TAVISTOCK RFC have launched a new mixed non-contact rugby session aimed at the wider community.
More than 20 players of all ages and sexes attended the first night of the new T1 rugby group on the artificial pitch at Tavistock College.
T1 is backed by World Rugby and the RFU and is slightly different to normal touch rugby and has been designed to try and reflect the unique characteristics the union game, including scrums, lineouts and breakdown.
Tavistock say launching it was born out of inspiration from other RFU clubs’ and the ‘keep your boots on’ campaign.
They said: “The club hope it provides adults of all ages, abilities and gender with the opportunity to keep active by trying something new, or to carry on playing without the heavy impacts in this non-contact discipline of the sport.”
The new group will be meeting every Thursday night at Tavistock College at 8pm.
Dave Lamb and Pat Dawes, who coach the Tavistock under-sevens team, have driven the project and are excited to see how it will evolve.
“Our focus for this is on wellbeing,” they said. “T1 rugby presents a great opportunity to meet friends and new faces and award yourself with an hour to escape the daily grind. Walk, run, play or chat; that hour is yours, but hopefully you will smile and laugh whilst you are here.”
The pair first floated the idea with the club earlier in the season and soon had their full support.
“We really hope to engage with the wider communities through this project and show that rugby really is for everyone,” they said.
“Tavistock RFC has a full complement of teams, but we want this new outreach project to extend beyond the club house and into the surrounding areas.
“Driven to engage all adults regardless of age, gender or ability, we aim to build our numbers so that we can cater each session to different abilities and fitness levels so you can enjoy your hour as much as possible. Hopefully one day we will link up with other clubs who share the same values.”
The first session certainly showed there is a desire for non-contact mixed rugby in the Tavistock area.
Dawes added: “We were so happy with how the first session went. It was such a good turnout for week one.
“What really pleased us was the mix of ages, gender, and ability and seeing them all with a smile on their face.
“From first timers to seasoned veterans, we had it all. That’s what this is all about, keeping the game accessible to all and bringing people together for a good laugh.
“I played both rugby and football as I grew up but things started to break and hurt as I got a bit older, and with the onset of family life I couldn’t afford the injuries and so I hung my boots up. A few years on I stared at those boots regularly and ask myself ‘why?’.
“I’m now one of the coaches for the TRFC U7s, who play tag rugby at that age and my inspiration to put my boots back on came from their energy and the smile of their faces whilst playing the sport. We were all that age once and without a care in the world, why should we stop when we could just adapt?”
More information on the sessions can be found on the club’s social media channels or for further details people can email t1rugby@tavistockrfc.co.uk