Five phases, like a well-drilled set piece
A line-out works because everyone knows their job: the call, the throw, the lift, the catch and the drive. Getting started on Rugby Lover UK is a lot simpler than that, but it helps to know the order of play. Here are the five phases, from your first click to your first date.
Step 1: create your profile
Choose Signup Here and the form asks for a handful of essentials: your gender, the gender you hope to meet, when you were born, an email and a password of your choosing. That opens your account. Your date of birth confirms you are over eighteen; you can choose how your age appears to others.
Then comes the part that matters most: describing yourself. Write a few honest lines about who you are, what you do and what a good weekend looks like. Upload some clear, recent photos in which your face is easy to see. A picture from a match day is welcome, but so is one from a wedding, a walk or a holiday. Variety helps people picture a life with you.
Step 2: add your rugby
Now the bit that makes this site different. Tell people where rugby fits:
- Which team or nation you follow, and how long you have suffered for them.
- Whether you play, and if so where, in what position and at roughly what level.
- Other roles such as coaching, refereeing, physio work or volunteering at your club.
- Your season: training nights, match days, the summer lull and how you spend the Six Nations.
Nobody expects a novel. A couple of sentences per point is plenty, and you can return to add more later. If you only watch, say so proudly; many players actively prefer someone who enjoys the game without wanting to debate scrum laws over dinner. Our profile tips are worth a read before you finish.
Step 3: choose who you hope to meet
Set your search preferences: an age bracket and the radius you would happily cover for a date. Think about your rugby life when you choose a distance. If you already drive forty minutes to training, a match an hour away will not seem far.
Your profile can also flag a preference for players, for supporters or for neither in particular. Being clear here saves everyone time and helps the right people find you.
Step 4: start talking, then arrange to meet
When a profile catches your eye, send a message. The best openers pick up on something specific. "I see you play on the wing. Have you ever outrun a full-back or is that a myth?" will get a better response than "hey". If someone writes to you, answer when you can; a short, friendly reply is far better than silence.
Let the chat develop at whatever tempo suits you both. Some couples are ready to meet after a handful of messages, while others like to talk for a week or two. When it feels right, suggest something low-key in a public place. Our date ideas guide has plenty of options, from a grassroots fixture with a pint afterwards to a stadium tour or a big screen in a lively pub.
Step 5: stay safe when you meet
Choose somewhere busy for a first meeting, arrange your own way home and let a friend know where you will be. Big match days are fun but crowded, and the bar is rarely quiet; if your first date is at a game, agree a clear meeting point and keep an eye on your drinks. Keep personal details such as your address and workplace to yourself until you know someone well.
If something does not feel right, trust that instinct. You can block or report anyone at any time. The safety guide covers the details.
How long does it all take?
Creating an account takes a few minutes. Writing a profile you are proud of might take half an hour, perhaps over a coffee on a quiet Sunday. After that it is up to you. Some people find someone interesting in their first week; others take a whole season. There is no right timescale, and nobody is keeping score.
Changing your mind
Everything on your profile can be edited. If you change clubs, retire from playing, take up coaching or decide to follow a different team (no judgement, honestly), update your profile so it stays accurate. You can also adjust your search settings, hide your profile for a while or cancel a renewing plan from your account.
Paying for a plan
You will need a VIP or VIP Plus plan to use the full set of tools. Plans run from one week to twelve months, and all prices are shown in pounds. The cheapest is £14.99 for one week of VIP and the most comprehensive is £208.05 for twelve months of VIP Plus. Shorter plans renew until you cancel, while twelve-month plans end on their own. See the pricing page for the full table.
If your partner-to-be does not follow rugby
You might meet someone through the site who is keen on you but lukewarm about the game, perhaps a friend of a fan or someone who has only ever watched the World Cup final. That can work beautifully. Our guide to dating someone who doesn't like rugby has practical ideas for sharing the sport without forcing it.
What happens behind the scenes
While you are chatting, you stay in control. Nobody sees your email address, and your messages remain on the site until you choose to move to another channel. If someone stops replying, that is their loss and nothing you need to chase. If someone keeps messaging after you have made it clear you are not interested, block them; it takes a second and they will not be told.
Think of the early stages as a warm-up rather than the match itself. You are finding out whether there is enough in common to make a coffee or a pint worthwhile, nothing more. Keep it light, ask questions and let the person on the other side show you who they are.
A tip for your first week
Read before you write. Spend a few minutes looking at profiles near you and noticing which ones make you want to reply. Then come back to your own and make it just as clear.
Your turn to take the field
The features page describes each tool in more detail, and our guides answer the dating questions rugby people ask most. If you have seen enough, Signup Here and complete phase one tonight.