When launching Pathway to Rugby this year, we took everything we had learned in the past 2 years of running our popular recruitment events and aimed at getting better in several key areas based on feedback.

This September intake consists of well over 75 guys, most of which are new to rugby. They will now begin a journey together where they will pick up the skills they need to start playing this amazing sport for the first time. Welcome to them all.

If you missed this intake and would like to get involved in the next intake in January, you can register here. In the meantime, don't let this stop you from getting involved with the Steelers by coming to watch a match at our home grounds or event becoming a supporter! Of course, players with existing playing experience are always still welcome if they get in touch.

More About Recruitment
Our 'Try Rugby' recruitment events have always been popular. By removing simple barriers to those who are unfamiliar to the world of rugby clubs, it seems we have been able to open up this sport to lots of guys across London. Over a hundred came to our events this summer, the vast majority of which had never played rugby before.

Why have these events been so popular? Maybe it is that recently more professional gay rugby players have been stepping up and coming out publicly? Maybe it's the heartwarming stories from these players about their experiences with team-mates and crowds following their years living with their fears?

We'd like to think that we have had at least some influence on it though!

The simple barriers we've looked to remove ranged from concentrating recruitment into summer events, to the marketing messages we put out on flyers and social media letting people know that this is for people who have NO rugby knowledge.

It even extended to collecting new players from the tube station and helping them navigate their way into what is, for most people, a completely alien world of rugby club changing rooms. You'd be surprised how often this was mentioned as a major positive!

Given the numbers, challenges lie ahead for the Steelers Committee for sure, but these are the nice sort of challenges like..... How do we get enough games for all these players?!, or ......How do we fit everyone in the bar?!

However, given how we've responded to the last few intakes, and the way the club feels at the moment in our 20th Anniversary year, we are definitely up for those challenges.