Posts Tagged ‘grassroots rugby’

Rugby Laws The Basics

The basics of rugby

Whilst living in Germany and starting this very website a number of Germans I spoke to did not understand rugby at all. They suggested that I should write a post explaining the the basics of rugby. So for those people out there that can’t really get into watching a game of rugby because you don’t know what is happening here is a brief introduction to the game of Rugby Union.

Whilst this video is a nice introduction there is much more to learn, however the next time you are watching a game hopefully your understanding will be a little better.

Multi-cultural event points way ahead for Bolton Rugby Football Club

Having been to many rugby clubs across the country it is apparent that ethnic communities are under represented in the make up of Rugby Clubs, even in areas that have a big ethnic populations. Bolton is one such area and they stand to gain a lot from inviting them into their club and making the them aware of what the rugby club stands for.

Bolton RFC earned plenty of points for thinking ‘outside the box’ recently when they staged a bumper programme of music, dance and family entertainment entitled the Halliwell Cultural Festival at their Avenue Street headquarters.

The event, designed to bring local people together in a celebration of food, music and dance that represented all the different cultures of the community, ran from 10.30am until 1am the following day, with a kaleidoscope of free activities and entertainment which helped to introduce the club to a hugely cosmopolitan audience from across the district, many of whom were visiting the rugby club for the first time.

The whole event was aimed at families with children and comprised such diverse groups as a Caribbean steel band, morris dancers, a gymnastics team, a rapper, a folk band, a Somali dance group, a bouncy castle, birds of prey, a climbing wall, tug of war, krishna temple bollywood dancing, food from different cultural groups, a live radio outside broadcast and a Bolton Wanderers FC display and stand.

The rugby elements focused on showcasing the club and its facilities via a social event which flagged up the ambition and resource of Bolton RFC by demonstrating the enthusiasm and imagination to put together an event which brought well over 2,000 visitors to Avenue Street.

“We have raised our profile in both Halliwell and the wider Bolton area which will hopefully bring wide ranging benefits in the years to come,” said Chairman Mark Brocklehurst.

“While we operate as an independent club it is not possible for us to survive and prosper on internal funding alone. Being a community focused club is therefore very important when it comes to looking for future revenue streams, as well as the obvious player recruitment that can be gleaned from the Halliwell area.

“The Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, who came down on the day said, that in 22 years of policing it was the best, most organised and community friendly event he had ever attended, praise indeed from a man who spends his life visiting shows and festivals.”

The ethnic communities are on the whole untapped from a rugby point of view and anything to encourage the participation in both playing and being a part of the club should be encouraged.

A Rugby Day In Germany at Ulm Rugby Club

Ulm Rugby Club

I currently work in Germany and on the rare occasions I do stay at the weekends I usually go and watch a rugby game, this weekend was such a weekend. Woke up, the time was 10.30 so I had to decide what I am going to do today. I then quickly had breakfast and headed out of the door a long walk to the train station for a short train ride to Ulm.

The rugby club VfB Ulm is situated in the city of Ulm. Ulm is a city in the German Region of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube and incidentally the birthplace of Albert Einstein and Ulm is home to the Ulm Minster Cathedral, having the world’s tallest church steeple (161.53 m (529.95 ft) high and 768 steps).

The Rugby club is known as VfB Ulm a small club that plays in the Bavarian regional league. Today was a match against the Ingolstadt Baboons; no seriously that is what they call themselves.

Ulm is a one team rugby club which consists of players from a number of countries around the world but most were actually Germans. At Ulm the experience is added by the expats with the youth and energy provided by the less experienced Germans. Ulm have hopes on developing a junior and mini sections in the future which would be fantastic for them in providing a steady flow of players and for German rugby in general.

The Germans in the team are mostly new to the game having either just started to play or played just a couple of seasons however they are very keen and are taking to rugby like ducks to water. I would say the standard of rugby to be similar to level 10 rugby in the UK. The actual game was quite an even affair, with the Baboons showing there superiority in the forward play, which is not surprising as they had some big lumps in there including a huge prop from Blackpool. On the other hand many of Ulm’s forwards were playing there first ever game of rugby today. The final score 17-7 to the Baboons.

A notable difference observed at the end of a game is that both teams line up facing each other on the half way line give 3 cheers for the opposition and then they form the tunnel, which is slightly different from back home. Crates of beer were bought to the pitch for the players as soon as the game ended, so efficient these Germans.

Ulm is a club that does not have a club house so for afters the players and spectators are able to purchase beer and I am told some days they have barbecues after games. However most of the post match drinks and food the players almost always end up at the pub called cheeers who are also the sponsor of Ulm rugby club. I was invited to come along, which I did Online Generic pills and had a very enjoyable evening. I can remember having a few beers and a little something to eat however not much more, needless to say that I made it back okay.

All in all I have a lovely day with the Ulm rugby club with some great people. Much like any other club in any part of the world this German team showed that they are a great example of a rugby club upholding the true spirit and traditions of Rugby Union, long may it continue.

How a Rugby Club Should be Run?

I came across the following video whilst browsing youtube. It seems to be a promotional video for Havant Rugby Football Club who play in National League 3 South East which is the fifth tier of English rugby. It outlines some of its aims and ambitions for the future. I think that it gives a glimpse of a well run and ambitious rugby club. It shows what exactly a rugby club can offer its players of all age ranges from seven upwards, social members, sponsors and indeed the local community. Though this video is about a particular club, it’s no different to any other club. It shows what I believe to be how all rugby clubs should be run, with all the elements present to make a successful club on and off the pitch. So check it out.

An important issue that is raised in this video is that of paying players. I am not singling out Havant for this discussion, because most teams in the Havant’s league at level 5 will have a mix of paid players and local players and indeed I am sure some will pay all players, it is a sign of the times. I don’t think this is an issue at level 5 and above but in the leagues below it seems some clubs can be reluctant to admit it after all this is where it becomes a amateur game isn’t it?

Some clubs often get promoted with a good batch of players coming up through their youth systems combining with the experienced players in the club. Eventually this team will get as far as it can go with this set of players. Some clubs can even make it into the National leagues. What happens if some players go off to university or simply retire when you can see the club going through free fall through the leagues? I suggest at this point you decide what type of club you want to be as this is a big step for a non paying club as it maybe going against traditions, that’s if money is available or you can find ways of raising more funds though sponsorship deals and such like.

Some clubs will not see the opportunities available to raise more funds to bolster the squads and some clubs will decide that it’s against their principles. Some clubs will look to bolster their squad in a bid to stop a steady decline back down the leagues, this move will probably change the club forever.

If you have a team made up solely of paid players that come to training and game on a Saturday then straight after the game they shoot off to “a dinner party” then this can be detrimental on the rest of the club. Those players that are playing in the lower teams may not get to know any of the first team socially, this can then create cliques in your club with members of these other teams becoming resentful. If you get just a couple of paid players in then this could cause resentment “if they are being paid, why aren’t we?” So what is the answer? Insist these guys stick around after the game for at least a couple of drinks, it helps.

Decide what type of club you want to be. If you want to watch/play a good standard of rugby at level 5 and above, and maintain it, then paid players will be present at some stage in your club. It is important that you take a balanced approach and not let other sections of your club suffer such as the players in the lower teams and youth and mini sections as this is the lifeblood of any successful club.