Igniting the Passion: The Beating Heart of Blackheath Rugby
On any Sunday morning at Hervey Road, before the floodlights come on and before league tables matter, you will find the true heartbeat of Blackheath Rugby Club.
You’ll hear laughter before whistles. You’ll see boots being pulled on the wrong feet. You’ll watch children discover, often for the very first time, what it means to belong to something bigger than themselves.
This is the Minis section.
Where the Journey Begins
The Minis (U6–U11) are not simply the youngest age group in the club—they are the foundation of the entire Blackheath pathway. Every player who one day pulls on a First XV shirt begins their journey here, learning not just how to pass or tackle, but how to play the game the Blackheath way.
Our vision is simple but powerful: to build a thriving rugby ecosystem rooted in passion, skill, and community—where every player’s journey from Mini to First XV is supported, celebrated, and aligned to a club-wide purpose.
For Minis, that purpose is clear: ignite the passion. We focus on fun, safety, inclusion, confidence, and enjoyment—because if a child loves coming to rugby, everything else follows.
A Community Before a Team
Blackheath is proudly an open club, and nowhere is that more visible than in the Minis. Boys and girls train and play together, friendships form across schools and backgrounds, and families quickly become part of a wider community.
The Minis are embedded deeply in the life of the club:
- running out as mascots with the 1st XV
- forming Guards of Honour on matchdays
- hosting visiting teams from across Kent and London
- welcoming new families every week who are trying rugby for the first time
Rugby here is not a transaction—it’s a shared experience.
Progress You Can Feel (and Measure)
Over the past season, the Minis programme has taken a significant step forward—not just in numbers, but in how the section is run and supported.
Player participation has grown across every age grade, with registrations increasing and more girls joining the game. Behind the scenes, this growth has been matched with stronger foundations: clearer organisation, better safeguarding practices, improved first-aid coverage, and more consistent structures for volunteers and families.
What matters most is that these improvements are not abstract—they show up every Sunday in calmer pitch-side environments, clearer communication, safer sessions, and more confident children.
Built by Volunteers, Backed by Values
None of this happens by accident.
The Minis section is powered by an extraordinary group of volunteers: coaches, team managers, first aiders, and helpers who give their time week after week. Many started simply as parents wanting to help—and are now shaping the experiences of dozens of young players.
They are guided by shared values — Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, and Sportsmanship — and supported by clear coaching frameworks aligned to RFU Kids First Rugby principles. The focus is always on long-term development, never short-term results.
Winning at Minis level isn’t about the scoreline. It’s about:
- every child playing
- every child feeling safe
- every child going home smiling
Part of a Bigger Pathway
What makes Blackheath special is that the Minis are not an island—they are the first step on a clearly defined pathway.
As players grow, they move into the Juniors, then Colts, and ultimately into senior rugby. The skills, habits, and love of the game developed at U6–U11 underpin everything that follows. Today’s tag rugby game is tomorrow’s decision-maker under pressure.
And just as importantly, not every Mini will become a senior player—and that’s absolutely fine. Success is also measured in young referees, future coaches, lifelong supporters, and volunteers who stay connected to the club for decades.
Looking Ahead
The ambition for the Minis programme is simple: do the basics brilliantly and do them consistently.
That means continuing to:
- welcome new families into the club
- strengthen safeguarding and welfare standards
- support and develop volunteers
- run well-planned festivals and fixtures
- create brilliant matchday experiences
- and keep the focus firmly on fun and inclusion
The future of Blackheath Rugby does not start at kick-off like we have today against Leicester Lions on a Saturday afternoon.
It starts on a Sunday morning, on a slightly muddy pitch, with a child chasing a rugby ball for the first time.
That is where the passion is ignited.
That is where the journey begins.
That is where the journey begins.
Justin Zarb
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