5 reasons to take up rugby
Want to boost fitness, confidence and social skills? Claire Allan gives us 5 reasons to take up rugby
If you’re looking for a new way to fire up your fitness, stay active or get sociable, why not get involved with a team sport? Rugby really pushes you to your limits and leaves you with an incredible sense of achievement afterwards – it’s not just for the boys! England 15s and 7s player, Claire Allan, gives us her top 5 reasons to take up the sport.
1. Friendship
‘One of the main reasons to take up rugby is friendship. Through playing rugby I’ve met some of my best friends, who I not only play rugby with but also socialise with off the rugby pitch. The banter is relentless and it’s really good fun when we all meet up for training camps. Rugby also gives you the confidence to be able to work in a team and develop social skills that you can then use outside of a rugby environment to make new friends. You also develop communications skills in order to get a job done, which then transfers into your work life and your social life.
There’s also a massive social side to rugby, especially Sevens where the competitions are combined with music festivals, so it’s always great fun.’
2. Fitness
‘The beauty of rugby training is that you’re able to train and not feel like you’ve undergone a gruelling fitness session because it’s so much fun and you enjoy it so much, but at the same time you’re working on your core skills and fitness. RFU runs sessions in conjunction with One Element, which uses elements of rugby training without the physical contact, and these sessions are ideal for someone looking for the benefits that rugby training brings.
Another great thing about rugby training is that it’s for all shapes and sizes, so you’ve got wingers and props that are obviously different body sizes but each individual is important and of value to the team.’
3. Psychological benefits
‘There are lots of psychological benefits to playing rugby. One thing my rugby experience has brought is coping well under pressure, when it comes to those close games and finals and you have to make a last ditch tackle; it really tests your mental skills and without a doubt it’s improved mine.
Also if I haven’t exercised during the day then I definitely feel more tense and stressed. Rugby is one of those sports that you can look forward to at the end of the day, go training with a bunch of friends, let your hair down and run around the pitch; it’s a great stress relief and really good fun.
Also like any exercise the endorphins released after you’ve played a physical game like rugby with your teammates are great. Morale is also high within the team after your training session so you definitely feel great after you’ve played.’
4. Sense of achievement
‘Regardless of whether or not you’re playing for your club, your country or your local touch team, you’re playing within a team and working towards a common goal, and when you succeed in those goals as a group it’s a great feeling. That’s one of the main reasons I play rugby – to be part of a team and work to achieve something with my friends.’
5. The team
‘For me rugby is all about the team, and without the team mates that I’ve played with and currently play with I wouldn’t be where I am today, and that all comes from bonding and having so much fun during training. I’ve been playing with a large proportion of the current squad since I was about 14/15 and I consider them as close as family and I know we’ll be friends for life.
Playing rugby is like any other team sport, when it gets tough the only way to overcome that is to bond together and succeed as a team.’
England Rugby is calling on fans to show their support for England Women by tweeting their messages of encouragement to @EnglandRugby using #CarryThemHome. Visit www.rfu.com/england-rugby for more information.
Claire Allan – We Heart Living