What's it all about?
Rugby Union is a team sport played by men, women, girls & boys. There are many variations of the game from the full adult 15 a side version to mini ‘tag’ rugby played by under 8s. The basic premise for all these variations is to score more points, principally through the scoring of tries by placing the ball on or over the opposition’s try line.
Rugby Union is a full contact sport. The rugby ‘continuum’ allows young players to learn the game gradually, with the contact elements of the game (eg the tackle and the scrum) being phased in as young players develop. Tag rugby is non-contact. At an adult level, Touch rugby is also a non-contact recreational version of the game.
Taking part
Many clubs will run summer touch rugby leagues which is a good introduction for adult newcomers. Most clubs will also cater for ‘social’ rugby and have junior sections as well.
‘Tag’ rugby is very popular in many primary schools and contact rugby is introduced at many secondary schools.
Get Involved
To find your local club please follow one of the following links: www.goplayrugby.com or www.rfu.com/community
New Members required for Old Williamsonians - follow this link for further information (pdf)
Structure of the sport
The English National Governing Body for Rugby Union is the Rugby Football Union (RFU), based at Twickenham. The local county association is the Kent Rugby Football Union. League structures work from a local level (district) through to county, regional and national with the Guinness Premiership (men) and Premiership 1 (women) being at the top of the tree.
Main Contact
Matt Mitchell - Kent Rugby Development Officer (Metropolitan) - 01622 605059 - mattmitchell@rfu.com
Andy Pratt - Kent Rugby Development Officer (Rural) - 01622 605059 - andypratt@rfu.com
