Getting Started

Rugby league is a full contact team sport. It’s one of the two codes of rugby – the other is Rugby Union. Both are distinct sports. A Rugby League team has 13 players in named positions, divided between forwards and backs. Each position has a designated number, 1 through to 13. The game is fast and strategic.

Rugby League goes from strength to strength – and not just in its traditional northern heartland. The sport of Rugby League is played in every English county as well as in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It is also played in all major Universities and throughout the Armed Forces. There are more than 450 clubs and 40,000 registered players.

It’s hugely popular with female fans – more than 40% of active supporters are female. And girls are also taking up the sport in ever greater numbers.

The Carnegie Champion Schools tournament is the largest knock-out Rugby League competition in the world with more than 1,000 school teams entering with 16,000 players - 80 per cent of these are new to Rugby League. New players and volunteers are always welcomed.

Kit you'll need

Kit you’ll need:   To start you will only really need some sturdy training kit as the club will provide most of the gear.  A good pair of boots will be essential and there is a great choice available.  And these days more and more forwards are wearing protective head gear…
The nature of rugby means that there will always be some breaks in play, so it is a good idea to have access to a drinks bottle containing a sports drink formula to keep yourself hydrated.

What's Good

Rugby is a great game and is well supported from grass roots upwards.  And Rugby can rightfully claim to be a family game with clubs acting as real focal points for the community.  In fact the social aspects of rugby are often seen to be as important as the playing of the game.

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