Lawrence Dallaglio: 'Five-a-side will be like rock 'n roll rugby... fast and furious'

Lawrence Dallaglio believes playing Sevens rugby opened the door for his success in the longer format of the game
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Matt Majendie @mattmajendie26 September 2019

Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has credited the shortened format of the game for his glittering international career and has tipped Rugby X to overhaul rugby in the same way as T20 cricket.

The new five-a-side format will be launched at the O2 on the weekend of the Rugby World Cup Final at the end of October featuring some of the world’s best Sevens players.

And Dallaglio, who won the World Cup at both Sevens and XVs, said: “I played and won the Sevens World Cup and, without the shortened format of the game, I wouldn’t necessarily have had that pathway to XVs rugby.

“It’s probably the same with (winger) Ruaridh McConnochie, currently in England’s World Cup squad in Japan. I hope it’ll do for rugby what T20 has done for cricket.”

Rugby X will be played indoors on a shortened pitch between some of the world’s best Sevens players although playing five-a-side and with no kicking or lineouts, the aim being an even faster flowing game with plenty of tries.

“It’s a really interesting attempt to make the game more accessible,” said Dallaglio.

“It should be applauded with some amazing teams taking part: England, France, the BaaBaas, Argentina and France, in half-term week coinciding with the Rugby World Cup Final.

“I know that rugby can be complicated and this should be easily digestible with hopefully try after try after try. And if games can’t be decided by full-time it’ll be a one v one attacker-defender situation, rugby’s super over if you like. It’s an innovative and exciting way to bring rugby to people.”

Dallaglio believes that XVs rugby at grassroots level is not always an easy pathway for budding players, in part because lots of schools lack a full-sized rugby pitch. In contrast, he believes Rugby X following its inception could open the doors for a new generation of England rugby players.

“There’s no doubt that 15 a side is not for everyone,” he said. “This is easy to understand, it’s just full-on and there’s not the complexities of law after law. It’s just fast and furious.

Ruaridh McConnochie
AFP/Getty Images

“You still have full contact but it’s an accelerated version of the game, a sort of rock ’n roll rugby.

“It’s an exciting step to make the sport more accessible. I believe five-a-side can bring new players and supporters into the sport, with more of an NBA feel to it almost. Barriers to entry to the game this way are lower.

“Teachers, say, with no background or else limited space and resources can get straight into this. Imagine if you’re a mad-keen rugby teacher in an inner city school, what perfect way to start of rugby.

“And Rugby X is the absolute pinnacle. It’s the elite end, the very best players.

“There’s a huge amount of potential with this.”

This article was produced in association with RugbyX. Lawrence Dallaglio is an ambassador of RugbyX, which launches at the O2 on October 29. Visit rugbyx.com

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