What to Look For in a Rugby Club
There’s loads of great rugby clubs out there. Hundreds of them all over the world that could be a fit, and while this is excellent news, it can make choosing the right one for you, a tough and confusing decision. The following are the key points we would focus on when making that decision to help you make the right one for your rugby journey:
1. Location
It may seem obvious, but how far away the rugby club is from your home/work will have a massive impact on whether it is the right club for you. How accessible is it to get there? What will the traffic be like at the time of day I am travelling there and back? How much of my day am I willing to give up to travelling to and from the club? These are all important questions to ask yourself when deciding if the club is the right one for you.
2. What level of rugby does the club offer?
Different clubs will offer a different level of rugby depending on multiple factors including, what leagues their teams play in, how many teams the club has and how aspirational the club is. It’s important you find out this information and then find a club that matches where you are in your rugby journey. For example, if you’re brand new to rugby you might want to look for a club that has more than one women’s team and plays in lower leagues to maximise your playing opportunities, however, if you are a more experienced player with aspirations of moving up the rugby pyramid, you may be looking for a club that plays in higher leagues and has links/relationships with performance teams, eg a partnership with a PWR side.
3. What is the club’s culture regarding performance?
Some rugby clubs want to win at all costs, some want to ensure every player gets time on the pitch. Neither culture is right or wrong, they are both obviously very different though. It’s important you find out what culture a club has regarding this before you choose to join and are happy that it aligns with your personal values and what is important to you.
4. Who are the coaches and what is their experience?
Again, this follows on from our last point with the importance of matching this info to where you are on your rugby journey. If you are new to rugby, do the coaches at the cub have experience with working with players who need to learn the absolute basics of the game, or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, do the coaches have the knowledge and expertise to help you improve as a player in order to make the step up to the next level, if that is what you are looking to do.
5. When does the team train?
In the UK most women’s teams will train on a Tuesday & Thursday, somewhere around the times between 7-9pm. It is absolutely worth checking this though before you choose to join a club as some clubs will differ and this will obviously impact your ability to attend training.
6. What facilities does the club offer?
Different clubs will have a hugely varying level of facilities to offer. Some will have gym access, physio support, medical insurance and pieces of kit as a part of your membership while others won’t. Some will train on grass pitches while others will train on artificial. It’s important you decide what facilities are important to you from your club and then look for a club that provides them.
7. How far will I have to travel for matches?
Depending on what league the club plays in, the amount of travel required for away games will vary massively. The higher the level you are playing, the more travel it entails. It’s important you understand this as at higher ends you may be doing north of four hour trips for matches, this is obviously a huge time commitment and something you need to be aware of before committing to a club.
8. What is the social side like?
Rugby is a beautifully social sport. There aren’t many better ways for you to meet a fun group of like minded people than playing rugby. That said though, some clubs are far better at the social side then others, if this is something that’s important to you, it’s definitely worth finding out how seriously a club takes the social side of the sport before choosing which one to join.
