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Ten reasons to volunteer in rugby

1. It's Fun!
Volunteering in rugby will bring laughter and smiles into your life.  Rugby is about enjoyment for the people taking part, including volunteers.

2. Introduce you to new friends
There’s no better place to meet likeminded individuals than through volunteering. Plus, you could meet people from a diverse range of backgrounds – people you may never come across in your daily life.  Lifelong friendships – even marriages! – have come about because of volunteering in rugby.  Many people say being in rugby is like being part of an extended family who share the ups and downs wherever you are.

3. Make a real difference
Helping people enjoy sport makes a huge difference. Rugby clubs are in the heart of their local area and help the community look and feel better.  And, it feels good to make a difference, however small that difference seems.

4. Develop Talents
Whether you enjoy working with computers, children or cooking, lots of interests you have can be developed through volunteering in rugby.  Not only is it personally rewarding to use and develop your talents by there are recognition programmes to thank volunteers too.

5. Gain New Skills
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know a loosehead from a lineout.  Learning new things like coaching tag rugby or the traditions involved in taking a group away on tour is easy.  Most rugby clubs give practical and financial support to committed volunteers.  The RFU has structured qualifications for those volunteers who wish to formalize their volunteering.

6. Build your confidence
Many volunteers encounter a variety of new challenges when they begin giving time in their local rugby club. Sharing new experiences with new people, they can learn new skills that can give them confidence to face challenges in other areas of their lives.

7. Improve your health
Being a rugby volunteer will keep your mind and body active.  There is evidence that volunteering can improve your health. In ‛The Healing Power of Doing Good“, writer Allan Luks found medical and scientific documentation supporting the health benefits of volunteering, such as:

• a heightened sense of well-being 
• an improvement in insomnia 
• a stronger immune system 
• speedier recovery from surgery

8. Boost your career options
Volunteer experience looks great on a CV. Some of the tasks you do could lead to a job doing similar projects.  The network that you become part of may also help you find the career path for you.

9. Spend time with family and friends
Donating time with a group of friends or family is fun and being together for a volunteering goal can be a real bonding experience.

10. Because there’s an opportunity for YOU!
Young or old, male and female, all abilities and backgrounds are welcomed in rugby. Commitments range from a few hours a month to every free moment you can possibly spare. Rugby needs YOU!