WHAT IS WALKING RUGBY?

Walking Rugby is a simplified version of Rugby suitable for all ages, abilities & genders. It is a competitive passing game, suitable for ex Rugby players, injured and rehabilitating current players and those interested in Rugby without any experience! Those past retirement age can still indulge in their passion without the full on contact or those wishing to keep up their activity levels can try a new sport. Walking Rugby is a great leveller and you do not need to be fit – we can work on that together. You do need a certain degree of mobility but as we are open to all genders and ages – a ‘team’ means you all work as one.

What you need to know:
No running – walking determined by one foot on the ground at any time when in motion
No contact – similar to ‘touch rugby’ rules – two hands on shorts is all the contact made which qualifies as a tackle.
No Scrums, Mauls, Rucks or Lineouts
Passing backwards or lateral – offside rules apply
A try requires no bending – you walk across the try line ball in hand

Sound simple? Well we want to encourage people outside of the Rugby fraternity to come along and join in. If it sounds a bit too easy for you as an ex or injured player consider to try reaching the try line when your automatic reaction is to run and you can only walk…with someone walking very quickly behind you. It does look funny at times but is a very effective way of raising your heart rate.
A typical session increases your daily step count by between 4,500 and 8000 (depending on numbers per team)

Enjoy your team sport? You will seek to work with your team mates to score a try – not done by standing still or ploughing forwards with the ball in hand. You have to weave, twist, turn and pass – what the walking does though is it enables those of varying levels of ability, strength, age and fitness etc. to compete equally against each other.

For those curious for the finer details – please see the rules document on this page OR better still come along, bring some friends and give it a try.

What do you need? Trainers with a good tread or suitable boots together with weather dependent and training type clothes – that’s it! Oh and bring some water – you will need it. We do a warm up before the session so if you have any injuries – let us know so we can be considerate of that. Check with your doctor first if you are in doubt.

How much does it cost? Your first session is free and annual walking rugby membership entitles you to participate in any or all of the three weekly sessions. This also includes a post-session cup of tea or coffee and thrown in for free is a good chinwag after the session.

When and where do we meet? We currently meet three times a week and all sessions are held at the club - Tuesdays: 10.30-12.00, Wednesdays 19.30-20.30; Sundays 11.00-12.00

Video To watch a video of walking rugby in action, please copy and paste the link below into your search bar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LmgjdgdWX4

Please get in touch with any further queries – walkingrugby@readingrfc.co.uk