1. Join a local Rugby Club

If you would like to start playing you will need to find a local rugby club and go and give it a try! Many rugby clubs through out the country have Mini and Junior sections. Most clubs train and play on a Sunday morning. They offer coaching from RFU qualified coaches for beginners, both boys and girls, as well as playing matches against other local clubs. Boys and girls can play together from under 7 (Year 2) to under 12 (Year 7) playing mini rugby. Boys and girls play separately after that in the junior sections playing 15 a side rugby.

Many of the top players you see playing for England started their rugby career playing mini rugby at a local rugby club.

Charlie Hodgson the Sale Sharks and England stand off started playing mini rugby when he was 9 at Old Brodleians RUFC, going on to play for Yorkshire and England Schools and Durham University before joining Sale Sharks in 2000. Since then he has not looked back making his England debut against Rumania in November of 2001.

Ann O’Flynn who plays for the England women’s team started playing mini rugby at the age of 7 and played alongside the boys until the age of 12. She joined the Windsor women’s team at 13 when no longer able to play in a mixed team before moving to Richmond at 16, Ann attended Liverpool University and joined RFUW Premiereship team Waterloo going on to represent the North, England A and England.

For a list of your nearest local clubs, check out the name of the RFU Rugby Development Officer (RDO) for your area, using the link below, who will be able to tell you the nearest club to suit your needs. The RDO can put you in touch with a local club or help your school to find out more about Tag Rugby.

2. Learn to play Tag Rugby at school

Tag Rugby is a new and exciting form of rugby that can be played by people of all ages and abilities. Tag Rugby is the form of the game that is used to introduce young people to the rugby at primary schools. Tag is a non-contact form of the game that is lots of fun to play and is very easy to learn and teach.

This is what Connah who is a pupil in Year 6 at The Weaver Primary School in Nantwich, Cheshire had to say:

How to play Tag Rugby

You will need:
A rugby ball
Some tags
Cones to mark out the pitch

Method:
1. You will have to know how to hold the rugby ball so you put your thumbs on the top and your fingers on the bottom.
2. You will have to know how to pass the rugby ball.  First you hold it like you should, then you put your foot to the right side, then you swing the ball across your body.  You must pass backwards.  Wherever you pass you point.
3. Now you know how to hold and pass the ball you can get your tags to play tag rugby.  There are two teams with different coloured tags.  If the other team has the ball, you run up to them, rip the tag off, hold it up in the air and shout “Tag!”.
4. How to score a try – you run up the field and once you get to the try line you need to put the ball down.  That’s when you have scored a try.

Why Play Tag Rugby?
Tag Rugby has the following advantages over traditional games of touch rugby:
It shows clearly when a tackle is made and prevents arguments
It allows players to easily referee their own games
It gives a real incentive for defenders to defend
It momentarily takes the 'tackler' out of the game as would happen in full contact rugby, allowing more time and space for the attacking team
It encourages the correct lines of running required for success in the full 15-a-side game.
Most importantly Tag Rugby is a fun game which all the family can play.

Tag Rugby can be played without scrums and lineouts and teams can be as small as 4 or 5 a-side. It can be played on grass, sand or on hard surfaces. There is no need for rugby posts and the pitch can be marked as a simple rectangle. Teachers, coaches and players need no previous knowledge of rugby to get started and makes Tag Rugby an ideal game for girls and boys of all ages and abilities.

How should a tag belt be worn?
All players wear a tag belt around the waist and on the outside of the clothing. Shirts should be tucked in at all times. The ribbons (tags) are positioned on either side of the hips and the teams are distinguished by the colour of ribbons they wear. Belts should be firmly fastened to avoid unnecessary movement during a 'tag', with any surplus length of belt being tucked securely out of the way for safety.

Object of the Game
To score a try by placing the ball, with downward pressure, on or behind the opponents' goal line. For simplicity's sake, a try is worth one point.

Number of Players
This is flexible. However, it is suggested that teams between 5 and 7 a-side help to encourage maximum involvement and activity. Most Tag Rugby festivals are played with 7 a -side teams. When playing mixed games teams usually include a minimum of 3 girls and 3 boys.

Duration of play
For 7 a-side games two halves of seven minutes each way are played with 1 minute for half time. At festivals for young players it is suggested 10 minute games with no half time avoids confusion and saves time.

Size of pitch
7 a-side games can be played across half a normal sized rugby/soccer pitch (50-60m x 25-30m).

Four games of 4 or 5 a-side can be played on a typical school rugby/soccer pitch using dimensions of 30-35m x 15-20m.

Pitch markings
Tag Rugby can be played by marking out a basic rectangle. However, for festivals and competitive matches, the following markings can prove helpful.

Note: Goalposts are not required to play Tag Rugby. A dead ball line can also be included for more experienced players but, without goalposts, can prove confusing with those inexperienced in rugby

Why teach Tag Rugby?
Many schools use Tag Rugby as the invasion game they teach to fit in with the National Curriculum for Primary School PE because it is so easy to deliver. Tag Rugby offers a great game for Primary schools, as boys and girls can play together regardless of age or experience. There is a video and booklet available to help you and you can attend courses to learn how to teach Tag Rugby.

Older girls (year 7 and above) learn to play Tag Rugby in secondary school and then go on to play rugby with a local girls rugby team. They can then go on to play women’s rugby once they are 16.

The RDO for your area can put you in touch with a local club or help your school to find out more about Tag Rugby. For a full list of RDO's, click here

How do I progress my Rugby?
Once you have played Rugby Union at school you can attend local coaching schemes as part of the Active Sports Rugby Union programme, that will usually be linked to a local club. Ask your teacher or RFU RDO, they can give you information about your local programme and the Rugby clubs nearest to where you live.

Promising players (from Year 8 and Year 9) can join the Active Sports local player assessment to find out about their potential. From this assessment they can join a local development squad to improve their rugby skills and from this may be selected for their district, county or regional team.

What is Active Sports?
Active Sports enables all young sports people to be the best they want to be regardless of race, gender or ability. It is a new national sports development programme designed by Sport England to give eight to sixteen-year-olds the opportunity to enjoy their sport - whichever part of the country they live in, be it urban or rural. The ages of Active sports participants in Rugby union is 10 to 15.

Partnership at local level is the key to Active Sports. Local authorities, governing bodies, schools and equity organisations are working together to improve the way sport is provided for young people. Forty-five Sports Partnerships covering the whole of England have now been established between Sport England and local authorities. These Partnerships will work through local centres, coaches and clubs to enable young people to participate in sport more frequently, improve their skills and compete at various levels. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the governing body for rugby union and the RFU RDO for your area can tell you more about the Active Sport Rugby Union programme for your area.

Rugby Union is one of ten sports that have been selected to deliver the programme initially, representing the most popular activities undertaken by young people nationally. The national governing bodies for each of the sports are supporting the level of activity necessary for the programme. More sports will be added during the five-year course of the programme. 

Active Sports
The Active Sports rugby programme is currently running in 45 partnership areas throughout England. The programme runs from an introductory level at stage 1 to Area Development Squads at stage 4 for girls aged between 10 and 15. Active Sports also enables coaches and administrators to develop through the programme. For further information relating to Active Sports please contact your RFUW Partnership Development Officer or RFUW National Youth Development Officer. helenames@rfu.com 

Junior Schools Rugby
An expanding number of schools are now affiliated to the RFUW and offer rugby to girls both within and outside of curriculum time. Many teachers are now qualified as RFU Coaches and provide rugby alongside Club coaches. For further information on schools rugby, please contact RFUW National Youth Development Officer.

Junior Club Rugby
The number of clubs offering girls rugby at both U16 & U18 level are increasing. Opportunities for coaching, training and competitive matches occur at this level. For information on your nearest club, please contact your Regional Youth Representative or the RFUW Youth Director - youthdirector@rfu-women.co.uk

Regional Rugby
Regional Rugby occurs within 9 RFUW regions in England at U16, U18 and senior level. All regions provide coaching, training, trials and matches at each age banding. Information on regional rugby is available from the RFUW Regional Director - regionaldirector@rfu-women.co.uk

England Youth
Athletes invited to the RFUW England Youth Performance Camp at U16 & U18 level are selected at regional youth rugby and the Regional 10’s competition which is held annually. England Youth players are given an insight into Team England Rugby, through training and hot topic seminars such as nutrition and psychology. Outstanding players attending this camp have also been fast-tracked through to the Team England Academy. For further information contact the RFUW World Class Start Manager - Gary Street - streety9@hotmail.com

Student Rugby
Rugby for women was first established within universities and continues to be an important provider of rugby for women. Many student teams within both Further and Higher Education are members of both the RFUW and BUSA. Students registered as players with the RFUW are entitled to trial at RFUW County, Regional and Team England. Students are also being encouraged to play rugby within RFUW clubs, strengthening links between students and their community. For advice on student issues please contact the RFUW Student Director - studentdirector@rfu-women.co.uk

England Students
Trials for England Students take place annually and are organised by the RFUW Student Director. Those at Higher Educational establishments can trial for this squad.  Successful players take part in coaching, training and international matches at England level.