Rugby Union among middle-aged American men: an exploration

Although rugby union, a full-contact sport, is usually considered as a leisure activity in the domain of young people, the motivations and effects of rugby union played by middle-aged men are not clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the motivations and participation effects of middle-aged American men participating in rugby in the USA. This study concentrates on rugby union (hereinafter referred to as rugby) as opposed to rugby league. Data were collected through in-depth interviews during an international amateur masters' tournament. A total of 14 amateur rugby players with ages ranging from 35 to 52 were interviewed. This study found that the motivations for rugby participation were making friends, the love of rugby and self-actualisation. The participation effects of rugby were a long-term commitment, skill improvement and cultural awareness. Moreover, these findings on the motivations and effects of rugby help support the conclusion that this sport among the middle-aged group can be considered as a serious leisure activity.