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.