England Rugby - Half Game

Age grade players told England Rugby that they want to play and that being part of the team is the most important thing to them about rugby. They don’t want to sit on the bench and only get a few minutes of rugby at the end of a match. Putting in to practice what they have learned from training sessions into a game situation helps the players, and importantly increases their enjoyment of the game. Universally accepted child development models show that being active is linked to a child’s enjoyment, self-esteem and confidence, which in turn is linked to their intent to play. By introducing this rule, England Rugby aims to increase player enjoyment, aid player development and ultimately retain age grade players in rugby.