Does anyone have boys who play rugby?

Ds and dd play rugby - ds is contact, dd is still tag. Dd wears football boots (have had no complaints about that but she is only 6 and in the bottom training set still), ds wears his football boots but with rugby studs in. We haven't got body armour yet but are thinking about it (to protect ds from other kids who are wearing it ). Also looking at getting thermal undershirt and undershorts.
Most important is a flask for hot chocolate (one for each member of family standing in rain), a bag of snacks and water, full rainproof clothing for spectators, and friendly clubs with bacon rolls

DS1 swaps his studs between rugby and football ones.

Both DSs now have the body armour stuff but both are now doing contact.

They have boil-and-bite mouthguards because they are undergoing orthodontic work and their teeth are moving. These are good as they can be reshaped every so often. (although now I think about it, DS1 is probably far enough through his treatment that he can have a "proper" one.)

Tempted to get them head gear (especially DS1 - he's my PFB!)

I can also recommend those gel handwarmers where you click the metal tag to make them heat up. they thawed my hands out nicely today and DD often has one tucked in the kangaroo pouch of the hoody she wears under her fleece. Good for thawing out chilled boys at the end too!

(and if you take a flask with you, don't forget to pack the sodding coffee powder and teabags. [wail])

Proper fitted mouthguard (not boil and bite) is an absolute must. A lot of clubs and schools have a deal with OPRO at the beginning of each season. Body Armour is defintely not necessary until contact rugby starts - and then maybe not. His coach will advise - don't go by what the other players wear or what your son tells you they wear

Speaking as a rugby mum (DS currently injured) a scrum cap may be advisable once he starts playing contact rugby (my DS was badly concussed twice last year and now wears a scrum cap - even for training)

My DS (winger) wears football boots with rugby studs so that he can run faster. Blades are not allowed in school or club rugby at any age.

Does your club have a noticeboard or 2nd hand shop for junior members? Can be invaluable when they can grow through 2 sizes of boots in a season!

Sadly body armour entered from Rugby League when Rugby Union went professional. Quickly body armour spread from the adult game down to school boy level. Scrum caps are also rapidly becoming the norm. It is not like American footbal body armour and helmets but becoming more so every year.

Your rugby playing boyfriend sounds like he was the same era as me. I just missed the professionalisation of the game by a few years. I played regularly against people like Will Carling, Rob Andrew and Rory Underwood as a scoolboy who were retiring just as the professional game came in.

The whole body armour thing is a sad and backward step. Your DS will enjoy the contact game though and he wil find his position no matter what his body shape.

Scrum half perhaps?

Our DSs play rugby.

For the first season of 'touch rugby' it is OK to wear out anyy old football boots DS may have but generally rugby boots have round metal studs. So called 'blade' studs on football boots are banned as they are dangerous in rugby. You do not need anything too expensive or sophisticated for the first season though.

I would strongly recommend you go for an Opro junior mouthguard. They are much the best and far better than any other cheaper ones you can buy. They do special ones for children. They

Go to a really good specialist sports shop and ask for advice.

Sadly by next year, U9 age group, DS will need body armour as every other kid will have it and it hurts if hit by somebody in body armour if you are not wearing it. I hate the idea of body armour as I played rugby as a kid and it was banned in those days.

Don't bother about buying rugby boots. DS2 played as a winger up to U17s and always used his football boots (but you might eventually need to purchase special rugby studs).