Rugby Classes for little boy - advice needed

[liz.e.jones]

Hi,

Looking for some advice / recommendations for Rugby Classes for my little boy. He is 2 and a half, really active and full of beans (like all 2 yr olds!)

So we thought he'd enjoy rugby. Having done a quick search online and there are so many options, so would love any recommendations that people may have.

Thanks in advance for any help / advice.

Liz

[pebbles]

Ruggerbeez at Belair Park. Both mine have been doing it since then and it's just amazing. Better than some of the others we tried :)

[liz.e.jones]

Thanks Pebbles,

Have looked at so many but we were non the wiser as they all look the same after a while (glossy websites full of smiling children!)

I'll have a look at Ruggerbeez.

Liz

[j-mo]

We've been taking our 2yo to rugby munchkins in beckenham (think they do it in dulwich too)

It's excellent

[Bluedark]

Pebbles and J-mo, do little girls attend to these too? We are interested for our little girl who is 2y2mo. One of my work colleagues trains / coaches London welsh junior team and he has invited our daughter to join but they are all the way in Richmond so couldn't commit yet.

Thanks

[mima08]

I second Ruggerbeez- a real fun set up, we've been going for a few weeks and I love how coaches manage teaching skills (like kicking) in such a fun & games way. I tried another one in Nunhead, which was fine but less energy....Yes, they do teach girls, too.

[pebbles]

Yup my daughter who's coming up for 4 plays every Saturday. It's obviously boy heavy but there are girls. She absolutely LOVES it x

[liz.e.jones]

Thank you for all the advice. Have booked a taster session with Ruggerbeez so hopefully all will go well. He seems very excited at the prospect of playing Rugby!

What sort of gear/kit should he wear? And are trainers ok at this stage?

Thanks again.

Liz

[mima08]

My son just wears comfy clothes and shoes - the kind you'd let him wear for a good run around in the park. Not open toed sandals, though as they try & kick the ball.

Am sure you both will love it!

mx

[david_carnell]

Hi

Is Ruggerbeez still running? Their website has been useless since xmas.

Anyone have experience of comparing them to the other mini-rugby offerings: rugger-tots, rugby munchkins etc?

DC Jnr turns 2 at the end of this month and keen to get him outdoors and getting some exercise on a weekend morning.

[melbourne groover]

They are try time rugby now. Still the same people running it. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. They are totally engaged with the kids, make it all fun (even in the grim downpours and thunder on Sat my son was smiling). We have been going since my son was 3 (I think maybe just before but there are real littleys there) now five. Recently moved up to the older group which has been great also. I love how into it the kids are.

http://www.trytimekidsrugby.com

[mima08]

Yes its's "Try time" now, but all the same coaches -and they are really great. Saturday's thundery downpour was horrendous and still my 3yrs old came away telling me how much fun he had and that he was looking forward to next Saturday.

They've got a facebook page as well where they post news & pics: https://www.facebook.com/kidsrugbydulwich

[Strawbs]

we tried mini strawbs with try time on the weekend (he is 27m) and I felt it was too old for him so am going to try him again in the summer. Mini strawbs hasnt quite grasped listening and following directions as yet that well so i ended up running all over the park with him at 34w pregnant in the rain and mud (hadnt counted on that!) so we ended up going an playing in the puddles instead which he was just as happy with. I am going to put him in to little kickers indoor football until I feel he is a bit more ready for the rugby which I am guessing will be more like 3.

[EmilyPie]

We tried son 1 with little kickers at a similar age to mini strawbs. He spent all the classes as far away from the other children as possible demanding snacks and lying with his face on the floor. On the plus side we weren't running around in the mud but still not one of my fondest parenting moments. Glad it isn't just us who struggle with instructions.

[mima08]

Hi - we started the rugby when LO was 2.5 and it took a good few sessions before he got into it, listening and following instructions etc. This was in the summer - so much easier, I definitely think: this cold, muddy, wet weather makes it much harder (on all of us!)... so maybe wait 'till the weather picks up? [whenever that is...]

[david_carnell]

Thanks all. Good points about the weather. DCJnr doesn't seem a big fan of wet and cold so far so might be wise to wait till Easter time. Indoor stuff till then perhaps.