The digital community helping local rugby clubs thrive again

Across the country, on muddy pitches and in packed clubhouses, grassroots rugby has always been the beating heart of the game.

But in recent years, many local clubs have faced an uphill battle – struggling to find enough players, keep volunteers engaged, and fill fixtures week after week.

Now, a growing online community called Fill Your Boots (FYB) is helping to change that – bringing players, clubs, and volunteers together to make grassroots rugby thrive again.

Born from a club fighting to survive

The idea behind Fill Your Boots didn’t come from a marketing meeting or a corporate strategy session. It came from a club that was simply trying to keep going.

Back in 2015, Surbiton Decca RFC – formerly Racal Decca RFC – were struggling to fulfil fixtures.

As numbers dwindled and last-minute dropouts increased, lifelong club member Sean Phelan found himself spending more time trying to get 15 players on a pitch than actually enjoying the game he loved.

“It was heartbreaking,” Sean recalls. “We were a club with history, passion, and brilliant people – but every week felt like a battle just to get a team out.”

Determined not to let clubs like his fade away, Sean took action.

What started as a simple idea – a way for teams to find players and players to find games – soon became something bigger: a movement to support grassroots rugby across the country.

Fill Your Boots brings players, clubs, and volunteers together to make grassroots rugby thrive again.

A simple idea with a big impact

Today, Fill Your Boots has grown into a vibrant digital platform where clubs post player requests, players find matches, and volunteers get involved in keeping the sport alive.

Whether it’s a last-minute prop, a midweek training boost, or someone looking for their first senior game, FYB connects people quickly and easily.

Since launching, the platform has helped thousands of players step onto the field and helped hundreds of clubs fulfil fixtures they otherwise might have lost.

But the success of FYB isn’t just measured in numbers – it’s measured in the renewed momentum it brings to community rugby.

More than a platform – A community of ideas

One of the most powerful elements of FYB is something Sean never initially set out to build: a nationwide community of rugby people sharing ideas, advice, and experiences.

Behind the match-day connections sits a thriving network where members talk openly about all aspects of running a club – from marketing and social media to coaching, governance, sponsorship, and volunteer recruitment.

Clubs big and small exchange what works, what doesn’t, and how they’re adapting in a changing rugby landscape.

“We wanted to make it easier to find players,” Sean says, “but it quickly became clear that clubs needed support in so many other areas too. FYB has become a place where everyone can learn from each other.”

This collaborative spirit has turned FYB into far more than a match-making service – it’s a knowledge hub for the grassroots game.

Reconnecting rugby people everywhere

The power of Fill Your Boots lies in its community-first ethos. It’s not a faceless digital product; it’s a grassroots movement built by rugby people, for rugby people.

Every week, new players, coaches, volunteers, and club admins join the platform – each one contributing to a sport that has given them so much.

“Rugby has always been about bringing people together,” Sean says. “FYB is just bringing that same spirit online.”

From social teams to league sides, FYB has become a lifeline for clubs that simply want to keep playing – and a gateway for players who want nothing more than a run-out at the weekend.

A shared mission for the future

As grassroots rugby continues to evolve, the need for supportive, community-driven tools has never been greater.

Fill Your Boots is proving that digital innovation doesn’t have to compete with rugby’s traditional values – it can help protect them.

“Every club deserves the chance to thrive,” Sean says. “If connecting a few more players helps keep a team going, that’s a win.

“If sharing a good idea helps another club grow, that’s a win too. FYB is about helping rugby survive – and flourish.”

Join the movement

Whether you’re a club looking for players, a player looking for a match, or someone who wants to learn, share, and support the grassroots game, Fill Your Boots is open to everyone.

Join the community today at www.fybrugby.com – and be part of the digital movement helping local rugby clubs thrive again.