We’ve had walking football. There’s walking cricket, too (if it ever stops raining).
Now, up at Warlingham rugby club and at Old Whits, they are playing walking rugby, and a visit at the weekend from some old soldiers from the Royal Hospital at Chelsea added a bit of scarlet class to what’s thought to have been the first walking rugby festival.
The premise of walking rugby is: if you can walk, you can play.
Like the other walking versions of sports, it is intended to get people who might not have the zip to their play as in their younger years, out and about, modestly active and engaging socially with a bunch of friends. So good all-round for mental as well as physical well-being…
The festival at Hamsey Green on Saturday saw eight teams take part from clubs across Surrey and south London. A team from the Royal Hospital was made up of Chelsea Pensioners and some military support staff.
The event was hosted by The Gifted and Warl Eyed Peacocks Walking Rugby Club – a joint venture between Warlingham and Old Whitgiftians RFCs.
The oldest player on the day was 84, while the youngest was just 16…
New players are always welcome and anyone who like to try it out please contact Mal Seward mal@peacockswalkingrugby.org – there are sessions on alternate weeks at Warlingham’s Hamsey Green ground and at The Old Whits, Croham Manor Road, South Croydon.
FULL story at source: https://insidecroydon.com/2024/05/03/old-soldiers-enjoy-their-rugby-stroll-around-hamsey-green/
