One pair of boots for school football and rugby at age eight?

[ProcrastinatorsAnonymous]

This is going to sound like an incredibly dumb question to anyone who knows the first thing about football or rugby, but I really don't - so go easy on me please!

8 year old son starting new school in Sept and uniform list says he needs football / rugby boots. Is there one type of boot that can be used for both sports, or would two different types of boots always be needed, even at kids entry level?

A brief google suggests that there are lots of different types for different surfaces. They have sports fields, but I don't know if they also play on other surfaces.

What would be a good all rounder entry-level type of boot to buy?

Thank you!

I have been having this dilemma for my 11 year old starting a private secondary in Sept. I spoke to admissions who emailed the Director of Sport and he came back and said one pair of soft ground boots with removable studs is fine 0 and they are not sport specific. So we will look for some SG football boots later in the summer.

I think it was definitely just a pair of studded grass use boots and then trainers for if astro turf from memory. I think we just had "soft ground football boots" and used them for hockey/rugby/football/whatever.

At DS’s school football or rugby boots can be used for both sports. I’d get a pair for whichever is his main sport of the two and then use them for both.

Thank you so much for these replies!

State schools do play both rugby and football, you know!

Of course but indy schools often specify boots for both - which as I'm sure you know adds up! My son is just finishing a state primary and they don't play football or rugby.

@CurlewKate I automatically posted in private school because that's where my kids are going and I have been sent what feels like quite an overwhelming uniform list. Why did you feel the urge to post such a snarky response? I'm sorry if you're having a bad day.

For what it's worth, the state primary I went to did not play rugby, and I'm not aware of many state primary schools insisting that the parents of 8 year old boys pay for trainers, astro shoes, rugby boots and football boots. But happy to be corrected.

You should check with the school. DS is state secondary. They have a 3G pitch so boots need to be suitable for that as well as soft ground.
He has one pair of moulded boots. The school have a details list of photos of what is and isn't acceptable. Good news is that the multi sport boots are usually available from sports direct for a nice low price.
If he had made the school teams or joined a local club then I might have bought a specific pair as well but its just not worth it for the amount of time that they are worn before their feet grow again.

We got the adidas pull on football books which are fine for rugby (we aren’t A team!)

only in the last term did I also buy him a pair of Astro boots too.
So now he takes in 5 sets - his black school shoes, indoor trainers (light sole), outdoor trainers, football boots & Astro trainers.

tip keep them (the football boots) in good order and they will sell well on vinted.

also look for sales at sports direct and buy ahead. (We have the next couple
of sizes up knowing we will need them).

Mine have always needed proper metal studded boots for rugby and moulded stud football boots for football/if playing rugby on 3G. I’ve bought all ours on Vinted for a few quid. It’s very hard to play rugby on a soggy field without rugby boots! If you don’t want to buy both then get football boots and then ask a parent with older kids in the first week, you can always order rugby boots next day delivery.

Rugby boots need removable metal studs not the moulded plastic of football boots. So buy those and they will do for both games on soft ground. Trainers for other pitches.

Does he need them both at the same time though? My boys have always had football in the michalmas term and rugby in the lent term by which time they’ve grown out of the football boots! Mine grow like weeds!

This is a very good point!

Fine to use the same boots on grass but if football is on astroturf then they will need astroboots as well. Dd needed 4 pairs - grass, Astro, outside trainers and inside trainers, thankfully she had 3/4 already

Right, but that’s not where he is going.

2 sets of studs and a stud key. 1 set plastic/ rubber for football, other metal for rugby. Football boots then cover both.

State school.

Essentially, you don’t want metal studs.
DD had the cheapest boots that fitted (size 13), and trainers for inside. He is not a sporty child..
DD is much sportier and has specific football boots, Astro boots, cricket shoes and trainers for inside.

They don't need metal studs at 8. They're on 3 man scrums at most and aren't allowed to push at that age. I agree though that you can change studs and I did this regularly when I was at school playing the usual mix at school and then rugby at a club when I was a bit older.