Five reasons why rugby is a fantastic sport for children

I actually asked to start playing at 4 years old… my brother was getting all the attention and I just didn’t fancy watching him every Sunday morning on the pitch side… I’d pick up the ball and run around, I wanted to play! So one Sunday my Dad let me join in and I loved it.

I have some great memories of playing minis rugby, but for many registered adult players.. playing rugby as a child wasn’t an option. I have quite a few friends who took up rugby at an older age, especially university onwards. For most of them, their parents weren’t exactly keen on them playing when they were younger.

For this reason, I thought I’d write this blog on my five reasons why I believe rugby is a fantastic sport for children, and to break the stigma!

With child obesity on the rise and more virtual online games than ever, keeping kids fit and active can be a challenge. Rugby is an awesome opportunity to get kids outside and having fun without realising they are actually exercising. Personally for me the thought of doing anything like cross country or long distance running made me want to hide during PE..i’d much rather chuck a ball around with my friends!

I have actually met some of my bestest friends through rugby and I guarantee the same will happen to your children. I have so many memories of going for a Sunday roast with my friends and their parents after a muddy Sunday morning game... the best! Having to socialise with other kids every week and learning to play on the same team, encourage each other, win and lose together is such valuable life experience.

I remember being absolutely terrified of misbehaving in an U9’s training session as my coach scared the life out of me.. but it taught me so much discipline. Let’s just say I did not dare talk when he was demonstrating a drill or otherwise off we go on laps around the pitch as punishment.

Having to listen to a coach’s instructions, learning to play by the rules and remembering that things will not always go your way was invaluable.. you might even start seeing more positive comments at school!

We’ve all been there…having to swallow a loss! I do have memories of crying my eyes out after losing and pretending I hurt my ankle or something so no one thought I was a bad loser. I also remember a particular season where we just couldn’t win a game, and I told my dad I didn’t want to play anymore…he told me to stick to it, stop being silly and to never give up. Learning to lose, move on and improve will not only help you improve as a rugby player but help you grow as a person.

Rugby is all about running, passing and tackling with confidence. If you don’t do any of these things convincingly, you will always come off worse. Being a young girl on the rugby field, you had all sorts of names thrown at you.. but it’s shaped me into a much more confident person. Knowing that I had the right to be on that pitch as much as everyone else, that despite being a girl I was one of the best tacklers and one of the strongest. This could be the same for your kids…finding out their strengths and really growing as an individual.

So why not find your local rugby club and ask your son/daughter if they want to have a go…it may just change their life!

Lots of love,