🏉 FYB Rugby Round Up - 5 October 2026

This week’s grassroots rugby stories demonstrate the scale, reach and imagination of community rugby – from a festival involving 1,500 young players to practical steps making the game more accessible.

Middlesbrough’s junior home receives a significant boost

The Port of Middlesbrough has become a sponsor of Lions Park, the dedicated home of Middlesbrough RUFC’s Mini and Juniors Academy. Developed with £140,000 of community-focused grant funding, the former Tollesby site now supports rugby opportunities for hundreds of children. The partnership will help the club maintain and develop its activities while introducing young people to potential careers in maritime and logistics. Middlesbrough is also experiencing wider growth, including the return of its women’s team after a 20-year absence and increased participation in senior and Touch Rugby

Medway welcomes 1,500 young players

Medway RFC prepared to welcome more than 1,500 young players from 20 clubs across Kent for its Minis Festival on Sunday. The event brought age-grade teams, coaches, volunteers and families together for a major celebration of grassroots rugby at Priestfields. Festivals like this offer young players far more than a busy day of fixtures: they provide opportunities to meet people from other clubs, experience a different rugby environment and build confidence through enjoyable competition. Organising an event on this scale also represents an enormous contribution from the volunteers working behind the scenes.

Making rugby league’s biggest occasion easier to understand

Community Integrated Care worked with people who have learning disabilities to produce an Easy Read Guide for the 2026 Super League Grand Final. Created with members of the charity’s Support Squad, the resource used simple sentences and supportive images to explain the event and the basic principles of rugby league. Although designed for the Grand Final, its wider message is relevant throughout community sport: accessibility includes how clubs communicate, not simply the facilities they provide. Similar guides could help new players, supporters and volunteers feel more confident when attending their first match or club activity.

Have you spotted any grassroots rugby stories that deserves to be shared? Send it to Fill Your Boots and it could appear in a future roundup.