AthletiLink
searchJoin free
Sport explainer

What is rugby?

Rugby is a contact team sport built on going forward while passing backwards, with continuous play through rucks, mauls and set pieces.

Find rugby near youExplore your city

Quick facts

Type
Team contact sport
Players
15 per side (7 in sevens)
Match length
Two 40-minute halves (7s: two 7-minute halves)
Origin
Rugby School, England, 1823; split into union and league in 1895
Cost to start
Club subs around $100–300 a season; touch leagues $60–100.
Fitness needed
Sevens and touch are aerobically hard; 15s has more stop-start recovery.

Rugby explained

Rugby is a contact team sport built on going forward while passing backwards, with continuous play through rucks, mauls and set pieces.

Touch and tag rugby are the mass-participation versions: no contact, mixed teams, one hour a week, and the fastest-growing part of the sport.

Club rugby has a strong reputation for taking complete beginners, because positions suit an unusually wide range of body types.

The rules that actually matter

You don't need the full rulebook to play your first session. These are the rules that shape every game of rugby.

  • The ball can only be passed backwards or sideways
  • A try scores five points, conversion two, penalty and drop goal three
  • Tackled players must release the ball; a ruck forms over it
  • Scrums and lineouts restart play after infringements
  • Touch and tag rugby remove contact entirely

Equipment you need

Beginners consistently overspend here. This is the realistic starting kit list for rugby.

  • Boots
  • Mouthguard
  • Scrum cap optional
  • Shorts and jersey

Formats you can play

Rugby isn't one thing. Picking the right format is the difference between enjoying your first month and quitting it.

  • Union 15s
  • Rugby league
  • Sevens
  • Touch rugby
  • Tag rugby
  • Beach rugby

Where it's played

Typical venues for rugby, and the places worth checking when you're looking for a session near you.

  • Grass pitches
  • Club grounds
  • University fields
  • Beach and touch pitches

Why people take up rugby

Beyond the sport itself, these are the reasons adults commit to it.

  • Genuine place for every body type
  • Touch rugby offers a non-contact entry
  • Clubs are famously social off the pitch
  • Sevens gives a fast, fitness-focused format
  • Clubs actively recruit adult beginners

Similar sports

If rugby isn't quite right, these sports attract similar players: Touch rugby, Rugby league, American football, Gaelic football.

Your first month

  1. 01

    Week 1 — touch rugby

    Join a social touch league. You'll learn passing, lines and support play without contact.

  2. 02

    Week 2 — club training night

    Most clubs run an open training session. Turn up, say you're new, and you'll be looked after.

  3. 03

    Week 3 — contact technique

    Tackling and body position are coached separately for a reason. Do the sessions before playing.

  4. 04

    Week 4 — second-team game

    Lower XVs are where beginners play. Availability and effort get you on the pitch.

Find people to train with

SportConnect is free: set your sport and level, browse players, coaches, clubs and gyms near you, and message the ones running beginner-friendly sessions.

Find rugby near youExplore your city

Frequently asked questions

Is rugby hard to learn?

Touch rugby is playable immediately; contact needs coached preparation.

How much does it cost to start rugby?

Club subs around $100–300 a season; touch leagues $60–100.

Do I need to be fit to play rugby?

Sevens and touch are aerobically hard; 15s has more stop-start recovery.

How many players do you need for rugby?

15 per side (7 in sevens). Union 15s is the standard format, but smaller variants exist: Rugby league, Sevens, Touch rugby.

Do I need experience to join a club or session?

No. Most local clubs, gyms and open sessions run beginner groups and are used to people arriving with zero background. Say you're new when you message them — it changes how they set the session up for you.

Is SportConnect free?

Yes. Creating a profile, browsing players, coaches, gyms and events, and messaging other members is free.

How do I find people at my level nearby?

Set your sport, level and city on your profile, then browse players, coaches and gyms in your area. Filtering by level is the fastest way to find sessions you'll actually enjoy.

Find a rugby coach

A few sessions with a coach shortcuts months of guesswork. Every coach on SportConnect lists their sport, location, session formats, rates and availability, so you can compare before you message.

Browse rugby coachesRugby on SportConnectHow to find a coachCoach directory
Rugby coaches in New YorkRugby coaches in Los AngelesRugby coaches in ChicagoRugby coaches in HoustonRugby coaches in DallasRugby coaches in AustinRugby coaches in San AntonioRugby coaches in Phoenix

Keep reading

How to get into lacrosseHow to get into mmaHow to get into yogaHow to get into padelHow to get into pickleballHow to get into boxingHow to get into runningHow to get into swimmingHow to get into cyclingHow to get into basketballHow to get into soccerHow to get into american football

Keep exploring SportConnect

Free recruiting readiness score

Ten questions, an honest score, and your prioritized next steps.

College athletic recruiting guide

Timelines by grade, division fit and a readiness checklist.

NCAA Eligibility Center

What the NCAA Eligibility Center requires: 16 core courses, D1 and D2 GPA rules, registration timing, transcripts, amateurism and a step-by-step checklist.

Athletic scholarships

How athletic scholarships work: head-count vs equivalency sports, scholarship limits by sport, stacking academic aid, and how to compare real net cost.

How to email college coaches (with templates that get replies)

How to email college coaches: subject lines, what to include, follow-up cadence, and copy-paste templates for first contact, camps and senior-year outreach.

NCAA recruiting rules

NCAA recruiting rules explained: contact periods by division, when coaches can call, official and unofficial visits, dead periods, and what you may do first.

Guides by sport

Find teammates by sport

For clubs and coaches

For coaches and trainers

Events, tournaments and coaches

Transfers, scouting and player profiles

All sportsRecruiting blogFootball & soccerGyms, trainers & clubs near meBrowse athlete prospectsCreate a free athlete profile