Welcome to Bottom of the Ruck

So, where to begin? What in the world makes someone want to create a website and blog aimed at promoting a collective group that rarely gets recognized? A group that has suffered over the past couple of decades as professional sport has repeatedly tried to turn them from players into consumers meant to empty their pocketbooks.

The answer is simple: grassroots rugby is the heart of the sport. Full stop. No question about it. Without the grassroots, there is no rugby. No one to introduce new people to the sport, no one to develop young players, no one to provide an outlet for adults to help balance their professional careers, and definitely no one to fill up the stands for professional matches. 

I’ve been involved in rugby for the better part of three decades and have toiled away in the grassroots for nearly all of it. It’s hard for me not to be romantic about clubland. While membership has taken a downturn in many areas of the world, the work of rugby clubs is just as important—possibly more important—than ever. Rugby clubs are, first and foremost, platforms for bringing people together, on and off the pitch. They are communities of people who support each other through the ups and downs of life. They’re places where strangers become teammates, teammates become friends, and friends often become family.

Beyond that, clubs serve as networking hubs, fitness outlets, leadership incubators, and living reminders of why sport matters. Rugby clubs still matter. Rugby clubs are still relevant. And rugby clubs are worth fighting for.

My Path to Here

My journey started back in 2007/2008, when I began blogging about rugby. That little corner of the internet grew into a modest following, and eventually I helped create a more formal rugby news website. My avatar still lives on that site, even though I haven’t written for it in nearly a decade. I’m proud that they still give me a nod, because they’re doing great work.

Like many, I drifted for a bit when life and career shifts demanded attention. But rugby has a funny way of pulling you back. During the pandemic, when rugby went silent worldwide, I started a Twitter account called Rugby Clubland. It was a way to keep the conversation alive, to engage with rugby-minded folks when none of us could step onto a pitch.

And then, as the game slowly returned, so did my appreciation for those Saturdays at the club. Truth be told, I had taken them for granted. It wasn’t until they were gone for a year and a half that I realized how much I missed the buzz—the smell of the grass, the clatter of boots in the changing room, the laughter after matches, and the stories shared around a pint.

That’s when the seed of Bottom of the Ruck really started to grow.

From Rugby Clubland to Bottom of the Ruck

By 2024, I knew the name Rugby Clubland didn’t capture the spirit of what I wanted to build. It felt too generic, too casual. Around the same time, I kept stumbling across stories of club closures, dwindling memberships, and the ongoing struggles of grassroots rugby. It hit me hard.

As an old back row forward, the feeling reminded me of being trapped at the bottom of an old-school ruck—mud in your face, studs raking your back, no whistle in sight. And yet, despite all of that, you crawl out of the pile, dust yourself off, and prepare to dive into the next one. That, to me, is the story of grassroots rugby. Obstacles keep coming. Support from unions is thin. But we keep going. We always keep going.

That’s when Rugby Clubland became Bottom of the Ruck.

I rebranded the social media accounts, doubled down on promoting grassroots rugby at all levels, and committed to sharing the good—the uplifting, positive stories that often get drowned out by negativity. That inspiration carried me back to writing, and eventually to launching this site.

The Mission

I believe in the power of grassroots rugby. I believe in clubland. I believe in the players and volunteers who hold it all together. And I believe that if rugby is going to thrive long term, grassroots rugby and professional rugby need to exist in partnership—not in opposition.

Bottom of the Ruck is here to:

• Tell stories. The stories of clubs, players, volunteers, and communities. The good, the gritty, and the inspiring.
  
  
• Share experiences. I’ve made plenty of mistakes and had a few successes along the way. If sharing those helps another club leader, then the bruises were worth it.
  
  
• Promote the positive. The grassroots doesn’t need more doom-and-gloom headlines. It needs recognition, encouragement, and a spotlight on the things that make it vibrant.
  
  
• Build community. Rugby clubs are about people, and Bottom of the Ruck is meant to be a space for connection—across towns, countries, and continents.
  
  

Why Grassroots Still Matters

Clubland is not just a feeder system for the elite. It’s a way of life. It’s where kids get their first taste of sport, where adults rediscover themselves, and where lifelong bonds are built. It’s Saturday mornings spent chalking lines on a pitch, afternoons spent battling alongside teammates, and evenings spent sharing food, drink, and laughter.

Professional rugby has its place, but if the grassroots withers, the whole sport collapses. There’s no pathway, no pipeline, no heartbeat without it. That’s why this work matters.

Welcome to the Ruck

So here we are. Bottom of the Ruck isn’t about me. It’s about us. It’s about every club that’s hanging on, rebuilding, or thriving. It’s about celebrating the volunteers who give hours of their lives so others can play. It’s about sharing stories that make us proud to be part of rugby, whether we’ve played one season or fifty.

This is your space as much as mine. I hope you’ll read, share, and even contribute. Tell me about your club. Tell me about the wins and the losses, the traditions and the rebuilds, the challenges and the triumphs.

Grassroots rugby is special. It is vibrant. It is a way of life.

Welcome to Bottom of the Ruck. Let’s tell your story.