3 Nov 2024
Play rugby in Stockholm
Lifestyle Sports and Fitness

Play rugby in Stockholm

Interested in playing or watching rugby in Stockholm?

Over the years rugby in Sweden has slowly begun to gain momentum and popularity, particularly at the club level. More and more people of all ages and skill levels are becoming involved in rugby clubs throughout the country and currently there are 5 Stockholm rugby clubs.

The rugby clubs of Stockholm Rugby Association

* IF Attila RG – Bromma Västerort

* Erikslunds KF Rugby – Täby, Danderyd, Norrort

* Hammarby IF – Söderort

* Stockholm Exiles RFC – Årsta, Söderort, Innestaden

* Visby Rugby Club – Gotland

In this article we feature Sweden’s oldest active rugby club, IF Attila RG, and speak with club member and former coach of the ladies team, Julian Bevan, about watching and participating in the Attila rugby club.

Attila club consists of 4 separate leagues: Men’s and Women’s senior teams (A & B), the Old Boys team (+35 years) and Youth teams (competing in U19, U17 and U15 divisions). The men are coached by Australian, Michael Druitt, the ladies by South African, Rudy Marais and the youth by Scotsman, Nigel Matthews.

The club has enjoyed several recent successes as last year the Attila Men’s team won Div. 1 (Allsvenskan) and qualified to play in the top division in Sweden for the 2011 season. Attila also has three players who recently played in the international round against Denmark in the new Viking Tri-Nations and to top it off club member, Carina Trinh, has been selected to play for the Swedish national ladies squad.

This is all very impressive for a club that has no major sponsorship. Most of the funding to maintain the club’s pitch (field), pay fees, provide transportation, etc. comes from the players, members and private donations.  “The club is basically one big family that just loves this sport,” says Julian. The club has regular meet-ups at their sponsor pub, the Liffey, in Gamla Stan.

Attila has an active Old Boys group that tours overseas every year as part of the Vintage Vikings team, with last year’s tour in Rottweil, Germany.  The men’s and women’s team also have an international presence as last year the men’s team toured to Warsaw, Poland and the ladies to Cardiff, Wales. Every year the teams take part in the SM 7’s and Stockholm Tens tournaments.

But don’t let this clubs’ achievements intimidate you. Regardless of your age or skill level everyone is welcome to join the teams at any point during the year. In fact, at the moment the ladies team is actively recruiting new players. Each team holds weekly trainings on the clubs’ home pitch, Bromma Sportfält. The trainings begin with a touch rugby warm-up game that is open to everyone. “If people want to come along and just play touch rugby then they are welcome to do so. We would hope that they’d like to stay and train with the team, but we will encourage all types of rugby in the club. The ladies and men’s team often have mixed games when warming up with touch rugby….and the women often beat the men!” says Julian.

As for the youth teams, they train at Bromma as well. “Anyone interested in kiddies’ rugby should just ring or email the club and ask… or turn up! Everyone in the club would be happy to help you out,” explains Julian.

Team Training Times

Men’s team:  Awaiting update (see www.attilarugby.com)

Ladies team: Tuesdays and Thursdays 18:00 to 20:00 Bromma Sportfält

Youth team:   Wednesdays 19:00 to 21:00 (Indoor) Blackebergsskolan

Saturdays 10:00 to 12:00 (Outdoor) Bromma Rugby Plan

But for those of you who prefer to enjoy the game from the sidelines, you can find the game schedule at www.rugby.se.  Entrance to Attila games is free, and although training is held in Bromma, the teams currently hold their games in Årsta, until the Bromma pitch can be properly restored from the long winter. There is a stand where spectators can sit, as well as a barbeque and drinks stand for people to grab a bite. “The crowds aren’t that big with the sport being a minor one in Sweden, but they are always friendly, vocal, and love the sport. Both teams’ supporters sit together in the stands and there are no issues. The rivalry is still there, but the fans seem to just get on with cheering their own team, have a bit of banter with the oppositions’ fans and enjoy the whole day,” describes Julian.

Upcoming Games

18-05-2011 19:00   Men’s Team    IF Attila vs. Stockholm Exiles RFC at Årstafältet

02-06-2011 13:00   Ladies Team    IF Attila vs.  Enköpings RK at Årstafältet

Attila rugby club welcomes anyone interested in playing, supporting, coaching or participating as a referee (the rugby union can provide training for coaches and referees).

Links:

Attila Rugby Club

Stockholm Tens Rugby Tournament

Stockholm Rugby Association

Sweden Rugby Association

By: Kristan Coleman

If you have any info regarding Attila Rugby Club or other rugby clubs in Stockholm please leave a comment below!

17 Comments

  • Julian Bevan 17 May 2011

    The men’s team train Tuesdays and Thursdays 18:00 to 20:00 Bromma Sportfält. Directions can be found on the website.

    This Saturday (21st May) there is a Seven-a-side rugby qualifier round in Enköping and Attila RG men’s and women’s teams will both be in action trying to make the SM Finals in Halmstad later in the year. Seven’s rugby has just been accepted into the Olympics and will feature in Rio in 2016.

  • Daniel 31 May 2011

    heading to sweden for a weekend in july. looking to play some rugby. anyone looking for a lock or prop? measurements are 195 cm 130 kgs. cheers! [email protected]

  • obinna 8 Jul 2011

    pls i will like to play rugby in sweden thanks.

  • Patson Abel 11 Oct 2011

    Hi guys my name is Patson Abel and im looking on coming to europe to play rugby. Im 23 and i can cover 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 so if your interested then you can e mail me back cheers.

    • Morgan 13 Oct 2011

      Hi Abel,

      You are going to need to contact the team directly. Best

  • vesi luatua 17 Jan 2012

    hi what the skill level like?i play rugby in nz for mid-canterbury im interested in playing rugby in sweden i play sevens ten a side rugby and also 15s im a utility foward playing either 4,5,6 or 8

  • Adam Bradley 5 Apr 2012

    New here to Stockholm, I wandered through the park in årsta and saw the lads training – want to get into the act. I’m a 34 year old “reasonably fit” New Zealander, 6ft, 2″ – 88kg. Never really played union, played league when I was younger & plenty of touch… any chance of training with the lads / an old boys club for us old fellas??? E-mail me back.

    • Mat 30 May 2012

      Hey Adam, All are welcome. There are Old Boys tournaments and B team games for us old fellas! Training Tues and Thurs 1800 at Bromma Sportsfält.

  • Tim Payne 29 Oct 2012

    Hi

    My name is Tim Payne. I currently play professional Rugby for London Wasps, and have done so for the last 10 years. I have played for England and the British and Irish Lions. Was just wondering how I could contact yourselves and the national team to help out with some coaching. If this is possible would be great to hear from you.

    Best wishes

    Tim

  • kazungu julius 1 Jan 2013

    i will love to play rugby in sweden… i have played rugby for over seven years. my position flacker and scrumhalf. vienna is my school i played rugby from

    julius

  • Kook 19 Jan 2013

    Hi all,my name is kook come from thailand,i am rugby player of navy club of thailand i have a plan to visiting my sister at sweden so i’m looking for some rugby team for training while i stay there.Can i join with your team?

  • John Roache 30 Mar 2013

    Hi

    I am looking to come to Sweden to live and work. I notice that there is rugby there. I was wondering if anyone can let me know who I can contact regards to playing for a team. I am a new Zealander currently living in Australia. I have played top club level rugby in New Zealand and represented my province in age group level. If any one can help please reply. Also a job to start would be great

  • Ricardo Michael 13 Apr 2013

    Hey guys Keen to get involved,Any direct contact methods please.

  • Alison 10 Sep 2013

    Hey, I’m interested in coming along to play some rugby, I’ve just moved over here from Scotland and work at the IES school. I’m 23 and looking for something to keep me occupied 😛

    Please be in contact,

    cheers,

    Ally

  • Linus 7 Mar 2015

    Pls i will like to play rugby with you guys sir/ma

  • Ata Mulitalo 28 Nov 2016

    Hi,

    I’m Ata Mulitalo from a rugby oriented country Samoa.

    I’m interested playing 9, 10, 11 or 14 , 12, 13 and 15 . (anywhere in the back line). If you have room for me, I’ll love to come over and help any club and showcase my skills with go straight-hit hard sort of style.

    Let me know if accepted and will send over what are required including my CV.

  • Torbjörn Johansson 22 Nov 2018

    Enkoping Rugby Club (ERK) is looking for players for next season 2019! Players that want to make a difference with their style of play and help us develop our young team!
    ERK is looking for young talented players who want to develop and want to improve their rugby skills.
    We are also looking for experienced players who wish to move to Enkoping and continue to develop as players or help us to develop.
    Currently, our first team is undergoing a period of development as a result of many of our senior players retiring from the sport for a variety of reasons such as age, injury and family commitments. The majority of our first team players now are between the ages of 17 and 25, a young, vibrant, and energetic team that have progressed through our very strong youth sections. These talented players many of whom have already represented Sweden’s youth team and many that are banging on the doors of the international stage have strong club connections and are keen to learn and develop further their rugby careers with the ambition to represent their country at the highest level.
    At Enkoping we aim to be the best at developing young players and improving talent both at club level and as a stepping stone to national and international levels.
    We are now looking for you who wish to develop in a serious way your rugby skills and game play
    Enkoping is well positioned geographically being close to two universities and several colleges so living, studying and playing rugby is well catered for if you decide to move to Enkoping.
    For more information about our rugby club and game history, please see the links below. The club’s history in English – https://erk.nu/english/
    Contact people in Enkopings Rugby Club are Torbjorn `Hästen` Johansson, Simon Axelsson and Nicklas Proos
    ERK’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Enkopingrugby/
    ERK’s website http://www.erk.nu
    If you are interested, please send an email to [email protected]
    Fb https://www.facebook.com/torbjornhasten.johansson
    Enkoping Rugby Club
    Sandbrogatan 2, 749 49 Enkoping

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