World Rugby Launches T1 Rugby to Boost Participation and Accessibility
World Rugby has taken a giant stride toward making the sport more inclusive and accessible by introducing T1 Rugby, a groundbreaking non-contact version of the game that retains the essence of rugby while simplifying the rules. This innovative initiative aims to supercharge participation and engagement, particularly among young people, aligning with World Rugby’s mission of making rugby a sport for all.
T1 Rugby is guided by the mantra of ‘a game for everyone, played by anyone.’ It emphasizes the core values of fun, fitness, and inclusion, providing a welcoming, safe, and time-efficient environment for individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. This underscores World Rugby’s commitment to creating a global sport that truly accommodates everyone.
What sets T1 Rugby apart is that it is the world’s first non-contact form of the game that manages to capture the authentic characteristics of rugby. It incorporates elements like lineouts, scrums, kicking, and the breakdown while simplifying gameplay to ensure accessibility. Players are presented with the same decision-making challenges as traditional rugby, with trials demonstrating that newcomers can understand the rules in less than 20 minutes. Participant feedback has praised the game’s simplicity and its ability to maintain the rugby spirit.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of T1 Rugby is that every player who has experienced it has expressed a desire to play it regularly if given the opportunity. The global rollout of T1 Rugby is set to be led by national member unions, and it made its grand debut to the world’s media during the Rugby World Cup 2023 media match in Paris on October 17th.
The development of T1 Rugby received invaluable input from member unions around the world, spanning from rugby powerhouses like England, New Zealand, and South Africa to emerging rugby markets like Laos and Vietnam. This innovative format aims to serve as a vehicle for unions across the globe to expand their reach and engage a broader audience, all while adhering to World Rugby’s six-point player welfare plan, which seeks to adapt the game for those who prefer non-contact versions.
The introduction of T1 Rugby comes at a time when global participation rates in rugby have surged by 11% in the past year, primarily driven by the enthusiasm of young players in emerging rugby markets. This new non-contact sport is expected to become the cornerstone of World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby program and is set to thrive in clubs and schools worldwide.
Alan Gilpin, Chief Executive of World Rugby, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We are thrilled to introduce T1 Rugby to the global rugby community as the first non-contact option that truly captures the spirit of the sport. With rugby’s popularity and participation on the rise, especially among young people, including girls, it is vital that we harness this momentum by making our beloved game accessible to everyone, to supercharge its growth.”
He continued, “Rugby is truly a sport for all, and T1 Rugby will reach a different, younger audience, increasing the sport’s reach and impact. As we look ahead to the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in the USA, the potential is enormous. Together, we can take rugby beyond our traditional nations, communities, and demographics.”
T1 Rugby is a bold step towards making rugby a sport that truly embraces everyone, making it not only more accessible but also more enjoyable for all. This development is set to reshape the landscape of the sport, encouraging a broader audience to embrace the values and excitement of rugby
