{"id":89028,"date":"2025-03-20T15:49:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T15:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/?p=89028"},"modified":"2025-05-14T18:19:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T17:19:29","slug":"walking-rugbys-gains-popularity-in-wales-as-seniors-find-ways-to-defy-old-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/sport-health\/walking-rugbys-gains-popularity-in-wales-as-seniors-find-ways-to-defy-old-age","title":{"rendered":"Walking Rugby gains popularity in Wales as seniors find ways to defy age"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">With no scrums, tackles, or kicking, how does this game help players with health problems find camaraderie and joy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89029\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89029\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-Rugby-Group-Torfaen-Swifts-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Torfaen Swifts was established as one of the first Walking Rugby clubs in Wales.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A pair of black and neon green straps supported Gwyn Reynolds\u2019s knees as he faked a pass to the left and sidestepped the defender. With an open field ahead, he clutched the rugby ball in his right hand, leaned forward and crossed the try line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A smile flashed across Gwyn\u2019s face as his teammates, the opposition players and the coach standing on the sidelines cheered. The 62-year-old had scored his first try of the day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI never had any rugby skills, even when I was young,\u201d says Gwyn with a smile. \u201cIf anything, I have gotten worse. The knee is the main problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every Saturday morning, Gwyn arrives at Cwmbran Stadium to train and play Walking Rugby with the Torfaen Swifts, a club established in 2018. The hour-long training session helps him connect with the game he has loved since boyhood and quit playing in his 20s. As he rediscovers the sport, old age and damaged knees sometimes frustrate him, but competitiveness has not left the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t do what I used to do. I can\u2019t turn quickly.&nbsp;&nbsp;If I do get the ball at a pace, I can\u2019t stop. It takes a while to slow down. I can\u2019t put so much pressure on the knee. It is annoying,\u201d he says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"497\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89030\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling-770x383.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling-293x146.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"497\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89030\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling-770x383.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-tackling-293x146.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Walking Rugby teams allow players of all ages and genders, and everyone can play at their comfort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Gwen\u2019s teammate, 64-year-old Owen Davies, is diabetic and has prostate cancer and a loop recorder in his chest to monitor his heart rhythm. Walking Rugby motivates him to step out of the house and defy his ailments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou are not worried or concerned when you are playing the sport,\u201d says Owen, who joined the team in November last year.  \u201cI have got an abnormal heart rhythm. So, I asked my cardiologist if I could play walking rugby, and he said, \u2018Yeah, that would be really good\u2019. So, I came here just to defy the fact that I am getting older, and I have got all these ailments.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like Gwen and Owen, many other players in Torfaen Swifts have heart monitors, pacemakers, hip problems, diabetes and high blood pressure. The team is open to people of all ages and genders, but most are in their sixties. Some have difficulty walking, but at least a couple of them are fast enough to dodge multiple defenders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere is lenience to make sure everyone\u2019s able to play at their level,\u201d says the team\u2019s coach Gareth Baldwin. \u201cFor most of the players here, it brings back a little bit of youth. And don\u2019t go by their age, they still have that fire alive. They often get sent off for over-vigorous tackling and using foul and abusive language against the ref.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1-770x434.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1-770x434.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Gwyn-Reynolds-Walking-Rugby-Player-1-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gwyn Reynolds, 62, has plays Walking Rugby almost every weekend. He is waiting for surgeries in both his knees. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking rugby has surged in popularity in Wales in the past few years, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. By one estimate, there are at least 100 Welsh Walking Rugby clubs and many more in England and Scotland.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The clubs often gather at Walking Rugby festivals organised across the UK and participate in non-competitive games. No one keeps scores, and the teams are awarded based on fair play and sporting spirit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe were one of the first walking rugby clubs in Wales, but it\u2019s come on massive now,\u201d Gareth, 65, says. \u201cMost rugby clubs have now got a walking team. We [Torfaen Swifts] have our feelers in other clubs as well. We have helped with the start of a few other clubs, too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnyone can join our club. Just show up Saturday morning at the Cwmbran Stadium, and you are in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rules of the game are a slight variation of the rugby union. Each team fields a squad of ten with seven players allowed on the pitch.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are no tackles, scrummages, rucks, mauls or kicking.&nbsp;The aim is to score tries by crossing the opposition\u2019s try line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1-770x434.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1-770x434.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Owen-Davies-Walking-Rugby-player-1-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Owen Davies, 64, is diabetic and has prostate cancer. For him, Walking Rugby is a way to defy the fact he is getting older. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Gareth was involved in the framing of these laws. He says English rules differ slightly as they allow scrummages, but Wales never went on that route because it would not have been in the players\u2019 interest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can\u2019t put a 70-year-old down there. They would never get up,\u201d he says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoey Victoria, 43, the only woman player in Torfaen Swifts, is known among her teammates for her fierce pushes and constant efforts to gain competitive advantage. She had never played rugby before joining the team in 2021.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was difficult at first. All the sports I have played before rugby have all very much been about getting in front of the ball. But rugby is entirely different because you must be behind the ball,\u201d Zoey says. \u201cI remember someone on my team who was very vocal, and he was telling me where I needed to go. I told him, \u2018Mate, at this moment, all my mental ability is going into being behind the ball and not getting caught off-side\u2019. But then, I understood the game and caught on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"2000\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89065\" style=\"width:423px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-120x300.jpg 120w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-770x1925.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-614x1536.jpg 614w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-293x733.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89065\" style=\"width:423px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-120x300.jpg 120w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-770x1925.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-614x1536.jpg 614w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/Walking-rugby-rules-293x733.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Gwyn Williams, 63, one of the fastest and most agile players on the team, says Walking Rugby is a means for him to stay fit and be part of a good bunch of people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have a great laugh with each other. We knock each other around a bit and make each other look silly when we can. As for whether I am the fastest on the team, that\u2019s not for me to say,\u201d he says with a wry smile.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But when does walking turn into running?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s the debate in Walking Rugby. It\u2019s all subjective,\u201d says coach Gareth. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With no scrums, tackles, or kicking, how does this game help players with health problems find camaraderie and joy?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1235,"featured_media":89038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110,17],"tags":[330,429,1010],"coauthors":[1300],"class_list":["post-89028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lead-2","category-sport-health","tag-mental-health","tag-rugby","tag-wales"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Walking Rugby gains popularity in Wales as seniors find ways to defy age - 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