The battle to save schools rugby
A 2024 report by Sir Jon Coles warned rugby union faces an existential threat due to declining participation and parental safety concerns, prompting calls to expand into new markets and defend the sport in traditional independent schools. Data from the RFU and ICE show rugby in schools is stable or growing in many regions, with 75% of established rugby schools maintaining or increasing player numbers despite legal restrictions on compulsory contact rugby.
A 2024 report by Sir Jon Coles, CEO of United Learning, highlighted rugby union’s risk of becoming a declining minority sport due to falling participation and parental fears over player safety. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) responded by launching T1 Rugby, a non-contact version aimed at state schools, while independent schools focused on preserving the sport in its traditional heartlands. Neil Rollings, a former Sedbergh director of sport and founder of ICE (Independent Coach Education), led efforts through the RFU’s National Rugby Leadership Programme for Schools. His research found injury risks spike only from age 16, yet media portrayals of professional rugby—using terms like ‘savage’ and ‘brutal’—foster misconceptions about the school game’s safety. An ICE survey revealed 75% of established rugby schools had stable or increased player numbers, with 640 teams competing in RFU schools’ competitions by 2026. While participation has dropped from decades past, legal changes preventing compulsory contact rugby explain part of the decline. Compared to cricket and hockey, rugby remains competitive in schools. Rollings noted a disconnect between perceived threats and on-the-ground enthusiasm, with regions like Cumbria seeing a 17.1% rise in boys’ registrations. Wirral Grammar School reported post-Covid player numbers exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The data suggests rugby’s school game is resilient, though challenges persist in addressing parental concerns and expanding reach beyond traditional institutions.
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