Irish Rugby Hosts ‘What is Rugby’ Webinar to Engage New Audiences
The Irish Rugby Football Union hosted its first-ever ‘What is Rugby’ webinar — a dynamic and inclusive session aimed at demystifying the sport for newcomers and curious supporters alike. The event was led by Colm Finnegan, National Rugby Development Manager, and featured contributions from Amanda Greensmith, Head of Women’s Rugby Development, and Stephen Gore, Spirit of Rugby Projects Manager and National Safeguarding Officer.
The evening focused on providing a comprehensive introduction to rugby, highlighting everything from the fundamental principles of the game to its diverse formats and inclusive culture.
Topics included:
- Understanding Rugby: Colm Finnegan broke down the game as an ‘invasion sport’, emphasising its core principles of territory, evasion, and teamwork. He also explained the structure of open play and set pieces such as scrums, lineouts, and rucks.
- Formats and Accessibility: Both contact and non-contact formats were introduced – 15s, 7s, T1 rugby, tag, and touch rugby — illustrating that there’s a version of rugby suitable for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or ability.
- Youth and School Programmes: The ALDI Play Rugby and Canterbury Give It A Try (GIAT) programmes were spotlighted as major grassroots initiatives introducing tens of thousands of young players to the sport each year.
- Values of Rugby: Stephen Gore discussed the five core values of Irish Rugby: Respect, Integrity, Inclusivity, Fun, and Excellence, and how these principles guide the game on and off the field.
- Girls in Rugby: Amanda Greensmith shared insights into the success of the Canterbury Give it A Try programme, in encouraging girls aged 8–14 to explore rugby in supportive environments, and touched on coaching resources available for new volunteers and parents.
- Coach and Volunteer Development: The webinar provided an overview of coaching and referee education pathways, as well as safeguarding requirements for youth involvement.
- Safety First: A key topic throughout the evening was player safety, including recent tackle height behaviour adaptations and age-grade regulations designed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
Participants questions were addressed live, covering topics such as mixed-ability inclusion, coaching teenage girls, and long-term plans for expanding girls’ rugby at every age level.
The IRFU shared the full recording and accompanying resources with attendees, further supporting their journey into the world of rugby. The IRFU will be hosting another similar seminar in the summer time, ahead of the new 2025/26 season kicking off.