The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has received a serious warning about the decline of rugby in schools in England, a situation that could lead to the sport becoming a “declining minority” in the country that saw the birth of the sport and of which it is its great driving force. An independent report, entitled ‘Changing the Game: the Future of Schools Rugby in England’, highlights the risk of rugby losing relevance due to changing social attitudes, increased risk aversion and fear of injury. This decline, according to the report, could also negatively affect the performance of the England rugby team.
In the face of this crisis, the RFU has committed to implementing a non-contact version of the sport, called T1 Rugby, within the next four years, and a third, reduced-contact variant is being considered. These changes seek to allay parental fears about injury and break down perceived elitist barriers to entry. The report warns that without action, rugby in schools and communities will be drastically weakened.
A SPORT SEEN AS ELITE
The report criticizes the possibility of relying solely on a small number of elite schools to nurture professional sport, which would exacerbate its elitist image. It calls for the avoidance of a strategy that leaves out young people from different social and economic backgrounds, which would reduce access to rugby and limit its growth at all levels.
One of the main concerns is that rugby is still perceived as a sport exclusively for ‘rich kids’. This perception contributes to the decline in participation, especially in comparison to other sports that have achieved greater inclusion. The report warns that if these perception issues are not addressed, rugby could be reduced to a minority and lose its cultural relevance in England.
NEW EDUCATIONAL PROPOSALS
The report stresses that the RFU must act quickly to preserve rugby in schools. It suggests a dual strategy of defending the traditional areas where rugby is strong, but also expanding into new markets to avoid the sport being seen solely as a game for the upper classes.
Recommendations include the creation of a director of schools rugby position within the RFU and the creation of a ‘rugby basics package’ to enable PE teachers with no experience of the sport to teach a season of T1 Rugby. This approach seeks to increase the presence of rugby in schools and halt the decline in participation by offering safer and more accessible variants.
THE NEED TO CHANGE THE GAME
The report is clear: “You must change a losing game.” Without addressing concerns about injuries and rugby’s elitist image, the sport will continue to lose ground to other more inclusive and accessible sports in schools. Without these changes, rugby risks becoming an irrelevant and marginalized discipline within school sport in England.
School rugby in England is at a crossroads. If the RFU does not act soon there could be devastating consequences for the future of the sport in the country. The RFU has the opportunity to change this narrative and revitalize rugby.
