So you want to play Rugby League...

couerdelion

I know a lot of players are unsure how to get involved with the sport so I've tried to put together a short guide (any chance of it being made a sticky?). This isn't meant to be a RU vs RL discussion. As more questions are asked I'll try to keep the FAQ up to date. Hope it helps!
And please feel free to PM me if info is needed about any club.

Guide to start playing Rugby League

Why should I play Rugby League?

Rugby League (RL) is a fast free flowing game. It is a different sport from Rugby Union (RU) although it does have many similarities. It is an easier game to get into and learn than RU as it covers just the basic skills needed to play; passing, tackling and beating your man. There are no rucks, mauls or lineouts and scrums are generally uncontested. Many players are also RU players and they play to improve their core skills and their fitness. The ball is in play for an average of 50 minutes in a RL game compared to 30 for a RU game and you will have the ball in your hands a lot more often in league than in Union and will make many more tackles. Many players look to RL to improve their fitness in preparation for pre-season RU training and are able to hit the ground running and move up teams in their RU clubs. There are also players who just play RL and enjoy the game just for what it has to offer.
There is no need though to have played any code of rugby before. Most clubs will welcome beginners and my own club has had plenty of players with no rugby skills move their way up from their tentative first touches in practice to play regular first team rugby. It is a relatively short season and you will make some good friends within your club as it is a very social game. As there are very few skills training will tend to focus on improving basic skills so a beginner will not tend to need any specialist training compared to the experienced player although I have often taken new players to one side if I feel they are struggling and need some specific coaching.
There is also the chance to represent your country if you are good enough, something which to be honest is unlikely to happen in RU unless you are playing for one of the four provinces. Most clubs have had at least one player representing the Irish Wolfhounds ‘A’ side or the emerging side and a few have even had players represent the full Irish side which includes many European Super League players. Some were even fortunate to play in the last World Cup in Australia. The student international side also contained many Irish based players who represented their country in Brisbane, Australia. Brian Carney played Super League and represented Great Britain after being spotted playing for the Ireland Students in a home international, he then went on to play in the Australia NRL before switching codes and representing Munster and Ireland in Rugby Union. There are also two former Carlow players (Wayne Kerr and Stevie Gibbons) who are playing in the English NL1 and represented Ireland in the World Cup after starting out playing in the Elite League for Carlow.
If you are good enough you really do have a very good chance of rising higher.

How can you play League?

Firstly find your local team. It may be the closest to work /college so you can train or the one closest to home so you can get changed before going training. It really doesn’t matter but we’ve found that playing for a club that doesn’t meet these criteria normally means you drift away mid season or after a couple of sessions. To find your closest team check out www.rli.ie/club-finder . The team names should give you an idea of where each club is based; the only confusion might be the Dublin Exiles (Terenure), North Dublin Eagles (Clontarf/Alsaa) or Treaty City Titan (Limerick).
One you’ve found the club contact one of the contacts and ask them when and where they train. I would be very surprised to hear of a club that doesn’t need players. Most of the Elite league sides are looking for players for their second teams at the very least. Once you’ve found out where and when they train, just go along and meet the coach at the next training session.
The league is split into two divisions; Elite and Merit. The Elite league consist of six clubs who play 8 scheduled rounds whilst the Merit league is an informal league where fixtures are organised week by week dependent on which teams declare their availability. Most Elite league clubs will be looking to also enter a merit team club so there is good chance that you will be able to get a taste of rugby league through the merit league and then progress to the Elite League if desired. There is also a possibility that clubs playing in the Merit league show enough commitment and promise to gain entry in to the Elite League.

What equipment do I need?

• A gum shield would be ideal, these can be bought for a few Euros at a sports shop or you can spend a lot more getting one specifically shaped and made by your dentist.
• Short, Shirt socks and boots. As there is no real scrimmaging or rucking/mauling shorts and shirts are in general a lot lighter than RU counterparts although there is nothing wrong with turning up to training in RU kit. Boots can be football/rugby boots or some players just wear astro runners as in the summer the pitches are often too hard to take a stud.
• Scrum cap/shoulder pads. Most players wear shoulder pads to protect themselves in the impact although not everyone feels the need. Scrum caps are generally not worn although there are no rules to stop the wearing of them.

F.A.Q.

Q. Do I need to know the rules before I go training?
A. No not at all. The rules are easy enough to pick up and you will find that you pick them up very quickly during training sessions. You can also watch RL on either Sky Sports (ESL) or Setanta (NRL) which will allow you to view the game and pick up the rules.
Q. How fit do I need to be?
A. I’ll be honest; you do need some level of fitness although if you join in at pre-season you will pick up your fitness pretty quickly. If you feel you might not be fit enough why not just commit to go training to start with. The run out will do you good and again your fitness levels will improve quickly. Unlike RU, RL has rolling substitutes and the merit league will more than likely have unlimited substitutions so you can play in five minute stints if necessary.
Q. There’s not a team near me, what can I do?
A. Why not start your own team? If you think you can commit to fielding a team most weeks talk to the RLI about starting a new club in the merit league.
Q. When does pre-season start?
A. Contact the specific club or check their website to confirm. My own club will be starting back, hopefully, the last Tuesday in March. (North Dublin Eagles; 31st March 2009) The 2009 season starts the 16th May and finishes early August.
Q. How old do I need to be?
A. The old cliché of ‘if you are good enough you are old enough’ is to a part true but most players would be over 18. We’ve had a 16 year old playing and training for the last two years who has represented the Celtic Nations at u16 level and Ireland at u18 level. A large number of clubs are keen to develop u18 teams so go along and train. You might not feel ready to play this year, but through training you will learn a lot and will be better equipped to play the following season.

couerdelion

Just to add; If you know the training details of any team feel free to add details using a similar format. I'll start

Team: North Dublin Eagles.
Playing Location: ALSAA (Next to Dublin Airport)
Training Location: St Pauls School, Clontarf (next to St Annes Park)
Pre Season Commences: 31st March 2009
Day(s) / Time: Tuesday and Thursday. 7:00 meet for 7:15 prompt start.
Duration: Initially whatever daylight permits. Maximum 90 mins.

trey99

Team: tallaght tigers
Playing Location: dublin, and north wales
Training Location: tymon park
Pre Season Commences: 1st april 2009
Day(s) / Time: wednesdays, 6.30pm

muff munch

whats the nearest rugby leauge or union club around south tipp or in and around tipperary town

ciaraco

Team: Treaty City Titans
Playing Location: Limerick
Training Location: Limerick
Pre Season Commences: Mid April 2010
Day(s) / Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 7.00pm
Contact: Gilly on 086-7722646

smartaform

Any clubs near Kildare Town/Newbridge???

kellco88

nearest club to newbridge would be the Laois Panthers who play out of Portlaoise.

Ismhunter

Hi lads. Anyone know of training thats happening over winter?
And on what days? i cant do wednesdays or saturdays, would that scupper any chance of training/getting a game?
Im in the dun laoghaire area. Thanks.

kellco88

for winter training tallaght would be your best bet. nearest clubs is th exiles which is terenure.

try http://www.tallaghtrugbyleague.org

or pm me if you prefer the exiles option

Ismhunter

Thanks man. I'll get on to TT. Or though terenure would be much better as tis much nearer. I couldnt PM you as you need to have posted more than i have to use that service. I also take it from your answer that the exiles dont have winter training?

kellco88

No they start around april or march as they play in the summer league. if you go to rli.ie and go to club finder the exiles contact details are up there

couerdelion

Updated for the new season...

Team: North Dublin Eagles.
Playing Location: ALSAA (Next to Dublin Airport)
Training Location: St Pauls School, Clontarf (next to St Annes Park)
Pre Season Commences: 30th March 2010
Day(s) / Time: Tuesday and Thursday. 7:00 meet for 7:15 prompt start.
Duration: Initially whatever daylight permits. Maximum 90 mins.

billy slater

for carlow crusaders contact paul on 0851484496 or eddie on 0871224860.

getz sniped

anybody know about a team near clondalkin im 17. Anybody have any ideas!!!!

couerdelion

In South Dublin you'll potentially have three clubs.

The longest established is the Dublin Exiles who play out of Terenure college. The rli website will have contact details --> http://rli.ie/club-finder

This year the Dublin Destroyers are putting a team out. They are based in Ballyfermot. see this link --> http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056006208

There is also an option of joining the Tallaght Tigers who play at the same grounds as the Tallaght Rugby club I think. I aren't sure of any contact detais for them but they may be on the RLI website.

jonomartin

Join New Rugby League Club Starting

Blanchardstown Bombers Rugby League Club

Players wanted for new rugby league team starting 18 to 80
all levels of experience or none at all, welcome to try out.
So contact

paul roche

Blanchardstown_Bombers@hotmail.com

AG2R

Tallaght are currently in the process of setting up an U21's Rugby League team, we got a squad together last year and played a match against some of the Leinster lads.

Creeby

just turned 19, been playing rugby union for years and have been following rugby league for 2/3 years. Absolutely love the game and would like to give it a go, any advice? Living in Kildare but I'm in Dublin everyday during the week. Cheers!

Creeby

AG2R wrote: »

Tallaght are currently in the process of setting up an U21's Rugby League team, we got a squad together last year and played a match against some of the Leinster lads.

just turned 19, been playing rugby union for years and have been following rugby league for 2/3 years. Absolutely love the game and would like to give it a go, any advice? Living in Kildare but I'm in Dublin everyday during the week. Cheers!

AG2R

Creeby wrote: »

just turned 19, been playing rugby union for years and have been following rugby league for 2/3 years. Absolutely love the game and would like to give it a go, any advice? Living in Kildare but I'm in Dublin everyday during the week. Cheers!

The U21's hasn't started training just yet when I find out more details about it i'll let you know for sure.
As for League the season runs during the summer and you should get yourself onto a team I only started playing last year and it advanced my Union game greatly. Ashbourne might be your best bet for a local team!

Mick ah

There really isn't a lot of activity on this forum.

When does the rugby league season start? Myself and my brother (both union players) are very keen to play league. Me for the fitness, him because he's an animal.

I'm living in north Dublin. Dublin City Eagles would have been the closest team, but they don't have any contact details (or even a mention) on the RLI site.

Are the Dublin City Exiles the next closest team?

Thanks

couerdelion

Mick ah wrote: »

There really isn't a lot of activity on this forum.

When does the rugby league season start? Myself and my brother (both union players) are very keen to play league. Me for the fitness, him because he's an animal.

I'm living in north Dublin. Dublin City Eagles would have been the closest team, but they don't have any contact details (or even a mention) on the RLI site.

Are the Dublin City Exiles the next closest team?

Thanks

Either Exiles, Ballyfermot, Tallaght or Ashbourne I guess.

North Dublin Eagles stopped playing a couple of years ago now.

Mick ah

Thanks.

But when does the season start and finish?

Does there be much playing to do for rugby league teams in this country? I'd be happy with decent training, and a regular opportunity to tackle. But playing is about 100 times better than training.

AG2R

Tallaght U21's first training session Tuesday 26th of March at 6.50pm
Only be a light session. Directions to the ground can be found on
http://www.tallaghtrugby.com/map-directions.html

Zeebs

Any info on when the season starts etc.?