Every fall, a lot of Seattle Vikings trade their rugby boots for football cleats. Every spring, many of them come back to rugby. Our coaches have seen what happens to those players over a few seasons: they tackle better, they're fitter, they read the field faster, and they show up to football camp ready to compete.
You don't have to take the coaches' word for it. This fall we asked four Vikings who play both sports what rugby does for their football. Clive is a junior who plays outside center. Tanner is a 7th grader who plays linebacker and fullback. Owen is a 7th grader who plays running back and defensive line in the fall and forward in the spring. Cy is a Viking who has played both for years. Here's what they told us, and why we think every youth football player in Seattle should give rugby a try.
1. You learn to tackle the right way
Rugby players tackle without helmets or pads, so the technique has to be right every time: head to the side, shoulder in, arms wrapped, legs driving. That habit carries straight onto the football field, where good form tackling makes a defender both safer and more effective.
Tanner, a linebacker, puts tackling at the top of his list. He says rugby made him a more confident tackler and helped him earn a starting spot on his football team.
2. Everyone carries the ball
In rugby there are no specialists who never touch the ball. Props, locks and wingers all pass, catch and run with it. That constant ball handling builds hand-eye coordination, ball security and awareness of the space around you, whatever position you play in football.
Owen plays running back, and he says rugby taught him to run harder with the ball in his hands.
3. Conditioning that lasts four quarters
Rugby barely stops. There are no huddles and few substitutions, so players are always moving, recovering and getting back into position. A spring of rugby keeps football players in game shape through the off-season and pays off in the fourth quarter when the other team is gassed.
4. You play both ways, every play
In rugby, everyone attacks and everyone defends, often switching in the same phase of play. Players learn to make their own decisions at speed, because there's no play call coming in from the sideline. That makes for smarter, more versatile football players who understand the whole field, not just their assignment.
Clive, who plays outside center, sums it up simply: rugby made him a better football player.
5. A team that feels like family
Rugby depends on communication and trust. You talk constantly, you support the ball carrier, and you count on the player next to you. Cy says the contact and the team feel are what carry straight over into football season, and he'd tell any football player to try it.
That culture is what we're proudest of at the Vikings: kids from different schools and neighborhoods who become teammates and friends.
6. It fits the football calendar
Rugby is a spring sport, so it doesn't compete with football. It's a natural fit for football players who want something more active than spring baseball or a season in the weight room. Owen, who used to play baseball, says rugby was a better fit for him.
7. Playing more than one sport is good for young athletes
Playing multiple sports helps kids avoid burnout and the overuse injuries that come with specializing too early. Rugby also opens doors: more colleges now field rugby teams, and several former Vikings have gone on to keep playing after high school.
8. It's fun
This may be the most important reason. Rugby is fast, physical and different, and that keeps young athletes excited about sport. Ask any of our players what the best part of being a Viking is, and you'll hear about their teammates and how much fun they have on the field.
Hear it from the players
Watch Clive, Tanner, Cy and Owen tell their own stories in our Fall Football, Spring Rugby video series on the Seattle Vikings Instagram and Facebook pages.
Come try it, for free
The Seattle Vikings field teams from U8 through high school, for boys and girls, and new players are always welcome, including those who have never touched a rugby ball. We have two free camps left this fall:
Sunday, Nov 22, 1–3 PM · Magnuson Park, Mickey Merriam Field 05
Sunday, Dec 6, 1:30–3:30 PM · Magnuson Park, Mickey Merriam Field 05
Camps are free, open to all ages, and need no registration or commitment. Sunday camps never clash with game day. Bring cleats if you have them, water, and a mouthguard if you have one.
Learn more at seattlevikings.com/rugby-camps.
Fall football. Spring rugby. See you on the pitch.