Saudi Arabia is quickly making strides in establishing a rugby culture and at the forefront of this movement is Riyadh Rugby Club.

Based in the capital Riyadh, the rugby club has been instrumental in promoting the sport at both grassroots and competitive levels. We recently spoke to Chairman, Patrick Raupach, who shared his thoughts on the growth of rugby in Saudi Arabia and the club’s journey.

Rugby is gaining significant traction in Saudi Arabia, and the efforts to introduce it to the public have been spearheaded by the Saudi Rugby Federation. As Raupach mentioned, the Federation has made great steps in bringing rugby to schools across the country, and this has resulted in an increased interest and participation among both young men and women.

“We managed to get rugby into the Ministry of Education curriculum,” Raupach explained, indicating the Federation’s goal to develop both men’s and women’s rugby. The introduction of the sport in 50 schools this year alone is a testament to the growing hunger for rugby in Saudi Arabia, and it is expected to expand even further in the coming years.

Riyadh Rugby Club, founded in 1982, has come a long way from its early beginnings, when games were played on sand rather than grass. Raupach shared how the club has evolved over the years, particularly noting its undefeated streak in the Saudi league for the past two seasons.

“We have a lot of Saudi players coming back from overseas”

The club now boasts a robust youth program and a vets side, with a growing number of Saudi players integrating into the club’s ranks. As Raupach noted, “We have a lot of Saudi players coming back from overseas who have rugby experience, and they are now contributing significantly to the club.”

Riyadh Rugby Club’s success isn’t just limited to local competitions. The team has also made a name for itself in regional tournaments, such as the Bahrain Midnight 10s, where they’ve emerged as champions for the past two years.

 

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Ambitions Beyond Saudi Borders

While the rugby club continues to dominate the local scene, Raupach shared his long-term vision of transforming the club into a multi-sport organisation with rugby as its centerpiece. The club’s ambitions include not only winning domestic competitions like the Saudi 7s league and Saudi Games but also competing at a higher level regionally in tournaments like the Dubai 7s and the newly renamed West Asia Super Rugby (formerly West Asia Premiership).

However, the road to achieving those goals has not come without challenges along the way.

“We don’t have the financial means of some of the larger clubs in the UAE or Bahrain,” Raupach admitted.

Nevertheless, he remains optimistic, stating that with the right support, including sponsorship and proper facilities, Riyadh Rugby Club could soon close the gap and compete at a higher level in Gulf Rugby.

Raupach also discussed the challenges of developing Saudi rugby players, emphasising the need to instil a mindset of hard work and discipline.

“For many Saudis, the idea of high-performance sports as a career is still relatively new,” he explained.

To address this, the club integrates Saudi players into its teams rather than having a separate national team, helping them learn from more experienced players.

This approach seems to be paying off, as Raupach noted the impressive progress made by Saudi youth teams. For instance, the under-16 and under-18 teams now consist solely of Saudi players, a promising sign for the future of the sport in the country.

Looking Ahead: Goals for 2030

As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in its sports infrastructure, Raupach sees a bright future for rugby.

By 2030, he envisions Riyadh Rugby Club becoming a fully licensed, multi-sport club that serves as a hub for sports enthusiasts in Riyadh.

“Our goal is to have a proper club setup, with fields, a gym, and a clubhouse where we can grow rugby and other sports like netball and lacrosse,” he said.

The club also aims to form stronger ties with international rugby bodies and secure more sponsorships to help elevate the sport in Saudi Arabia. With a strong community of local and expat players, Riyadh Rugby Club is poised to become a key player in the regional rugby scene.