Never played rugby before? This guide covers everything you need to know: the basic rules of rugby union, the positions, what to bring, and what to expect at your first session. If you are in Athens, the Athenian Centaurs RFC trains twice a week and welcomes all experience levels from day one.
The Starting Point
You have been thinking about it for a while. Maybe you watched a match and thought it looked exciting. Maybe a friend mentioned it. Maybe you want to try something new that is genuinely physical, genuinely social, and genuinely fun.
But then the questions start. "Do I need to be fit?" "Isn't it dangerous?" "Will I look like an idiot?" "Is rugby for beginners in Athens even a thing?"
The answer to that last one is yes. The answer to the others is: not really, not if it's done right, and honestly, a little bit, but everyone does.
Rugby union is one of the most beginner-friendly team sports around once you understand the basics. According to England Rugby, rugby is for everyone, all ages, sizes, and abilities. You can play contact or non-contact versions and get involved at whatever level suits you.
This guide is your starting point. Read it, bring your water bottle, and come find us at training.
What Is Rugby Union and How Does It Work?
Rugby union is a team sport played between two sides of 15 players. Each team tries to score more points than the other across two 40-minute halves, giving you 80 minutes of total play. The basic aim is to ground the ball over your opponent's try line.
The single most important rule to know first: the ball can only be passed sideways or backwards. Never forward. If you throw it forward, the referee stops play and awards a scrum to the other team. You can carry the ball forward, and you can kick it forward for teammates to chase, but that pass must always go back.
Here are the four ways to score:
A try (5 points) is scored by grounding the ball in the opponent's in-goal area. After a try, your team gets a conversion kick (2 points). A penalty kick (3 points) is awarded when the other team breaks a rule. A drop goal (3 points) happens when you drop the ball and kick it through the posts during open play.
The game restarts after stoppages through two main set pieces. A scrum is when eight forwards from each team push against each other to contest for the ball. A lineout happens when the ball goes out of bounds, with players lifting teammates to catch a throw-in. Both of these look confusing at first. After a few sessions, they will make complete sense.
What Are the Positions in Rugby? Which One Is Right for Me?
Rugby union has 15 positions split into two groups: forwards (numbers 1 to 8) and backs (numbers 9 to 15). The position that suits you depends on your body and your personality, not on how experienced you are.
Forwards are the powerhouses of the team. They do the heavy lifting in scrums, lineouts, rucks, and mauls. If you are bigger and stronger, or if you enjoy physical, close-contact play, a forward position is likely your home. Props (1 and 3) anchor the scrum. Locks (4 and 5) provide height and power. Flankers (6 and 7) and number 8 are the engine room, chasing the ball everywhere.
Backs are generally quicker and more focused on scoring and creating space. The scrum-half (9) links the forwards and backs and makes quick decisions. The fly-half (10) directs the team's attack. Centres (12 and 13) break the defensive line. Wings (11 and 14) finish off moves with tries. The full-back (15) fields kicks and acts as the last line of defence.
Here is the key thing to understand: every position requires a different set of physical and technical attributes, and it is that diversity which makes the game so accessible to everyone. You do not need to be a particular shape or size to belong on a rugby pitch. That is not a marketing line. It is how the sport actually works.
At the Centaurs, you will get to try different positions early on. You do not need to lock anything in during your first few sessions.
What Should I Bring to My First Rugby Training Session in Athens?
For your very first session, you need very little. Comfortable sportswear and trainers are enough to get started. Here is a simple checklist to build from there:
Essential from day one:
- Comfortable training clothes (shorts and a t-shirt or long sleeves, depending on the weather)
- Trainers or, if you have them, studded boots (rugby or football boots both work to start)
- A water bottle (pitches rarely have taps nearby)
Add these once you decide to keep coming:
- A mouthguard. World Rugby recommends wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth and jaw. A basic boil-and-bite version costs under €15 and does the job perfectly for beginners
- Rugby boots with proper studs for grip on grass
- Rugby shorts, which are shorter and tougher than standard gym shorts
You do not need a mouthguard for your very first Centaurs session. Come as you are. We will tell you what to get once you decide you want to keep training.
One more practical note for Athens specifically: bring sunscreen for daytime or outdoor sessions, and a light layer for evening sessions at P.A.O. Rouf soccer field, where it can get cool after dark.
What Actually Happens at a Beginner Rugby Training Session?
A beginner rugby session at the Centaurs follows a clear structure. You will not be thrown into contact on your first night.
Sessions typically start with a warm-up: light jogging, dynamic stretches, and some movement drills to get the body ready. Skipping the warm-up is one of the most common beginner mistakes, so we take it seriously from the start.
After the warm-up, beginner sessions focus on the three fundamental skills: passing, catching, and positioning. Passing in rugby feels counterintuitive at first because you always throw backward. Give yourself two or three sessions, and it will click. Catching is self-explanatory. Positioning means learning to stay onside and support your teammates.
Later in the session, you will move into small-sided games. These are shorter versions of rugby played with fewer players in smaller spaces. They let you experience the flow of the game without the full complexity of 15-a-side rugby.
Contact elements are introduced gradually. Coaches at the Centaurs are trained to teach safe tackling technique from scratch. You will never be put in a situation that feels unsafe before you are ready for it.
Sessions run for around 90 minutes. After training, the team usually gathers informally. That social side is genuinely one of the best parts of rugby culture, and research confirms that community rugby clubs provide enormous social value through the connections they build between people.
Do I Need to Be Fit Before I Start Playing Rugby?
No. And this is worth being direct about, because it stops a lot of people from ever starting.
You do not need to be in shape before you begin rugby. That is what training is for. Starting rugby as an adult builds social connection, improves fitness, and a supportive community, and the sport values teamwork and spirit over perfection or experience.
Rugby fitness comes from playing rugby. Within a few weeks of consistent training, you will notice real changes in your cardiovascular fitness, your coordination, and your strength. These things develop naturally through the sessions themselves.
If you can walk briskly for 20 to 30 minutes, you are ready to start. Come at whatever level you are at right now.
A few things that genuinely help as you get going. Stay hydrated before and after sessions, not just during. Do not skip the cool-down stretching at the end of training. And do not try to do too much in your first few sessions. Rugby uses muscle groups that most people have never trained in the same way before. A bit of soreness after your first session is completely normal and completely fine.
Is Rugby Safe for Beginners?
Rugby is a contact sport. That is part of what makes it exciting. But safety at beginner level is taken seriously, and the risk of injury at introductory sessions is much lower than most people expect.
World Rugby's Rugby Ready programme educates players, coaches, and officials on safe preparation for training and playing. At the Centaurs, all coaches follow structured safety principles. Contact is introduced gradually. Tackle technique is taught properly before full-contact sessions begin.
The most important safety rules at the beginner level are simple. Tackles must be below the shoulders. No high tackles. Release the ball after a tackle. Stay on your feet in a ruck. Follow your coach's instructions during contact drills.
Beginner injuries are usually minor: rolled ankles, grazed knees, and a bit of bruising. These are normal parts of any contact sport and decrease significantly as your technique improves.
If you have any specific health concerns, speak to your coach before your first session. We will always find a way to get you involved safely.
Why Learn Rugby with the Athenian Centaurs RFC?
The Centaurs are Greece's first queer and inclusive rugby union club, founded in Athens in 2020. We are a registered member of International Gay Rugby (IGR), the global network recognised by World Rugby for inclusive rugby.
What that means in practice is simple. You do not need to fit a particular mould to train with us. You do not need to look a certain way, come from a certain background, or have any prior experience. LGBTQ+ players, straight allies, complete beginners, returning players, expats in Athens: everyone is genuinely welcome, and everyone starts from the same place.
We train at P.A.O. Rouf soccer field in Athens on Tuesday evenings (8:30 PM to 10:00 PM) and Thursday evenings (8:30 PM to 10:00 PM). No booking needed for your first visit. Just turn up before the session starts and introduce yourself.
If you want to pick up some club merch before you come, we have hoodies, balls, socks, and scrum tees that help carry the community's visibility a little further. But the most important thing is just showing up.
Read more about what inclusive rugby actually means and how to join the club.
Rugby is the kind of sport that surprises you. You expect chaos and find structure. You expect intimidation and find community. You expect to feel out of place and end up not wanting to leave.
You do not need to be fit, experienced, or fearless. You just need to show up. The Centaurs will take care of the rest.
Come to a training session. Tuesday and Thursday evenings at P.A.O. Rouf soccer field, Athens. The first session is free. Email us at info@atheniancentaurs.com or visit our events page to see what is coming up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start playing rugby with no experience at all? Yes. No rugby experience is needed to join a training session with the Athenian Centaurs RFC. Most of our members started from zero. Beginner sessions are designed from the ground up for people who have never touched a rugby ball. England Rugby confirms that the sport is for all ages, sizes, and abilities, and the Centaurs build every beginner session around that principle.
What is the most important rule to know in rugby union? The single most important rule for beginners is that the ball can only be passed sideways or backwards, never forward. A forward pass stops play and gives possession to the other team. You can run the ball forward and kick it forward for teammates to chase, but any hand pass must go back. Once this rule clicks, the rest of the game starts to make sense quickly.
Do I need a special kit for my first rugby training session in Athens? No special kit is required for your first session. Comfortable sportswear and trainers are enough to get started. Bring a water bottle. World Rugby recommends a mouthguard for contact sessions, but you will not need one for your very first visit to the Centaurs. You can pick up a basic boil-and-bite mouthguard for under €15 once you decide to keep training.
How long does it take to learn rugby as a complete beginner? Most beginners feel comfortable with the basic flow of the game within three to five sessions. Passing, catching, and positioning are core skills that develop through repetition in a real training environment. You will not master everything quickly, and that is fine. Rugby is a deep game. The learning is part of the fun, and your teammates will always support you through it.
Is the Athenian Centaurs RFC only for LGBTQ+ people? No. The Centaurs welcome LGBTQ+ players, straight allies, and anyone who wants to play rugby in a respectful, open environment. The club is queer-founded and inclusive by design, which means the culture is built around those values for everyone. If you want to play rugby in Athens in a space where all identities are genuinely respected, you are welcome here regardless of your own identity. Visit the join page for training times and how to get started.