Some attendees are former players looking for a way to be part of the sport they love, getting to relive old memories in a new format. Others have never played before. “I plucked up the courage to ask for an introduction, and have never looked back,” adds Harriet Pinel, who plays for Taff’s Well Pacemakers.
“From opportunities to play on the Arms Park, the Gnoll, and the Principality, to the incredible sense of belonging and family, I love everything about walking rugby. We’re a hugely diverse group, our youngest player is doing his A-Levels, and our oldest is in their seventies. Like any good Welsh rugby fans (even honorary ones like myself), we love a good sing-song, and the socials, including tour, have been amazing.”
Rules can vary from club to club but teams usually contain a maximum of seven players at any time, using a smaller (size 4) ball and playing on a square-sized pitch. Halves last around seven minutes and yes, there are yellow cards (a two-minute exclusion) and red cards for any overly robust tackles or hand-offs. Tackles are defined as “a simultaneous two-handed light touch … between the shoulders and the waist”, with strictly no pushing. Drop the ball, and the other team receives possession.
“I thought it would be many of my old mates that would play but as it turns out we have attracted all sorts … [including] a surprising number of husband-and-wife combinations eager to find a game they can enjoy together,” adds John Halliday, the vice-chair at Canterbury RFC and a youngster at only 54.
More rugby clubs across the country are now setting up walking rugby sides through their community teams. In the case of Coventry Rugby RFC, getting the word out involves the use of social media, as you would expect, but also dropping leaflets into local GP surgeries and encouraging doctors to recommend the sport as part of any exercise or recovery programmes.
“Instead of a run-around, it’s a walk-around,” adds Sam Everett, Coventry’s rugby development officer, with the bulk of their players in their sixties and seventies. “It has to be about the fun and the social chat as well, to talk about their lives. We always encourage them to talk about what they do.”
Transforming lives
George Funnell, another rugby development officer at Coventry, adds: “With their age, they can tend to be quite lonely. This is their time to get out and you can really see how much it impacts them.”
Richmond Rugby’s walking rugby programme began in 2021 with a grant from the government to set up a side, encouraging older people in the area to get involved in a group activity after isolating for so long. Now they are up to 25 members and train on a Thursday, while also participating in local tournaments. A forthcoming competition that Richmond are signed up for will contain up to 80 teams.
Richmond’s captain, Paul, is described as now being like “a different man” having first turned up overweight three years ago. Another member who lives on her own, Jane, saw an advertisement for the sport on a supermarket notice board and decided to give it a go. She has since made some of her closest friends on the team.
“It has grown to more than just rugby, it is a lifestyle for most of the players. They go to pub quiz nights, music ensembles, barbecues at each other’s houses,” adds Vaughan Bentley, Richmond’s head of community. “It has turned into a big family, which for us is the best thing, and we will continue it no matter what. We welcome anyone of any age and ability to come down and give it a try.”