1. Improve physical health
Forgive us for starting with the obvious, but rugby brings physical health benefits to anyone who takes to the field – and children are no different.

2. Develop social skills
Developing social skills is another huge part of parenting, and one that again needs to be developed at a young age if the benefits are to be reaped in the future.

3. They need to lose
Because it is character building, because it’s good practice for life, because he will get over it and he needs to know that.

4. They need to win
Because it’s bonding, because it feels good, because he needs to know that there are rewards for effort.

5. Equal Opportunities
Unlike just about any other team sport, rugby is about all players having the same opportunity to run with the ball, pass the ball, and play defense.

6. Build self-esteem and confidence
Regularly engaging in sports can help subtly boost your child’s self-esteem. This happens as the child sets small goals on the field, such as perfecting a skill, and achieves them.

7. Learn valuable life-lessons
All sports have lessons that can be taken from the field and applied to real life. But rugby has lessons that can’t be found in any other game – we’re not talking about the standard generics of “teamwork” and “playing hard.” We’re talking about the preparation for life that can only be found on the rugby pitch.

8. Positive Role Models
It’s quite likely your kids will discover positive role models in coaches and older players

9. Make lifelong friends

10. Breed academic success
It’s hard to believe that what your child does on the pitch can impact what they do in the classroom, but it does.

11. Safety. No, really—safety!
Rugby players don’t wear pads. And it’s a collision sport. But safety is a huge part of the sport and culture of rugby.

12. They’ll experience the incredible feeling of being part of a team

13. They will respect others, regardless of their decisions
Before respect for authority completely vanishes in the world, the last place it will be found is on the rugby field. When the referee makes a decision we disagree with, kids still call him “sir” and don’t talk back.

14. It helps to reduce stress
Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers—and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.

15. It could even go somewhere…