place. Rugby clubs are often a hub of activity on a training day or evening, some will have multiple teams training at the same time, so don’t be put off. You will find the right level for you and have a great time! ​

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COMMITMENT LEVEL? ​​

Medium to high for the season (September – May)​​

To play matches you will need to join the rugby club and pay some fees (there vary from club to club, but rugby is one of the most affordable sports around). This gives you access to weekly training sessions and matches and, in lots of cases, physiotherapists. As with everything, the more you put in the more you get out, but no one is contracting you to be at every session or match. Clubs understand that life happens as well! As you increase the level you are playing at, the commitment level would be expected to increase as well.