Joining a University Rugby Team

Thinking of joining a rugby team in your university this year? Here’s what to expect.

Why you should join a uni rugby team

There are thousands of prospective students heading to their respective universities over the coming months. From every walk of life, people from all over the globe making new friends and creating life experiences. For many there is nothing more to university than an opportunity to study and gain qualifications. That is fine if that is your only motivation. However, for many there is opportunities to try new things. It’s a chance to work on your hobbies and interests, quite often with world class facilities.

Why Rugby?

Firstly, rugby at its core is an inclusive sport. It caters for all types of people and does not discriminate by size, age, skin colour or ability. The rules at first may seem complicated and watching a game with no background to it could be confusing. In principle, it’s a simple sport. Get that egg-shaped ball from one side of the pitch to the other and prevent the other side from trying to do the exact same thing. However, university rugby is more than just the sport. Joining the rugby club will also introduce you to the core values of the sport. Respect, teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline and ultimately just having fun and making new mates.

What should I expect from a university rugby team?

Joining any sport or society at a university is an excellent decision to make generally. It introduces you to like minded people with a shared interest from the very start of your uni life. Every year, at the beginning of your first term there will often be a fayre or event put on. This will be for all sports and societies to showcase why they are the group you should join. Now, with the rugby club you will undoubtedly see them strutting around in their kit. Some may misinterpret this as arrogance; however this is purely from pride. You will find out, after just a few weeks in the rugby club. You walk around in your own club stash. Your wardrobe quickly becomes branded hoodies, bags, shorts, and t-shirts.

Isn’t uni rugby just full of bullies and weird initiations?

Every prospective student will have heard horror-stories about a random university rugby team. Often tales of debauchery, scandal or bullying. I am writing to tell you that if those stories are true, they are the exemption to the rule. From my experience and discussions with other university rugby club players I am yet to discover a story that would come close to those narratives.

What you will find is a group of men & women who look out for each other, support one another, and will do anything to make the most out of this time in your life. Yes, rugby clubs do know how to party - there will be alcohol, there will be singing and there will be games. However, if this makes you nervous, please don’t let this deter you. I will tell you why rugby clubs are actually much more inclusive than you may think

Inclusivity

We’ve already said rugby is diverse. It caters for all. University life creates an environment that is multi-cultural and diverse well beyond to where you live prior to university life. The rugby club will be exactly the same. There will be players from different countries, different backgrounds, of different religions and with different educational needs.

A perfect example of how the traditional off-field behaviours of rugby can be adapted for university and examples the inclusivity is where club members with religious values that don’t allow for the consumption of alcohol. These people are not shunned, they aren’t left out. They are encouraged to join in on social events. Participation in a social drinking game is common place at university rugby clubs, however where there is a forfeit for losing. This will be adapted to finishing off a pint of milk or doing press ups. This is in order to accommodate everyone.

What is the standard of university rugby?

The standard of rugby at uni will depend quite significantly on a few factors. The number of players signed up to play, and the league they are operating at in the BUCS leagues. If you are joining a club with a side in the BUCS Premier Division, your university may have a number of players who may have scholarships, grants or bursaries offered to join the university. These will be offered to players who have certain level of performance in the sport. Whether than being a county representative or even higher.

Outside of the top performers, there will also be several other teams and most universities field more than one team within the rugby club. These will often be in lower leagues in the BUCS pyramid. On top of that, there is often an opportunity to play for local partner clubs in local leagues giving an opportunity for a more casual rugby playing experience, but still have ties to the uni club.

How much time do I have to invest?

Depending on the level of your first team, you will likely be training 2 to 3 times a week and university fixtures predominantly played on Wednesdays. The standard throughout is ultimately designed to be competitive. It is an excellent bridge between youth level rugby to senior rugby at local clubs whilst it also provides a gentle learning curve for any newcomers to the sport. Joining rugby isn’t only for those who have played rugby before new players are always welcomed and celebrated.

Having fun off the pitch

Every Wednesday whether you win, lose or draw, there will be celebrations in the evening starting on the bus back from an away match. These Wednesday evenings will often be the ones that last the longest in your memories. Songs will be sung, games will be played, players of the match will be announced and cheered. You will probably be dressed up in some sort of fancy dress, giving you the confidence and feeling of belonging that is unparalleled by any other club at university.

However, joining a university rugby club also provides more than this. You will find that your social group for all of the other days of the week will revolve around your new rugby club mates. Do not be surprised if these are the people you spend the next 3 or 4 years with.

What to do next?

If you’re eager to get going and want to get stuck in, reach out to the university club president, coach or even any member or player. We absolutely guarantee they will welcome you with open arms, answer any questions you have and they will ultimately look out for you from the get go.

Words // David Jones