Rugby’s Future Looks Bright as 250,000 Young People Discover the Game

Grassroots rugby in England has received a significant boost, with more than 250,000 young people introduced to the sport over the past year.

The figures, released by the RFU, highlight growing participation across schools, colleges, Scouts, Guides, and community programmes, providing encouraging signs for the long-term future of the game.

For clubs across the country, attracting new players, volunteers, and members remains one of the biggest challenges. These latest numbers suggest that rugby’s player pathway is becoming stronger, creating more opportunities for young people to experience the sport before potentially joining their local club.

Significant Investment in the Community Game

The growth comes as part of the RFU’s commitment to invest £120 million into the community game between now and 2030.

The investment is focused on three key areas:

• Bringing more young people into rugby
• Retaining players for longer
• Supporting clubs and volunteers

Steve Grainger, RFU Executive Director for the Community Game, described the initiative as being about “securing the future of rugby” and ensuring the sport reflects the communities it serves.

The RFU is already making progress towards its target of adding 50,000 players by 2030, with almost 300,000 players currently active in clubs across England.

T1 Rugby Helping Open New Doors

One of the major success stories has been the continued expansion of T1 Rugby, the non-contact version of the game designed to be inclusive, accessible, and easy to introduce in schools and community settings.

Over the past year:

• More than 186,000 young people have been introduced to rugby through schools and colleges
• Around 1,100 schools adopted T1 Rugby, building on 1,800 schools already engaged
• 60 School Rugby Managers are now working across England, with plans to increase this to 100
• More than 1,000 primary schools have received support through the Allianz Kick Start programme

For grassroots clubs, initiatives such as T1 Rugby create valuable opportunities to engage with local schools and build relationships with potential future players.

Building Stronger Community Connections

The RFU’s work has also extended beyond education settings.

An additional 66,000 young people have engaged with rugby through partnerships with Scouts and Guides, with girls accounting for nearly half of all participants.

More than 250 rugby clubs are now formally linked with local Scout and Guide groups, helping create clear routes from first participation into regular club rugby.

This approach reflects an important principle for grassroots clubs: participation growth often starts by meeting people where they already are, rather than expecting them to find rugby on their own.

Women’s and Girls’ Rugby Continues to Grow

The momentum generated by the Women’s Rugby World Cup and the success of the Red Roses is also having a visible impact at grassroots level.

According to the RFU:

• Age-grade girls’ registrations have increased by 49% over the past four years
• 76% of clubs report growth in girls’ participation
• 40% of clubs have seen increases in adult women’s rugby since the World Cup
• More than 2,100 women’s league matches were played this season, a record high

Many clubs are now seeing women’s and girls’ rugby become a central part of their long-term development plans rather than an additional offering.

Programmes such as Girls Activity Days are also helping introduce new participants through fun, social experiences that make rugby more approachable for newcomers.

Supporting Coaches and Retaining Players

Growth is only part of the challenge. Retaining players remains equally important, particularly during the teenage years when participation drop-off can be at its highest.

To address this, the RFU has invested in coach development programmes focused on the 14-18 age group.

Currently:

• 90 clubs are involved in the programme
• 300 coaches have received mentoring and support
• Clubs are reporting improvements in player enjoyment, skills development, and retention

For grassroots clubs, quality coaching and positive player experiences remain some of the most important factors in keeping young people involved in rugby long-term.

What This Means for Clubs

While national participation figures are encouraging, the real opportunity lies with local rugby clubs.

Every new player introduced through schools, T1 Rugby, Scouts, Guides, or community programmes represents a potential future club member. The challenge now is ensuring those pathways remain visible, welcoming, and accessible.

As the game continues to grow, clubs that actively engage with schools, youth organisations, and their local communities will be best placed to benefit from this increased interest.

The foundations are clearly being laid for a stronger future. The next step is making sure those young people continue their rugby journey within grassroots clubs across the country.

At FYB, we’re passionate about helping clubs connect with players, volunteers, coaches, and supporters. As participation grows, making those connections easier will be more important than ever.