Overhead flat-lay photograph of a worn leather Rugby Fives glove resting on a dark wooden court floor, with a hand-stitched ball nearby; deep browns, burgundy shadows, and warm cream highlights evoke a vintage sporting atmosphere.
A circular emblem featuring crossed hands in silhouette against a maroon and gold shield, surrounded by the words Rugby Fives Association.

Rugby Fives Association

The governing body for Rugby Fives — promoting play, coaching and competition across the UK

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News

TitleDateExcerpt
Keeping Rugby Fives History Alive Across GenerationsRugby Fives is a sport shaped by continuity. Its courts, rules, rivalries, school traditions, club fixtures, and championship stories connect present-day…
From Squash Court To Fives CourtMoving from squash to Rugby Fives is a natural step for many court-sport players. Both games demand fast reactions, controlled movement, sharp anticipation,…
The Physical Demands Of Rugby Fives: A Fitness PerspectiveRugby Fives is played in a compact court where speed, balance, timing, and touch determine every exchange. Players strike the ball against the front wall with…
The Case For A Rugby Fives Court At SchoolA school court can become much more than a place for physical education lessons. It can support movement, concentration, teamwork, confidence and healthy…
How to Watch Rugby Fives And Enjoy Every RallyRugby Fives is a fast, compact wall-ball sport in which players use gloved hands instead of rackets. A match can look mysterious at first: the ball travels at…
The most memorable Rugby Fives matches in historyRugby Fives has never depended on grand stadiums or large crowds to create sporting drama. Its most compelling contests have taken place inside compact courts,…
How to Fundraise for your local Rugby Fives clubA strong local club gives players somewhere to compete, train and build friendships. Yet court hire, equipment, coaching, competition entry, insurance, travel…
Find Your Place In University Rugby FivesUniversity is an ideal time to discover Rugby Fives. The sport is quick to learn, easy to fit around a changing timetable, and social from the first session.…
The Future of Rugby Fives: Growth and InnovationRugby Fives has always combined speed, judgement, movement, and close contact with a distinctive court-based challenge. Its compact playing area creates…
How Rugby Fives Rankings Are Calculated And UpdatedRugby Fives rankings provide a clear way to track performance across a season. They help players see how their results compare with others, give clubs a useful…
A close-up photograph of a player's hand striking a small leather ball against a cream-coloured court wall, motion blur conveying speed; warm natural light from above.

What is Fives?

A handball sport with deep roots

Rugby Fives is a fast, skilful handball game played in an enclosed court with walls. It takes its name from Rugby School, where the modern game developed. The RFA provides resources and an introductory video for newcomers eager to understand the rules and spirit of the sport.

Discover the game
A wide-angle photograph of a row of Rugby Fives courts at a traditional British school, with ivy-covered brick walls and cream court surfaces under soft overcast daylight.

Where to Play

Courts across the country

Rugby Fives is played at schools, universities and clubs throughout the UK. Whether you are a seasoned competitor or picking up a glove for the first time, the RFA can help connect you with local venues and fellow players.

Find a court
A panoramic photograph of a tournament in progress across multiple courts, with players in white kit moving against cream walls; warm ambient light and a sense of quiet concentration.
An overhead flat-lay photograph of a handwritten tournament draw sheet on cream paper, with a fountain pen, a leather-bound record book, and a pair of well-worn gloves arranged neatly.

Rankings

Tracking the best in the game

The RFA maintains official player rankings, including a dedicated Women's rankings list and end-of-season standings. A comprehensive record book of tournament winners stretches back to 1925, preserving nearly a century of competitive history.

View rankings
A photograph of a fixture board on a cream-painted wall, with neatly handwritten match cards pinned in rows; soft shadows and warm indirect light.

Fixtures & Tournaments

The competitive calendar

The RFA calendar includes championships, open tournaments, and school and university matches. Major events have included the National Open Singles, the South West Open, the London Open, the Scottish Open, and the Owers Trophy — alongside representative fixtures against schools and clubs.

See fixtures
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Archive

Nearly a century of history

The RFA archive, cared for by Hon Archivist David Barnes, holds news reports and results from 1998–2018, action photographs, school and club histories, articles, tributes, obituaries, and a map of Fives places around the world. Earlier material is drawn from the former RFA website.

Explore the archive
A wide photograph of a packed gallery at a Rugby Fives tournament, with spectators lining the court balcony; warm cream walls and maroon accents in the crowd.

Get in Touch