Diest (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Diest Rugby, Hageland’s first official rugby club, will launch in September, aiming to change perceptions with a focus on skillful play over hard contact.
Children aged 7 to 11 are the club’s target demographic.
“We mainly want to teach them that rugby is not really a contact sport, but an avoidance sport,”
Says Koen Peeters, one of the founders.
There are now 39 rugby clubs in Flanders, Belgium. Even though the sport is growing, Hageland currently does not have its own club.
“Starting a rugby club is always a good idea, but we think this is really the right time,”
Says Peeters.
“Our national team also has a chance to go to the World Cup in Australia in 2027 for the first time in history. We see rugby growing every day, both for boys and girls.”
As of right now, Diest Rugby is only open to kids aged 7 to 11.
“Although secretly it is our dream to become a fully-fledged club in the future, with many enthusiastic members, a flourishing volunteer life and teams for all ages.”
“We hope to attract about forty members for the coming season,”
Peeters said.
“That would be a fantastic start.”
The sport is seen by some as hard or aggressive, but Peeters wants to change that.
“We are going to teach the children that rugby is not actually a contact sport, but an avoidance sport,”
He says.
“Of course you also have to learn to tackle safely, but rugby is actually much less aggressive than people sometimes fear. The insurance considers rugby to be just as risky as football.”
“There are also different rules for children,”
Peeters explains.
“For example, they are only allowed to tackle from the side and never head-on. Precisely because we are working with such young children, we will also approach the training in a playful manner. This way, they learn to pass and tackle in a fun way. By the way, don’t forget that tactical insight is also very important in rugby.”
The founders believe it is important to instill some values in their members:
“The values and standards of rugby are anything but aggressive,”
Says Peeters.
“Showing respect for your opponent is something we hold in high regard,”
Says Peeters.
“We will also expect the children to treat the referee in a correct manner.”
Training sessions for Diest Rugby Club will be held on De Warande’s B-field. The creators plan to have introduction sessions on June 14 and August 23 in addition to the club’s official launch date of September 6.
Why does the club describe rugby as more of an avoidance sport than a contact sport?
Despite rugby’s reputation for ferocity, the club characterizes it as “more of an avoidance sport than a contact sport” since players primarily employ strategy, agility, and spatial awareness to escape tackles rather than constantly collide.
Rugby has a strong emphasis on generating and utilizing space. To keep control and move the ball forward, players frequently sidestep or dodge opponents to avoid collision.
Instead of depending only on physical contact, rugby players try to avoid tackles by racing into open areas, outmaneuvering defenders with rapid footwork, and passing.
Because contact is strictly regulated and subject to certain restrictions (such as only the ball carrier may be tackled and tackles must be conducted safely), physical altercations become more tactical and less about using force.
