23 August 2012
Since the foundations were laid for #rugbyunited way back in December 2011, it has steadily become one of the most well-known and widely used online communities for rugby union fans. Scrum Five has been a supporter and partner of #rugbyunited throughout the time it has been active and we were granted exclusive access to the world of #rugbyunited by chatting to the founder Trevor Large and #RUTeam member Rich Church-Keen.
“The aim of #rugbyunited is to bring all fans of the sport together whether you’re a fan of a professional team like Gloucester or Harlequins right the way through to if you’re involved with your local side. We aim to bring all of those people together in one united spirit.” Trevor explained.
Walking around the pitch and the clubhouse gives you an idea of the amount of people #rugbyunited has reached with all sorts of different people milling around getting ready to play but one question ponders – where did it all begin? Rich Church-Keen gave us a quick history lesson:
“We started off as the #glawsfamily but we’ve ended up developing into this worldwide thing now. We’ve got South Africa, New Zealand, France and we’ve got an Indian team following us which is quite cool.”
“What I’ve enjoyed about #rugbyunited is the sheer volume of people who want to get involved and it never ceases to amaze when you logon to the #rugbyunited hashtag on Twitter there is new names appearing all the time and it really is people who are wanting to talk about rugby – talking about the amateur game and the professional game,” Trevor tells us.
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| Team photo at Chosen Hill RFC (@trevorlarge) |
#rugbyunited has proved to be very useful to some as Trevor explains in this short anecdote: “A few weeks ago someone came onto #rugbyunited looking for a cheap scrum machine and a few days later before you know it he had a cheap scrum machine.” So, if you’re in need of a cheap scrum machine, you know where to go.
Walking inside the clubhouse, neatly laid out cupcakes are for sale as well as a raffle with dozens of prizes. However, the event wasn’t all about winning prizes and having fun as Rich told us: “We’re raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and this is via James Hoddy, who is a player for the other team whose partner is a sufferer and they approached us and asked to help raise some money and we’ve got a raffle with awesome prizes to be donated.”
#rugbyunited has a very broad user base with fans gathering from all across the world. It’s a tough task to take something started online into the real world and bring all of those people together when they’re so spread out but #rugbyunited have already started working on plans for more events.
“We’re looking at a game in the North-West of England which we’re hoping is going to be around the end of September so that’s certainly planned for the North-West. We’re looking to go to Ireland around summer time and once we’ve done Ireland we’re looking at a game in the London area probably late August and then once the Super Rugby season finishes in South Africa we’re looking to have a game down in South Africa probably in the Cape Town or Port Elizabeth area around mid-October.
“So in 2012 if we can get four of five events under our belt that would be really, really good and next year, looking in 2013, we’re really looking to get involved in the Sevens tournaments so that’s what our real focus will be next year.”
Trevor also reminded us how you can get involved in #rugbyunited: “There are two primary aims – the easiest way to do that is get yourself on Twitter and visit www.rugbyunited.info and that’s our website which tells you all about the types of things we do online and offline and explains to everybody the process of how they can get involved.”
If you want to get involved head to #rugbyunited’s website as Trevor said or visit the #rugbyunited hashtag on Twitter which is being used by not only the fans but also clubs, journalists, newspapers, blogs and more, so be sure to check it out!
