MINIS RUGBY at Croydon RFC

Croydon RFC Minis Programme focuses on developing activities for children aged 4 to 11 years.

We focus on developing children’s motor skills, competitiveness, and decision-making skills while introducing them to our amazing sport of rugby, and its fundamental values: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, and Sportsmanship.

Boys and girls play together in mixed-sex teams until the under-11 age group.

TINIES - U6 (under 6 years old at the start of the season)

Children develop key motor skills such as picking up and grounding the ball in a controlled manner, running with the ball in their hands, passing and catching the ball. These skills are practised during short and fun competitive games to ensure that our Tinies enjoy their training sessions.

Our games are designed with the overall aim of introducing our Tinies to the first form of rugby suitable for their age group, Tag Rugby (no contact), so that children can discover the exhilarating feeling of running with a rugby ball and scoring a try.

CUBS  U8/U7 (aged 6 and 7 years old at the start of the season)

Children continue to develop their rugby-specific skills, including passing, catching, and ball handling. They are also introduced to further tactical concepts such as communication, support play, opening and running into space, evasion and defence.

These skills are required to practice competitive Tag Rugby (no contact), with the aim of participating in festivals to compete against other clubs.

Our Cubs learn the importance of working and playing as a team, being part of a sports community, and sharing great times while developing friendships.

CATS U11/U10/U9 (aged 8, 9 and 10 years old at the start of the season)

Children are introduced to contact rugby in a safe and controlled environment.

The primordial skill of tackling will be taught in a gradual and always secure manner, enabling children to fully understand and master the correct and safe way to tackle, thereby building their confidence in their strength. The learning of this key rugby skill will be conducted alongside the continuous development of their sport and social skills described above.

All these skills will then be put into practice at rugby festivals, with our Cats proudly wearing their Croydon RFC colours and sharing lifetime memories with their teammates.

Croydon RFC Minis are always welcoming new children to join our great rugby family. 

When is it?

We run the sessions every Sunday between 10:00am and 11:00am during school terms.

Where are we and how can you find out more?

Use our Contact page to find out where we are and get in touch if you have any questions.

What does it cost?

The first session is free and then £3.00 per child from then on. This includes refreshments for your child.

Our Partnerships with Local Schools

As part of our goal to support local communities through rugby, we have established partnerships with local primary schools, including Forest Academy and Forestdale Academy. We deliver free rugby sessions as part of their PE curriculum. 

We are supported by the Matt Ratana Foundation (Improving life's experiences through rugby), carrying on Matt's legacy of helping youth to find their path through rugby. Our philosophy, combined with the fact that our Minis and Junior sections were still in their early stages, and the proximity of challenging areas such as New Addington, made us a perfect match for their programmes.