FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age to play for Birmingham?

There is no minimum age to come to practice and see if you like the sport of Rugby. If you decide you like it and you want to participate in a USA Rugby match or tournament with the Birmingham Men's Club, you must be CIPP Registered with USA Rugby via http://usarugby.org. To do that you must either be 18 or older or we can get an exemption from USA Rugby, as long as you and/or a parent or legal guardian signs some paperwork and so on and so forth. To make a long story short, don't worry about the age requirement. If you want to give it a try, just show up to practice and see what you think.

Where is Ramsay Park?

The words 'Ramsay Park' on the Home Page are a link to a map of where the park is located.

How big is Ramsay Park?  Do other teams practice there?  Will I be able to find find Birmingham Rugby or is Ramsay Park similar to Central Park in New York City?

While Central Park in NYC is sizable (roughly 2 1/2 miles by 1/2 mile), Ramsay Park is not.  Ramsay Park contains the rugby pitch (field), a smaller field next to the larger one and a small parking lot.  Therefore, if you've found the parking lot, you've found the pitch.  And by extension, the Birmingham Rugby Football Club.  There are no other rugby teams in the Birmingham area.

When you say that "No experience is necessary!", do you really mean that or are you pulling my leg and really expect me to be an All Black?

We really mean NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY.  Of course it would be helpful if you would take a look around the internet to at least get an idea of what is going on, but you're more than welcome to come out and learn with us even if you know nothing about rugby.

Do I need to wear cleats?  What kind of shorts should I wear?  Will I need a mouthpiece?

Rugby is similar to to other outdoor sports played on grass in that it is much easier to move about if you're wearing cleats (NO toe cleats, this means that one lone cleat that is usually at the front of a pair of American football cleats).  It is ok to wear any type of shorts until you're sure this is the sport for you.  If you decide that it is, we can point you to any number of places where you may purchase rugby shorts.  Wearing a mouthpiece is optional.  If you care about your teeth, wear one.  If you don't, don't.