Volunteers

The Story of Rosie’s Ruck

BOTR 2026-04-10 Tales from Clubland Bottom of the Ruck, club rugby, Epilepsy Fundraiser, grassroots rugby, keep rugby grassy, rugby, Rugby 7s, Rugby Tournament, Tales from Clubland, Volunteers

the story of Rosie’s Ruck

a tournament making a difference

Grassroots rugby has always been about more than the game. It’s about showing up for your teammates, your club, and your community. Sometimes that leads to showing up for something far bigger than the sport itself.

Rosie’s Ruck is exactly that.

Before it became a tournament, a fundraiser, or a growing movement, it started with a young leader who is already leaving her mark on the game and the community around it.

Parker Vitagliano-Hill, who plays rugby for Mystic River Youth Rugby, is the driving force behind Rosie’s Ruck. She was recently named one of the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation’s 15 Under 30 Award recipients. The honor recognizes emerging leaders who exemplify the very best of rugby through leadership, service, and impact.

Rosie’s Ruck is a perfect example of her passion in action.

The tournament is a youth-led Rugby 7s tournament founded by 12-year-old Parker, inspired by her sister Alana, and named after her sister’s service dog. Rosie’s Ruck brings together rugby teams, families, local businesses, and community partners, including organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation of New England, to raise awareness and funds for seizure alert dog training for children.

Scheduled for May 31, 2026, at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton, Massachusetts, the event is designed to be more than just a day of rugby. It’s a competitive event layered with the added purpose of a community-driven fundraiser built around connection, education, and support.

Behind the matches, the scores, and the festival atmosphere, there’s a deeply personal story driving it all.

Parker created Rosie’s Ruck after seeing firsthand the life changing impact of her younger sister Alana’s seizure alert dog, Rosie. These highly trained dogs can detect seizures before they happen which gives families critical time to respond and keep their children safe.

Unfortunately, access comes at a significant cost. The dogs often cost between $10,000-$25,000 which puts them out of reach for many families who need them most. The mission of Rosie’s Ruck is to help more children gain access to these life-saving supports while building awareness, connection, and advocacy around epilepsy.

Where It All Started

The origin story doesn’t begin on a pitch. It started with a simple question.

Parker asked her mom why she had missed a weekend of her hockey games. The answer? Her Mother was busy working on a grant for the Epilepsy Foundation of New England.

Within minutes of learning what a grant was, Parker decided that she wanted to apply for one herself. She didn’t hesitate and jumped right in working with her teachers, writing the proposal, and presenting in front of hundreds of people.

Parker’s drive to make a difference led to the creation of a rugby tournament designed to help children with epilepsy gain access to seizure alert dogs. Parker built the concept, wrote the proposal, presented it, and secured the funding.

This has led to becoming further involved in outreach efforts, developing partnerships and planning the event. Anyone out in Clubland that has ever been involved in organizing a rugby tournament, knows exactly the work it takes to pull one off.

Now, imagine your 12-year old self doing it. Impressive doesn’t even begin to describe the efforts by Parker. An inquisitive moment turned a deeply personal experience into something that now reaches far beyond one family.

Over the past year, Parker has worked hard to connect with teams, prepare fundraising strategies, and develop core messaging all while experiencing family challenges. Her steadfast determination and consistency makes her a powerful advocate with the unwavering goal to help as many kids as possible.

The Difference One Dog Can Make

For Parker’s family, epilepsy wasn’t just a diagnosis. It was a source of constant and exhausting uncertainty.

When is the next seizure coming?
Will we catch it in time?
Will she be safe?

Rosie changed that, providing critical assistance during an uncertain time. Seizure alert dogs, like Rosie, can detect seizures before they happen. That early warning creates a window for family and providers to respond, act, and protect. It’s not just about safety. It’s about peace of mind.

Once you have lived with that kind of support, you realize how life changing it is and how unfair it is that most families cannot access it.

Rosie’s Ruck is about closing that gap.

Why Rugby?

Out of all the ways to raise awareness and money for this cause, why rugby?

It helps that rugby already runs in the family. Parker and Alana both play and their Father coaches. Beyond that, the sport itself provides the perfect platform while aligning well with the mission of Rosie’s Ruck.

The sport is built on values like teamwork, resilience, and a deep-rooted sense of community. Rugby people show up for each other. That’s just what they do.

When Parker chose rugby as the vehicle for this fundraiser, it was intentional. The response has been exactly what we come to expect from the rugby community. The rugby community supports each other on and off of the pitch.

Clubs, referees, and organizations across New England have stepped in to support the event including MLR’s New England Free Jacks and WER’s Boston Banshees. A community aligned from the grassroots to the elite levels.

When rugby rallies, it rallies hard. The community says “with you” and means it.

More Than Match Day

Even at the grassroots level, tournaments have become about more than just what happens on the pitch. The rugby is the carrot that draws in the teams and players, but what happens off of the field is what adds to the real depth.

Rosie’s Ruck plans to check all of the boxes when it comes to the play on the field. A competitive environment with men’s and women’s sides challenging each other for bragging rights. All while providing fast paced action and entertainment for fans.

That is but only one part of the story being told. Rosie’s Ruck is a community event through and through with vendors, raffles, and something that you don’t get at most rugby tournaments.

Educational opportunities.

Players and fans can learn about epilepsy and what to do when faced with a seizure situation. Parker wants attendees to have a great day, but also feel connected, informed and part of something meaningful.

What Success Looks Like, Now and in the Future

Of course, fundraising matters. Every dollar raised moves another family closer to safety, independence, and a better quality of life. However, Rosie’s Ruck was never meant to be defined by numbers alone.

Success comes in many forms.

Raising awareness.
Providing education.
Someone learning what to do when faced with someone seizing.
A child with epilepsy feeling seen and supported.
Building a strong community.

The true impact of Rosie’s Ruck is reflected in these moments. Those moments provide fuel for the future.

From the beginning, Parker’s vision is bigger than a single one-off event. Rosie’s Ruck is built to grow well into the future with more teams, more regions, and more families supported. There are also plans to expand beyond 7s and bring even more of the rugby community into the mission.

At its core, Rosie’s Ruck is about turning one family’s experience into something that helps many others.

How to Get Involved

Grassroots rugby is a vehicle for so many things that go well beyond the playing field. That is why it is the beating heart of our sport. Rugby draws us in, but it’s the community and other stuff that keeps us coming back for more.

Rosie’s Ruck is proof of that. Rugby isn’t just about tries and trophies. It’s about changing lives for the better.

If there’s one thing rugby people understand, it’s that showing up matters.

Whether you’re a player, coach, fan, or just someone who believes in what this game can do there’s a place for you at Rosie’s Ruck.

To learn more, register a team, or donate follow the links below.

👉 Team Registration: https://tinyurl.com/RosiesRuck2025Registration
👉 Donate: https://tinyurl.com/rosiesruck

Locker 71’s Mission to Preserve Grassroots Rugby

BOTR 2026-03-31 Tales from Clubland Club History, Club Rooms Project, club rugby, grassroots rugby, keep rugby grassy, rugby, Tales from Clubland, Volunteers

Locker 71’s Mission to preserve the grassroots

The stories that hold it all together

Rugby stories are part of the fabric of the game. More often than not, the stories are told over a beer in the clubhouse, on the sideline, or in the spaces between matches. There is also a 90% that the story has been embellished, but that is part of the charm.

Those stories are built on specific moments that collectively represent decades of showing up, giving back, and holding clubs together. Stories define grassroots rugby and keep traditions alive.

It’s exactly those kinds of stories that Bradley Mata’uiau and Locker 71 are setting out to preserve.

Stories that are part of the collective culture of our sport. This matters more than just protecting the stories of any one specific club.

Finding Rugby Through a Different Lens

Locker 71 didn’t start as a rugby project.

It began as a media company creating content across different spaces. Everything shifted when Bradley and his team were asked to document the history of a local club.

What they found wasn’t just a project. It was a re-connection.

“Spending time there changed everything,” said Mata’uiau. “It wasn’t just about content. It was about being around a community that genuinely lives and breathes rugby. After being out of the game myself for over 10 years, it became a way to reconnect, but from a different lens.”

After more than a decade away from the game, Bradley found himself drawn back in, not as a player this time, but as a storyteller. And what stood out immediately wasn’t the rugby itself.

It was the people behind it.

“What really stuck with me were the people behind the scenes,” he explained. “The ones who don’t get the spotlight. The volunteers, the long-time members, the ones who’ve shown up every week for decades just to keep things going. That’s where the real stories are.”

That’s where Locker 71 found its purpose and he leaned right into things. From that moment, the direction was clear. What started as a one-off project became something much bigger. Club Rooms is a storytelling platform dedicated to documenting the culture, identity, and heartbeat of grassroots rugby.

The first Club Rooms episode took a look at the rich history of Ponsonby Rugby Club in Auckland.

Why Grassroots Stories Hit Different

There’s a reason grassroots rugby resonates so deeply when it’s captured well.

As Bradley puts it: “It’s real. There’s nothing manufactured about it.”

These aren’t polished environments built for broadcast. They are living, breathing community spaces that are often shaped over generations. In places like New Zealand, the rugby club wasn’t just somewhere you played. It was where life happened.

We see the theme repeated regardless of where you are in the rugby world. Jobs are found through connections. Friendships turn into lifelong support systems. Sponsors aren’t just logos on a banner, they are local businesses woven into the club fabric.

That’s what makes grassroots rugby such a powerful storytelling environment. It’s why projects like Club Rooms (and Bottom of the Ruck) are so important.

You don’t have to exaggerate anything.

The story is already there.

Bradley added: “That kind of ecosystem creates stories that don’t need exaggeration. They’re already powerful. And on the other side of it, every professional player started somewhere. No matter where they end up in the world, it all traces back to the grassroots.”

More Than a Club, A Community Anchor

At Bottom of the Ruck, we talk a lot about clubs being the heartbeat of the game. What Bradley has seen reinforces something even deeper. Grassroots rugby and clubs are evolving.

“They’re still the heartbeat, but the shape of the community has changed,” he says.

Modern grassroots clubs are no longer just about rugby. They’re becoming something broader. Something more inclusive. Something more reflective of the communities around them.

“With more diverse populations now, clubs have had to evolve,” says Bradley. What I’ve seen is that the good clubs are no longer just rugby clubs. They’re becoming community hubs. Places where people feel like they belong, whether they play or not.”

“It’s less about just turning up for a game, and more about connection with families, cultures, generations all mixing in one space. That’s where their value really sits today.”

That shift matters. If grassroots rugby is going to survive and thrive it has to be about more than the game. Rugby can bring people in the doors, but connection and purpose keeps them coming back. .

Seeing Your Club From a New Perspective

I came across Locker 71’s work via these amazing drone flyover videos of rugby clubs. They are striking videos that are visually stunning. However, what they really offer is perspective.

“Most people only ever see their club from ground level,” Bradley explains. “The drone gives you a completely different view. It almost reintroduces you to a place you thought you knew.”

Most people only ever see their club from ground level. From above, everything changes. That’s why cinematography is so important in visual media. The pitch becomes part of a wider landscape and the clubhouse feels like a landmark.

The place you’ve always known suddenly looks different. Familiar, but new.

“There’s definitely a nostalgic feeling to it, but more than anything, I want people to feel proud,” Bradley adds. “Proud of where they come from, proud of their club, and reminded of what that place has meant to them over time.”

A reminder of what your club actually is and what it has meant to generations of people who’ve passed through it.

The People Who Keep Clubs Alive

While players come and go, there’s another group that defines every grassroots club. The ones who stayed.

Locker 71’s upcoming Club Rooms documentary series is focused squarely on highlighting those individuals. Yet another commonality that we share despite being a world apart geographically. The project casts a light on volunteers, lifetime members, and characters who’ve carried clubs through tough times.

“It’s always great meeting former pros or current players, but the stories that really matter are from the people who stayed when things got tough,” Bradley says.” The characters who bring energy and personality to the place. Those are the people who define grassroots rugby. They’re not always the loudest or most visible, but they’re the reason clubs still exist.”

Every painted clubhouse wall. The pitches that get lined every weekend. Chefs that work the grill to feed everyone after a match. Behind every task around a club there’s a person who gave their time to make it happen.

And too often, those stories go untold.

Racing Against Time to Preserve Club History

One of the most urgent parts of Locker 71’s work is capturing stories before they disappear.

“A lot of these stories live in people’s heads. They’re not written down anywhere,” Bradley explains.

And once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

“We had moments where what started as a simple shoot turned into days of documenting history, just because we realized how important it was to capture it while we could. For me, it’s about building an archive not just for today, but for future generations to understand where their club came from.”

That line gave me chills. This isn’t just content being created for likes and follows.

It’s preservation.

An archive not just for today’s players, but for generations to come. For someone to truly understand and appreciate their club, they need to know where it came from and the people who built it.

Perspective.

What Grassroots Rugby Needs Next

If there’s one thing Bradley is clear on, it’s that grassroots rugby doesn’t need to reinvent itself. However, we collectively need to protect what matters most.

“It needs to keep its sense of belonging.”

“Rugby teaches more than just the game. It teaches discipline, respect, how to carry yourself, how to be part of something bigger than yourself. Clubs need to keep creating environments where anyone can walk in, no matter their background, and feel like they’re part of something.”

At the same time, they need to adapt.

At the same time, clubs can’t stand still. Complacency can be one of the most damaging things for clubs. Adaptation is needed, evolving isn’t a bad thing.

“The world’s changed,” adds Bradley. “Attention spans have changed, communities have changed. The clubs that survive will be the ones that balance tradition with evolution.”

Why These Stories Matter

For those outside the game, Bradley Mata’uiau and Locker 71’s work offers a window into something deeper than sport.

It shows that rugby isn’t just played. We live in it and those involved are the heartbeat.

“You get out what you put in,” Bradley says. “Grassroots rugby teaches you about yourself. Whether you can lead, follow, contribute, or just show up and do your job for the team.”

Rugby builds leaders. Teammates. Volunteers. Communities.

And maybe most importantly, it creates a sense of connection that keeps people coming back long after their playing days are done.

“From a community perspective, it shows you that value isn’t given, it’s earned,” Bradley finished. “The more you invest in the people around you, the more that community gives back.”

Because once you’ve been part of it, you understand something that’s hard to explain to those that haven’t experienced it.

Rugby isn’t just a game.

It’s a place.

Final Whistle

What Locker 71 is doing isn’t just media. It’s far more special. It’s shining a light on the people and places that make rugby what it is at its core.

In a world where the state of rugby is often framed from a professional perspective it’s a reminder that the real soul of the game still lives exactly where it always has… Down at the club.

If you’re interested in learning more about Bradley’s work with Locker 71, you can find them on the internet and social media. Give them a follow and like their content. That’s how grassroots initiatives like this keep going.

Locker 71 website

Locker 71 Youtube Channel (Where you can find their full Club Rooms videos, highly recommend!

Facebook

Instagram

See below for the newest episode of Club Rooms from Ponsonby Rugby Club.

Feeding Clubland

BOTR 2026-03-23 Tales from Clubland Bottom of the Ruck, club rugby, grassroots rugby, keep rugby grassy, rugby, Tales from Clubland, Volunteers

Feeding Clubland

The Unsung Heroes That are feeding grassroots rugby

There are many moments at every grassroots rugby club that don’t show up on the team sheet, the match report, or the highlight reels. These moments are where selfless volunteers pour their heart and soul into making the grassroots something magical.

The final whistle blows. Boots are caked in mud. Bodies are battered. Everyone is hungry.

Somewhere, often in a cramped kitchen, under a tent, or next to a smoking grill there is someone feeding the club. Not for recognition or for profit, but because if they didn’t, the whole day just wouldn’t feel complete.

The post match feeding and third half is one of the most sacred traditions in our sport. There is nothing quite like it. Where opposing players gather to break bread, have a drink, and share laughs.

Across grassroots rugby, these volunteer chefs quietly hold together one of the most important traditions in the game. They turn chaos into comfort, stretch budgets, improvise menus, and somehow always make sure there’s enough to go around.

These culinary magicians don’t nearly get the recognition that they deserve.

As part of our goal to shine a light on some of the unsung heroes of the grassroots, we spoke to three of those people who keep club kitchens alive. They each carry their own style, challenges, and stories while doing an essential job.

Much like most club volunteers, they also wear multiple hats.

Bottom of the Ruck recently caught up with three such club chefs to hear their stories.

Blake Kyd – Melksham Rugby Club

For Blake Kyd, stepping into the kitchen wasn’t part of some grand plan. It was simply a gap that needed filling.

A South African by birth and now firmly rooted at Melksham Rugby Club, Blake splits his time between playing for the senior men’s side and working behind the bar. Somewhere along the way, he became the guy responsible for feeding everyone.

“I just jumped in,” he says.

What started as a necessity has become a cornerstone of match day.

Much like many other club chefs, Blake’s menu is built for scale and survival. Chicken curry, lasagna, and chilli headline the rotation. These are hearty meals that are reliable and capable of feeding multiple teams in one go while staying budget conscious.

When you’re staring down the reality of six senior sides on a Saturday, efficiency matters just as much as flavor. On Sundays when the youth are playing his go to is sausages, chips and curry sauce.

And then there are the numbers. Cooking for a rugby club involves logistics, timing, and coordination.

“Definitely timing, as I still play on the odd occasion it becomes a fine line between having enough time to cook something after a game or having something prepared beforehand. Cooking 300 sausages is no joke,” Blake adds.

His most chaotic moment? A minis festival that brought around 300 kids through the club. By the end of the day, they had gone through 100kg of chips and 16kg of cheese.

A personal record and a perfect snapshot of grassroots rugby in action.

The biggest challenge is timing. Finding the balance between preparation and post match service can be a constant juggling act.

His advice to other cooks in clubland is simple and universal.

“Don’t be shy to ask for help or accept when someone offers. Most people want to help but don’t want to impose or overstep. Mainly enjoy what you are doing and don’t stress if you are running behind.”

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about perfection. It’s about feeding people.

And if money and logistics were no issue?

Blake’s going big with a creamy prawn and chorizo tagliatelle. No compromises.

Charlie Hay & Stephen Leach – Staines Rugby Club

At Staines Rugby Club, the kitchen doesn’t belong to just one person. It’s a partnership built on smoke, patience, and a shared obsession with doing things properly.

Charlie Hay and Stephen Leach didn’t set out to become the club’s go-to pitmasters. Like most things in grassroots rugby, it started organically. A couple of smokers and a mutual appreciation for Texas-style low-and-slow cooking.

Then it stuck.

What began as an experiment has grown into something of a signature at Staines. Touring sides, club events, or even post-training feeds. If there’s an opportunity to fire up the smokers, they’re taking it.

The kind of food you’d expect to see on an Instagram feed, not necessarily at a grassroots rugby club. But that’s part of the appeal. These dishes aren’t your standard rugby fare in the UK.

“It’s about doing something a bit different,” Charlie explains. “Pulled pork is our go-to. It’s cost effective, feeds a lot of people, and you can mix it up with sides and buns to keep it interesting.”

There’s that theme again. Efficiency without compromising quality. A hallmark of grassroots rugby.

Behind the scenes cooking BBQ is anything but simple.

Low-and-slow BBQ doesn’t fit neatly into a match day schedule. It means late night prepping and cooking overnight followed by constant monitoring throughout the night.

“Fitting in those long cooks can mean being up all night,” Charlie says. “Then you’ve still got to serve it, manage portions, and make sure everyone gets fed.”

If there’s one universal truth in rugby club kitchens, it’s this. Rugby players are a hungry bunch and will stack their plates high with food if left to serve themselves.

“You need people serving,” he adds. “Rugby players can be a greedy bunch.”

Stephen brings a slightly different perspective. As Chairman of the club, he’s seen the evolution firsthand. He started with flipping burgers and hot dogs as a fundraising parent to helping deliver full scale BBQ events.

As Club Chairman, he has a better understanding than most when it comes to financials and planning.

Some of their go to meals are Spag Bol, Curry, Chilli, pasta bakes or a Lasagne.

“They are easy big volume tray meals that hit the spot on a cold English winter afternoon.”

“Budgets are always the challenge,” he says. “You could do incredible things if money wasn’t an issue.”

And yet, every so often, they push past that constraint.

“When we get a chance to show off we try and deliver,” adds Leach.

One of those moments came when Staines hosted a touring side from Holland. The plan? Go all in.

Slow smoked chicken thighs. Brisket. Pulled pork. Pork belly. The works.

It meant a long night tending smokers and a full day of service, but the payoff was immediate.

“The joy it brought people made it worth it,” Stephen reflects.

That same energy carried into a much smaller, but equally memorable post-training “Taco Tuesday” featuring smoked meats and homemade dressings. Nothing formal. Just a clubhouse full of people, sitting together, eating well, and staying longer than they probably planned.

Which, in many ways, is the point. This is Clubland.

Staines Rugby Club, with the help of Stephen and Charlie, has carved out an identity around experience. Slowing things down. Elevating the food. Turning a post match meal into something a bit more memorable.

A tip from Stephen for other would be club chefs?

“Stay calm and if it’s the first time – make it simple. Sides can make the difference too.”

And if cost wasn’t a factor?

There’s no hesitation from either of them.

A full Texas BBQ spread. Brisket. Pulled pork. Beef ribs. Pork ribs. All the trimmings.

No shortcuts. No compromises.

Just smoke, time, and a rugby club full of people ready to eat.

Across clubs, countries, and cooking styles, the challenges sound familiar.

It’s the balancing act between ambition and budget. The pressure of getting portions right. The reality that feeding rugby players is less about fine dining and more about controlled chaos.

More than anything, it’s about consistency. Showing up every week. Delivering something warm, filling, and communal in order to add to the grassroots experience.

There’s a tendency in rugby to celebrate what happens on the pitch: the big hits, the tries in the corner, the final whistle victories.

But the truth is, what keeps clubs alive often happens after the game.

It’s in the kitchens. Behind the grills. Over steaming trays of curry, mountains of chips, and carefully tended smokers that have been going since the night before. It’s in the people who stay a little later, serve a few extra plates, and make sure no one leaves hungry.

Because food at a rugby club is never just food.

From 300 kids tearing through hotdogs and cheesy chips at Melksham, to slow-smoked brisket bringing a clubhouse together at Staines, these moments don’t happen by accident. They happen because someone stepped up.

No spotlight. No highlight reels. Just honest effort by people that care about their clubs and the craft of preparing food.

So, the next time you’re handed a plate after a match, whether it’s a hot dog, bowl of chili, or whatever it may be, take a second to appreciate what went into it.

Without the people that feed their clubs a big part of grassroots rugby disappears with them.

Show them some love.

Bottom of the Ruck salutes and thanks to all of the rugby chefs around the globe keeping us fed. We see you!

Beating the Algorithm without a Marketing Department

BOTR 2026-03-05 The Boardroom Club Ops 101, club rugby, grassroots rugby, keep rugby grassy, rugby, Social Media, The Boardroom, Volunteers

Beating the Algorithm without a marketing department

BOTR: Club ops 101 series

Editor’s Note — Behind the Scenes of Clubland

This article marks the third article in our Club Ops 101 series taking an honest look at the off the field realities of running a grassroots rugby club. The series aims to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a rugby club. The goal isn’t to criticize or overwhelm, but to share lessons learned, spark better conversations, and help clubs build systems that are sustainable for the long haul.

Most grassroots rugby clubs don’t have the luxury of a marketing department. We don’t have interns scheduling posts in the content calendar, advertising agencies testing engagement funnels, and we definitely don’t have budgets to “boost” every post that falls flat.

What we have is a cracked clubhouse door, beat up equipment, a muddy pitch, and a 19-year-old winger who somehow knows exactly what song is trending this week.

And that’s enough.

Here’s the truth that no one tells us. Social media algorithms aren’t built for us. It’s built for brands, influencers, and professional teams with media crews.

Fortunately, grassroots rugby has something the algorithm can’t manufacture. We have authenticity along with a heavy dose of personality, a little chaos, and a community that loves all of it.

Hacking the system is possible. There are clubs out there absolutely killing it while pulling millions of views. I’m telling you that it isn’t as far-fetched as you may think. It won’t happen overnight, but with consistency and the right approach it can happen.

So, instead of burning up your limited marketing funds trying to buy engagement, make use of your strengths.

Here’s how.

1. Hand the Mic to the Young Players

If your social media is being run by the same three committee members who’ve been running it since 2014… we need to talk.

You don’t need to give up control, but you do need to give up some space. Provide some clear direction so that your club messaging is consistent with your mission. After that, let go.

Find two or three younger players who:

Already create content – most of them are already doing on their personal accounts
Understand trends before you do
Aren’t afraid to be on camera and genuine

Make them your “content captains.”

Let them:

Film matchday arrival clips
Post locker room (appropriate, of course) moments
Jump on trending sounds
Run post-match Instagram stories

The algorithm rewards familiarity with platform behavior. Your 20-year-olds live there. Let them cook.

2. Stop Posting Like a Press Release

I’ll be the first to say that I am 100% guilty of this. I have been writing match reports since before social media existed. Even my text messages have the correct punctuation and grammar.

Nobody logs onto Instagram hoping to read a match report. That’s why club websites exist.

Social media needs:

Emotion
Tension
Personality
Humor
Conflict
Community

Instead of reporting the score, show the muddy prop who is covered in mud with smiles all around.

Show your captain’s pre-game speech.

Capture the 2nd XV celebrating a win over a rival like they won a World Cup.

Give some love to your match day chefs cooking up a feast.

Tell genuine stories. Don’t be afraid to show the messy side of grassroots rugby.

3. Short > Perfect

You do not need cinematic drone footage cut like a Michael Bay film.

You need:

7–15 second clips
Raw sideline reactions
Quick try celebrations
One-liner interviews

The algorithm loves:

Reels
Vertical videos
Native platform editing
Captions burned into the screen

There has been a significant shift towards short form video, reels, etc. in the last year or so. They are where it is at. Well, at least for the time being.

Heck, even the number of followers you have doesn’t have the same impact as it did in the past. Almost 75% of the views for the Bottom of the Ruck social Instagram comes from non-followers. The bulk of those come through short videos.

4. Build Club Characters

Every club has them.

A 50-year-old front rower who refuses to retire, but never refuses a pint
An ambitious new player
The club mom who keeps everyone in line

Turn them into recurring characters.

Give them:

Weekly features
Running jokes
Spotlight posts

Algorithms reward familiarity. People like to follow real and genuine people, not logos.

5. Use “Us vs The World” Energy

Grassroots rugby already lives in this mindset. Our governing bodies aren’t throwing money at us. We’re used to making things work on a budget.

Be proud of the resiliency and ingenuity of your clubs. Lean right into it and show it off. Some of my favorite club accounts are doing just that all with a tongue in cheek style that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Examples:

“No cameras, No contracts, Just us.”
“Built by volunteers.”
“This is what real rugby looks like.”
“Still here. Still muddy.”

Tribal energy drives engagement. Club pride drives shares. Engagement is the trigger that drives people to your clubs.

6. Post When the Emotion Is Highest

Don’t wait.

Post:

Immediately after the final whistle
During the social
During training when everyone is laughing

Emotion is engagement fuel. Some of my most powerful and highly engaged social media posts have come when I let down my professional facade and spoke from the heart. Messy and real.

By Tuesday night, nobody cares about Saturday’s score. They’ve already moved on. A shaky iPhone clip posted today beats a perfectly edited highlight package posted next Thursday.

Speed wins. There is almost certainly a recency bias when it comes to the human consumption of social media.

7. Make It About the Community, Not Just the Team

The algorithm favors conversation and posts that draw in others. Collaborating with others gets your posts in front of even more people.

Tag:

Opposing clubs
Sponsors
Local businesses
Alumni
Volunteers
Rugby Media sites – like Bottom of the Ruck 😉

Ask questions that provoke conversation and nostalgia. Make use of a call to action to generate engagements.

Comments are currency in the social media world.

8. Consistency Beats Virality

While they are certainly great, you don’t need to have a viral post to break through the barrier.

You need:

3–4 consistent posts per week
Matchday rhythm
Training snippets
Sponsor and Volunteer shoutouts

Algorithms reward accounts that show up consistently. Posting once every month or so won’t get you any traction. This is where having a team approach to social media is a benefit. Instead of one person carrying the load, split it up among 2-3 people.

Content needs to keep rolling in to feed the beast. Aim for 3-4 posts a week and at least one of those being a short video clip. Be consistent and you’ll notice the efforts within a few month.

9. Don’t Chase Every Trend

Yes, use trending audio.

No, you don’t need to copy every dance.

Stay aligned with your club identity. This is massively important. Don’t allow trends to change who you are as a club.

Remember, people want to see the real you. Getting in on a fun trend that aligns with your club values is a great idea. Chasing every single trend may lead to an identity crisis.

If it doesn’t feel like your club, don’t post it.

Authenticity always outperforms imitation in the long run.

10. Remember Why You’re Posting

This isn’t about vanity metrics. Likes, shares, and views eventually need conversion.

It’s about:

Attracting new players
Keeping your members connected
Showing sponsors value
Building club pride
Showing your club off to the community

Look at every post as a recruitment tool. Not just for players, but for volunteers, supporters, and future committee members.

The Bigger Picture

The algorithm will change. It always does. The sooner that we catch onto those shifts, the quicker we can make adjustments.

Grassroots rugby survives because we adapt. We adjust and lean on each other.

We don’t need production crews.All it takes is some passion, personality, and the courage to let our clubs be seen for what they really are.

Messy. Loyal. Volunteer-built

Why “We’ve Always Done it this Way” is a Poor Strategy

BOTR 2026-01-09 The Boardroom Club Operations, club rugby, grassroots rugby, keep rugby grassy, rugby, The Boardroom, Volunteers

Why “We’ve Always Done it this way” is a Poor strategy

Bottom of the Ruck Club Ops 101 Series

Bottom of the Ruck Club Ops 101 Series

Editor’s Note — Behind the Scenes of Clubland
This article marks the second article in a new Bottom of the Ruck series taking an honest look at the off the field realities of running a grassroots rugby club. The series aims to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a rugby club. The unglamorous, essential, behind-the-scenes work that keeps clubland alive. From managing volunteers and governance to finances, facilities, and culture, this series is about the work that happens when nobody’s watching. All of the emails, the planning, the problem‑solving, and the people holding it all together. The goal isn’t to criticize or overwhelm, but to share lessons learned, spark better conversations, and help clubs build systems that are sustainable for the long haul.

Why “We’ve Always Done It This Way” Is a Poor Strategy

Grassroots rugby is built on tradition that rivals any sport in the world. Clubhouses carry stories on their walls. Old jerseys hang like sacred relics. Pictures of teams from through the years. Matchday routines get passed down like lineout calls and backline moves, codified through repetition and reinforced through trust. Post match traditions that stand the test of time.

Tradition is one of rugby’s greatest strengths.

But tradition has a darker side. It can be weaponized to keep us stuck. When tradition hardens into defiant resistance, it quietly becomes one of the biggest threats a club can face. Imagine the feel of the crushing weight of tradition.

“We’ve always done it this way” often sounds comforting. Familiar. Safe.

But in club operations, in your professional career, and even in your personal life, it can also mean something else.

We’ve stopped questioning whether this still works.

And that’s a dangerous place to be for you or for your club.

The Real Cost of “Always”

Most clubs don’t fail because of bad people or lack of passion. Far from it. They fail because the world shifts and the club doesn’t.

Sometimes the obstacles are unavoidable. A shrinking population in a catchment area. Economic downturn. Field access issues. Increased costs to travel. Natural disasters. Variables that are uncontrollable.

But often, the biggest challenges are internal: systems that outlived their usefulness years ago.

Common symptoms:

Volunteer burnout caused by outdated role expectations
Financial strain from inefficient fundraising models
Admin bottlenecks because “only one person knows how”
Stagnation of membership
Missed growth opportunities (youth, women’s, non-contact variations, community partnerships)

And here’s the thing, the phrase itself isn’t malicious. It’s usually spoken by someone who cares deeply. Someone who built something with sweat equity when there were no road maps, no templates, no Club Ops 101 articles floating around the internet (Note: there still aren’t many of them).

But caring alone doesn’t make a system infallible or sustainable.

I’ve seen clubs run the same fundraiser every year. I’ve been involved in some of them myself. The one that used to be a gold mine. The one that was once a fundraising cornerstone. The one everyone remembers fondly.

But now? It is barely worth the effort after expenses while swallowing up large amounts of volunteer time. The club keeps it alive on nostalgia alone (because we always have) and nobody wants to be the person to say, “This doesn’t work anymore.”

Recruiting is another excellent example. Every club deals with this dilemma. No one is immune. The way that we brought in players 10, 15, 20 years ago is not effective today. People don’t magically stumble into your club because you posted a flyer at the gym.

We’re competing for a dwindling amount of free time in people’s lives and the competition is tougher than ever. Marketing and recruiting have changed dramatically and clubs that don’t adapt get left behind, wondering where all the players went.

Nostalgia is a tool to use, but not a business model.

Tradition Should Guide, Not Handcuff

There’s a difference between honoring the past and being shackled to it.

Your club’s heritage matters. Your stories matter. Your jersey presentations. Your club songs. The way your elders speak about tours from the old days like they were classic tales of adventure. That’s rugby culture and it needs to be protected.

But most operational processes don’t need to be historic artifacts.

Tradition is culture. Operations are logistics. Don’t confuse the two.

When clubs refuse to adapt their systems, they unintentionally protect inefficiency instead of culture. They cling to broken processes as if updating them is some kind of betrayal.

It’s not.

The Volunteer Trap

One of the most dangerous outcomes of “we’ve always done it this way” is volunteer dependency.

Same people.
Same jobs.
Same stress.
Year after year.

It’s the same invisible workload nobody applauds until it’s gone. Eventually, those volunteers don’t step away. They burn out in a ball of flames and never come back. When they leave, the club realizes too late that the system only worked because of heroics, not structure.

A club shouldn’t need heroics to function.

Here’s the harsh reality: if your club can’t survive a volunteer stepping away, you don’t have a volunteer problem. You have a system problem.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Myth of the Super Volunteer, so I won’t go too far down that road here. But the warning still stands: be wary of relying on the same people year after year. Sustainability comes from spreading the workload, documenting knowledge, and building a succession plan for the next generation of leaders.

Evolution Is Not Disrespect

Change often gets framed as criticism of past leadership.

It doesn’t have to be.

Most clubs exist today because people figured things out without resources, templates, or road maps. They fought for field space. Painted lines themselves. Took care of fundraising. Held things together with duct tape and stubbornness. They built culture with nothing but grit, love of the game, and the kind of resilience you only find in Clubland.

But honoring that sacrifice doesn’t mean forcing future generations to struggle the same way.

Just because past leaders struggled doesn’t mean that there’s some grand lesson in making future leaders struggle for the sake of “learning on their own” or some odd right of passage.

We’re better than that.

If you truly want to leave your club in a better place than you found it, part of that is setting up future leaders for success, not gatekeeping knowledge and calling it tradition.

Progress is a thank you.

Applying Change

If tradition is the soul of the club, then operational systems are scaffolding. Your systems should be reviewed like any part of the game, because rugby and the world around us continues to evolve.

When it comes to reviewing processes, events, fundraisers, activities, etc. take a long look at the implementation cycle. You may already be familiar with it through your professional career. This is the process for systematically implementing practices, reviewing them, and making adjustments as needed.

It is a continuous loop that seeks to improve without judgement. That’s our goal right? To make our clubs better? If not, what are we doing?

When you’re evaluating any process, whether it’s brand new or has been around for decades, your first question should be simple: Does this help the club achieve its mission today?

If the answer is yes, keep on rolling, but continue looking for ways to improve it.

If the answer is maybe or no, then you’ve got work to do.

Use the Implementation Cycle

This isn’t complicated. It’s a loop. When you reach the last step, start over at the beginning.

Implement
Trial
Review
Adjust
Repeat

The point isn’t perfection. The point is not being stuck.

Review, refine, and embrace change when it is indicated. Organizations that embrace this cycle of implement, trial, review, and adjust create strategies that are resilient, responsive, and capable of evolving in changing environments, rather than sticking rigidly to outdated procedures or practices.

Better Questions Build Better Clubs

Here are some great questions to explore when looking at change:

Does this still serve the club today?
Is this sustainable if someone steps away?
Would a brand new volunteer understand this?
Does this help or hinder growth?
Are we protecting tradition or protecting inefficiency?

Clubs that ask better questions build better systems. Don’t make it personal. Foster an environment of curiosity without judgement.

Keep the Soul, Update the Playbook

Grassroots rugby doesn’t need to abandon tradition. It needs to protect it by evolving around it.

The clubs that will thrive in the next decade won’t be the ones clinging hardest to the past. They’ll be the ones who pay respect to where they came from while having the courage to keep moving forward.

Because the most dangerous sentence in club operations isn’t:

“We need to change everything.”

It’s:

“We’ve always done it this way.”

Top 5 Wishes for Grassroots Rugby in 2026

BOTR 2026-01-01 The Ruck club rugby, grassroots rugby, keep rugby grassy, rugby, The Ruck, Volunteers

Top 5 Wishes

for grassroots rugby in 2026

A Bottom of the Ruck reflection on what I hope to see in 2026 around grassroots rugby.

As we reflect on the past year and start looking ahead to 2026, there are plenty of reasons to be bullish about grassroots rugby. The passion, determination, and community spirit are on display each and every week throughout Clubland. These are the intangibles that remind me why the grassroots are the heart of our sport. It is the beating, pumping organ that breathes life into rugby around the world.

With that in mind, I spent some time over the past week reflecting on the past year. What follows are my wishes for grassroots rugby in 2026. This isn’t an attempt to predict trends or offer silver-bullet solutions. Why? Because unlike the many pundits offering “fixes” for the professional game, I don’t believe the grassroots are broken. Just underappreciated for the massive contribution that we make to rugby.

Do we need maintenance and growth in certain areas? Absolutely. But I also believe we’re on the verge of a quiet revolution within the community game. The winds of change are blowing, and it’s time for us to hoist our sails.

There are days when grassroots rugby feels unstoppable and days when it feels like it’s being held together by zip ties and goodwill. This list comes from standing in both places.

1. Improve Control of the Grassroots Rugby Narrative

For too long, rugby has been discussed almost exclusively through a top-down lens. The loudest voices in the room talk about “fixing rugby,” but the solutions nearly always focus on the elite end of the game, professional leagues, national teams, broadcast deals, and high-performance pathways. Meanwhile, the foundation that actually holds the sport up is treated as an afterthought.

That approach couldn’t be more disconnected from reality.

Grassroots rugby is rugby. Of the more than 10 million people participating globally, roughly 99.8% (maybe more) are involved at the grassroots level. These are club players, youth programs, volunteers, coaches, referees, and families. Yet the narrative is often framed as if the sport only matters from the top down, rather than from the ground up.

The disconnect between National unions and their membership is real. Worse in some countries than others, but a divide exists among them all. The club game should be working hand in hand with their unions to grow the game, not be treated as a source of income or even worse purely as consumers of professional products.

If grassroots rugby doesn’t tell its own story, someone else will do it for us and they’ll get it wrong. We have the numbers. We have the passion. And increasingly, we have the platforms. It’s time for grassroots rugby to stop being spoken about and start speaking for itself.

2. An Increase in Digital Storytelling to Tell Grassroots Stories

One of the most encouraging shifts in recent years has been the rise of digital storytelling in Clubland. For the first time, grassroots rugby doesn’t need permission, media credentials, or professional production budgets to tell its stories.

A phone. An internet connection. A willingness to press “record.”

That’s all it takes.

Clubs now have a golden opportunity to document who they are, not just the polished moments, but the real ones. The goofy moments. The empty pitch at sunrise. The volunteer unlocking the shed. New youth players learning the ropes. The chaos, the laughs, and yes, the occasional disaster.

The key isn’t perfection. It’s authenticity. Make it heartfelt, make it real.

Algorithms have shifted favor toward video and short-form content because that’s how people consume media now. Whether we like it or not, storytelling has evolved, and grassroots rugby has to evolve with it. As someone who loves writing (and still believes in its power), I’ll be the first to admit that the written word isn’t always the best way to reach people anymore. If you want to get your club in front of more eyes, short videos are the ticket.

The good news? Every club already has the tools to adapt.

Pick up your phone. Take a few clips. Share the story as it’s happening. Let people see themselves in your club. Don’t overthink it. The more genuine you are in your storytelling, the more accessible you make your club to outsiders.

3. Focus on Belonging Before Winning

Let’s be clear, winning is fun. Trophies matter. Getting promoted to a higher level is important. Beating a rival feels great. No one is asking clubs to stop competing or caring about results.

But winning should never come at the expense of belonging.

At the grassroots level, rugby is about far more than what happens during 80 minutes on a pitch. It’s about whether people feel welcome, valued, and connected. It’s about whether they come back next week, even after a tough loss.

I’ve seen clubs win consistently while quietly rotting from the inside. Cultures become toxic. Expectations are narrow. Burnout accelerates. And within a year or two, those “successful” teams fall apart under their own weight.

People don’t stay for trophies. They stay for the community.

The best clubs understand that success is a byproduct of culture, not the other way around. When players feel like they belong, when the club experience extends beyond the scoreboard then wins tend to follow naturally. And when they don’t, the club still thrives because the overall rugby experience is really what matters.

4. More Appreciation for Coaches, Refs, Volunteers, and Admins

Grassroots rugby does not run on talent alone. It runs on people willing to give their time to support the players on the pitch.

Behind every training session, match day, and event is an invisible army of coaches, referees, administrators, and volunteers keeping the wheels from falling off. Without them, the grassroots game doesn’t just struggle, it stops entirely.

Yet recognition for these roles is often minimal, inconsistent, or entirely absent. If you’re not careful, the people that do the most work may end up walking away leaving tasks undone and gaps in vital knowledge. Don’t let this happen to your club.

Referee abuse, in particular, remains one of the most damaging issues facing the sport. We talk about referee shortages, but rarely address the culture driving people away. A referee is not an adversary. They are a vital participant in the rugby experience, doing a difficult job under constant scrutiny. Give them space and provide them grace.

If we want rugby to grow, we must do better by all of the people who make it possible. Recognition doesn’t have to be elaborate. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying thank you, publicly or privately and do it often.

5. Further Reminders About Why We Fell in Love with Rugby

Rugby has a way of pulling us in and then life has a way of distracting us.

Over time, the responsibilities pile up. Expectations grow. The joy that once came effortlessly can get buried under family, work, schedules, logistics, and obligations. That’s why reflection matters.

Every now and then, we need to pause and remember why we said yes in the first place.

The feeling of fulfillment that the game gives us.
The people we meet.
The friendships formed.
The stories that still get told years later.

Those moments are the fuel that keeps the grassroots engine running.

As the new year begins, take time to reflect on your rugby journey. Revisit old photos. Share old stories. Laugh about the chaos. Reach out to old teammates. That’s not nostalgia, it’s maintenance. It keeps the fire burning.

Grassroots rugby doesn’t need to be fixed. It needs to be trusted, supported, and heard. The future of the game isn’t sitting in a boardroom or waiting on a broadcast deal. It’s already alive in clubhouses, on pitches, and in communities around the world. If we control our narrative, tell our stories, prioritize belonging, take care of our people, and remember why we fell in love with rugby in the first place, the game will be just fine.

Clubland has always carried rugby on its back. It’s time that we took ownership of it. We all have a duty to leave the game and our clubs in a better place than when we found them. Enjoy your rugby, but take that responsibility seriously.

I wish each and everyone in Clubland a magnificent New Year and may all of your rugby dreams and wishes be brought to life.

Cheers to an amazing 2026 and Keep Rugby Grassy.

The Myth of the Super Volunteer

BOTR 2025-12-23 The Boardroom club rugby, grassroots rugby, keep rugby grassy, rugby, The Boardroom, Volunteers

the Myth of the super volunteer

Why burnout can kill clubs

Editor’s Note — Behind the Scenes of Clubland
This article marks the beginning of a new Bottom of the Ruck series taking an honest look at the off field realities of running a grassroots rugby club. The series aims to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a rugby club, the unglamorous, essential, behind-the-scenes work that keeps clubland alive. From managing volunteers and governance to finances, facilities, and culture, this series is about the work that happens when nobody’s watching, the emails, the planning, the problem‑solving, and the people holding it all together. The goal isn’t to criticize or overwhelm, but to share lessons learned, spark better conversations, and help clubs build systems that are sustainable for the long haul.

Behind every thriving rugby club is a small group of people quietly holding the whole thing together. And that… might be the problem.

Introduction: The Hero We All Rely On

Enclosed are my opinions on what can be a sensitive subject in the grassroots. This collection is based on my own personal experiences along with lessons learned from other clubs around the globe. These are provided as insight, not gospel. Take what you will from them, use or alter what works for your club, and keep the conversation going.

Every grassroots rugby club has at least one and if they’re lucky maybe 3-4 of them. Most people in almost every club know exactly who it is at the mere mention.

The Super Volunteer.

They’re the first to arrive and the last one to leave. They’ve got the keys, the passwords, the contacts, the spreadsheets, the first aid kit, and somehow the answer to every last-minute crisis. When something goes wrong, everyone turns to them. When something goes right, they quietly fade into the background.

They’re celebrated. Relied upon. Sometimes even joked about.

And far too often, they’re burned out. Even if they don’t show it on the outside. They very well may not even realize it… yet.

If you know this person, be wary. If you have more than one, consider your club lucky, but know that it can change quickly if you’re not careful. If your club only has one then you should already be on high alert. Change is needed before you lose one of your greatest assets.

Because when volunteer burnout sets in, it doesn’t just hurt people. It can quietly kill clubs.

How the Super Volunteer Is Born

The myth usually starts with good intentions.

Someone steps up “just for this season.” Or “just until we find someone else.” Or “just because nobody else will.” They care deeply about the club, the players, the kids, the culture, so they do what needs to be done whenever called upon.

Then they do a bit more.

Then a bit more after that.

Before long, one person is:

Running match days
Managing registrations
Fundraising
Booking refs
Coordinating socials
Ordering kit
Posting on social media
Chasing invoices
Unlocking the gates

And the club starts to believe this is normal. Members that have been around a while enjoy and respect that someone else is stepping up and doing a great job. Former volunteers love seeing someone else involved, so they can get a rest. For newer members, this person is all that they know, so the bar and expectations are already set.

It seemingly happens overnight, but in reality it is a slow process. Before you realize what is happening, there are a few key people doing nearly everything. An even scarier position is when there is one person carrying the load.

The danger isn’t that people care too much.

The danger is that clubs quietly build systems that depend on heroic effort rather than a sustainable structure that spreads out tasks and responsibility.

Burnout Doesn’t Look Like Quitting (At First)

Burnout rarely arrives with a dramatic exit.

It creeps in.

Missed emails
Shorter tempers
Tasks slipping through the cracks
A once passionate volunteer going quiet
“I’ll get to it later” becoming the norm

From the outside, it can look like someone just needs a break.

From the inside, it feels like carrying the entire club on your back. The feeling that it could all crumble at any time. Taking a line from JRR Tolkien, “like butter scraped over too much bread.”

I have felt it many times over the years, sometimes worse than others. It always starts as a noble endeavor. Then it slowly becomes an unbearable weight. The pandemic was a difficult time for most of the grassroots. The thing that most of us do in order to deal with the stresses of life was shut down.

To make matters worse, while rugby wasn’t being played, clubs continued to operate and have expenses. This combination led to many people falling into the Super Volunteer role. It was a dangerous time and unfortunately we saw too many clubs fold during the pandemic.

When that person finally does step away, even temporarily, the fallout can be immediate:

Maintenance goes unfinished
Planning falls apart
Admin tasks grinds to a halt
Knowledge disappears overnight
Resentment builds

That’s when clubs realize they weren’t short on volunteers.

They were over-reliant on one.

Why This Is a Club-Level Problem (Not a People Problem)

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Burnout isn’t a failure of commitment.

It’s a failure of structure.

Grassroots rugby is built on volunteerism, but too often, clubs confuse gratitude with governance. Thanking someone for doing everything doesn’t fix the fact that they shouldn’t be doing everything.

When roles aren’t clearly defined, documented, or shared, clubs create invisible pressure:

“If I don’t do this, nobody will.”
“It’s easier if I just handle it myself.”
“I don’t want to burden anyone else.”

I have been there and then some. Each and every one of these phrases became my mantra for a time. Even though I was doing what I thought was the best for our club, I’m here to say that it was completely wrong. I became trapped by my own level of commitment which was fine for me, but it created an unrealistic standard for others. My level of activity was counterproductive as it scared away other volunteers who couldn’t keep pace.

Then it became painstakingly obvious to me.

Strong clubs don’t run on heroics.

They run on systems.

Practical Ways Clubs Can Reduce Burnout

This doesn’t require a complete overhaul overnight. Small changes matter. Permanent, lasting cultural changes require time to build and most of all it requires consistency.

1. Break Roles Into Smaller Jobs

Split up responsibilities into micro-roles:

Match-day setup
Match/Ref liaison
Kit inventory and cleaning
Social media posting
Cooking/Serving
Field Maintenance, etc., etc.

Smaller tasks are easier to say yes to. Something that takes six hours to complete could be finished in 1-2 hours with more people involved. All of your volunteers have lives beyond rugby. They have families, jobs, and it is important that tasks don’t overwhelm your helpers. Do you think it is easier to say “yes” to a one hour task or something that takes six hours?

2. Document Everything

If one person disappearing would cause chaos, you’re at risk.

Create shared folders
Standard operating procedures – “How we do things here” docs
Position descriptions
Simple checklists
Passwords to accounts – website, social media, etc.

3. Normalize Saying No

Clubs should expect volunteers to set boundaries. Then respect them. This is a cue to get more people involved, which can be difficult, but worth it in the long run. Creating a wider base of volunteers means that you don’t need to rely on the same 3-4 people over and over again. Which, in turn, allows them to say “no” at times without the guilt of letting down the club.

4. Rotate Responsibility

Not every role needs to be permanent. Seasonal or rotating roles reduce fatigue and build depth. Many hands make light work. Spreading the workload around also helps build up skills within the club. Cross training is important in succession planning. It also helps newer volunteers grow and learn with a mentor right beside them which is way better than throwing them into the deep end.

Building a Culture That Protects Its People

Healthy clubs don’t just celebrate volunteers, they protect them. They are a valuable resource, just as important than the players that take the pitch.

That means:

Asking “Who else can help?” before asking one person to do more
Checking in before things break
Celebrating your volunteers
Valuing sustainability as much as success
Developing pathways into club leadership – succession planning

Rugby prides itself on looking after its own. That shouldn’t stop when the boots come off. A playing career is relatively short for most, but being a volunteer could last for decades if cultivated properly. The transition from player to volunteer isn’t discussed enough.

When your playing days are over, there are so many great ways to stay involved:

Coach
Referee
Committee member – membership, fundraising, etc.
Lending a hand with various tasks around your club

People should leave their volunteer experience feeling fulfilled and proud, not worn out and unappreciated. You want them to keep coming back. Right? If so, it is important that your club build a culture where volunteers are developed, appreciated, and not overworked.

Closing: From Survival to Sustainability

The Super Volunteer myth tells us that clubs survive because of extraordinary people.

The truth is stronger than that.

Clubs thrive when ordinary people are supported and set up to succeed. This gives them the space to do extraordinary things without requiring extraordinary effort.

If we want grassroots rugby to last, not just this season, but for generations, we need to stop burning out the people who make it possible.

This series will continue to explore the realities behind the scenes: governance, admin, money, facilities, communication, and culture. Not to scare people away, but to start the conversations that help clubs build something sustainable.

Because our goal at Bottom of the Ruck isn’t to just do more.

It’s to do this together.