What Are Rugby Tryouts?

Rugby tryouts — also known as trials, open days, or selection sessions — are structured events where players audition for spots on a team, squad, or programme. They happen at every level of the game, from local club sides and school teams through to professional academies, representative squads, and national programmes.

For many players, a rugby tryout is a make-or-break moment. The good news is that with the right preparation, you can dramatically increase your chances of making the cut.

Types of Rugby Tryouts

Club Preseason Trials

Most clubs hold open trials before the season starts. These are typically the most accessible tryouts, open to anyone who wants to put their hand up. They usually involve fitness testing, skills drills, and trial matches over one or two sessions.

Representative Selection Trials

District, provincial, state, and national age-grade teams hold selection trials where invited or nominated players compete for representative honours. These are more structured, often running over multiple days with clear assessment criteria.

Academy Assessment Days

Professional club academies run assessment sessions throughout the year. These are usually by invitation — based on scout recommendations or applications — and involve fitness testing, skill assessment, and game scenarios.

Scholarship Tryouts

Schools and universities with rugby scholarship programmes hold trial days where prospective students can demonstrate their ability. These combine on-field assessment with academic interviews and facility tours.

Open Combine Events

Increasingly popular, combine-style events test players across standardised physical and skill benchmarks, creating comparable data that coaches and scouts can evaluate. The Rugby Factory's events feature lists open tryouts and combines where they are available.

How to Prepare for Rugby Tryouts

Physical Preparation (4-8 Weeks Out)

Your body needs to be trial-ready well before the day. A structured preparation block should include:

  • Aerobic base — Build your endurance with interval running, tempo sessions, and game-simulation conditioning. Aim to be comfortable running at high intensity for 60-80 minutes.
  • Speed work — Short sprints (10m, 20m, 40m) with full recovery. Acceleration is more important than top speed in rugby.
  • Strength maintenance — Do not try to peak your strength for a tryout. Maintain your current levels and focus on power output through Olympic lifts and plyometrics.
  • Skills under fatigue — Practice passing, catching, tackling technique, and decision-making when tired. This replicates trial conditions far better than fresh skills work.

Mental Preparation (1-2 Weeks Out)

Your mindset on trial day matters as much as your fitness. Prepare mentally by:

  • Visualising success — Spend 10 minutes daily visualising yourself performing well in different trial scenarios. See yourself making tackles, carrying hard, and communicating with teammates.
  • Setting process goals — Focus on controllable actions (work rate, communication, effort on every rep) rather than outcomes (making the team).
  • Managing anxiety — Nerves are normal and useful. Develop a pre-trial routine (warm-up, breathing, music) that puts you in a focused, confident state.
  • Research the programme — Understand the team's playing style, coaching staff, and values. This helps you align your performance to what selectors prioritise.

Logistics (The Night Before)

  • Pack your kit, boots (studs checked), mouthguard, water bottle, and any required documents
  • Know the venue, arrival time, and parking situation
  • Eat a proper meal and get to bed early — do not cram extra training the night before
  • Charge your phone and set multiple alarms

What Selectors Evaluate at Rugby Tryouts

Knowing what coaches look for helps you prioritise your effort on trial day. Here is what selectors consistently rank as most important:

1. Work Rate and Effort

This is the number one factor. Selectors can teach skills — they cannot teach effort. Players who chase every kick, make every tackle attempt, and work off the ball constantly stand out. Never take a rep off at a tryout.

2. Communication

Talking on the field signals rugby intelligence, leadership, and awareness. Call for the ball, organise the defensive line, direct traffic at the breakdown. Coaches notice players who make those around them better through communication.

3. Coachability

Listen to instructions, apply feedback immediately, and show willingness to adapt. If a coach corrects your technique, demonstrate the adjustment on the very next rep. This signals that you are worth investing in.

4. Game Sense and Decision-Making

In trial matches, selectors watch for players who read the game — identifying space, choosing the right option, and executing under pressure. Game sense separates good athletes from good rugby players.

5. Core Skills Under Pressure

Catching, passing, tackling technique, and body position at contact are evaluated throughout. Errors in basic skills under pressure are a red flag — they suggest the player's fundamentals are not robust enough for the next level.

6. Attitude and Body Language

How you respond to mistakes, how you treat teammates, and how you carry yourself between drills all matter. Selectors are building a team, not just collecting talent. Players who sulk, blame others, or disengage after a mistake raise concerns.

After the Tryout

What you do after the tryout can be just as important as the trial itself:

  • Thank the coaches — A brief, genuine thank you after the session shows maturity and respect
  • Follow up professionally — If you have the coach's contact details, a short email thanking them for the opportunity is appropriate
  • Reflect honestly — Assess your performance objectively. What went well? What needs work?
  • Keep training — Whether you make the cut or not, use the experience to fuel your development
  • Stay visible — Keep your player profile updated on platforms like The Rugby Factory so coaches can continue tracking your progress

If You Do Not Get Selected

Rejection is part of rugby. Many professional players were overlooked at age-grade level before eventually breaking through. If you are not selected:

  • Ask for feedback — most coaches are willing to tell you what to work on
  • Set specific improvement targets based on that feedback
  • Trial again next opportunity — selectors notice persistence
  • Consider whether a different team or pathway might suit your development better
A tryout is not the end of the journey — it is just one stop along the way. Prepare like a professional, perform with intent, and trust your development process.