Building Your Own Rugby Fives Practice Net: A Practical Guide
Rugby Fives rewards repetition, and a serviceable practice wall lets you grind out rallies when there's no partner available. Whether you're working out of a suburban backyard in Brisbane or a club shed in regional Victoria, a sturdy net becomes a year-round training partner that forgives poor scheduling and unpredictable weather.
The good news is that building a functional rebound wall for Rugby Fives doesn't demand a professional workshop. With a trip to Bunnings, a Saturday arvo, and a willingness to measure twice before cutting, players across the country are putting together their own practice setups for a fraction of what a commercial install would cost. Below is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to build a net that holds up against the harsh Australian sun, coastal wind, and the occasional stray cricket ball from next door.
Choosing the Right Location for Your Practice Net
Location shapes everything that follows. Select a flat, level patch with reliable drainage so rainwater doesn't pool at the base of your posts. If you're building near the coast in places like Coffs Harbour or Geraldton, think about the prevailing wind direction and orient the rebound face so it doesn't act like a sail during a southerly buster.
Shade matters more than many first-time builders realise. Repeated exposure to direct sun in a Perth summer or a Brisbane January afternoon can warp timber, delaminate plywood, and fade painted surfaces. Position the net where a colourbond fence, an existing shed, or a fast-growing evergreen hedge provides afternoon shade. If shade isn't an option, plan on a UV-resistant marine-grade finish from the start.
It's also worth checking your local council regulations. Many Australian councils treat practice structures under pergola or shed rules once they pass a certain height or footprint. A quick call to your shire or a visit to the state planning portal saves a dispute further down the track.
Sourcing Materials from Australian Suppliers
Most of what you need lives within the timber aisle of your nearest Bunnings or an independent outfit such as Highland Timbers in the Southern Highlands or Total Hardware in Adelaide. Standard 90x45mm treated pine handles the frame, while a sheet of 18mm structural plywood forms the rebound face. For the concrete footings, a couple of bags of quick-set post mix get you out of the ground in under an hour.
Fasteners make or break the project. Stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanised screws resist rust in coastal air far better than the bright zinc variety. Pre-painted hex-head screws save you touching up later, and a box of 50mm timber screws is usually enough for the whole build.
You'll also want a spirit level, a cordless drill, a circular saw or jigsaw, a tape, a pencil, and a shovel for the footings. Optional extras include a router with a roundover bit to ease the panel edges, and a palm sander to smooth any rough spots that might chew up a Rugby Fives ball over time.
Measuring, Marking, and Cutting the Timber
The official Rugby Fives court is roughly 18 feet long by 9 feet wide with a 15-foot back wall, but a practice net doesn't need to replicate the full proportions. Most home builds settle on a 2.4-metre-wide by 3-metre-high rebound face, which gives you a generous target without overwhelming a suburban block.
Mark up the plywood first. Score a clean cut line with a straight edge, then cut slightly outside the line and trim back for a true edge. If you're routing the rear of the panel to create a slight concave dish — a trick some experienced fives players prefer for a truer rebound — leave an extra 10mm of material around the perimeter.
Allow the cut timber to acclimatise on site for 24 to 48 hours before assembly. Aussie humidity swings can leave freshly milled pine with a slight bow, and a day resting flat on the driveway under a tarp evens things out. This small step prevents twisted uprights and a wonky front face later on.
Assembling the Frame
The frame is straightforward: two upright posts, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a centre stud to keep the plywood from flexing under heavy hand. Bolt the uprights into stirrup-style post anchors set into concrete footings rather than burying the timber directly. Direct burial invites rot within a few years, even with treated pine.
A square, plumb frame is the difference between a panel that rebounds true and one that sprays balls sideways. Brace the diagonal across the rear before you attach any sheeting, and check with a long level once the concrete has gone off. The few minutes spent squaring the frame at this stage save hours of frustration later.
| Material Option | Weight | Rebound Feel | Weather Resistance | Approx. Cost per 2.4m Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18mm Structural Plywood | Medium | Crisp, slightly soft | Moderate (needs sealing) | $90–$120 |
| 12mm Exterior Plywood + Fibreglass Skin | Medium-Heavy | Fast, lively | Excellent | $180–$240 |
| 6mm Acrylic Sheet on Plywood Back | Heavy | Fastest, hardest | Excellent | $260–$320 |
| Marine Ply 15mm | Heavy | Warm, controlled | Very good | $200–$280 |
Plywood remains the go-to for amateur builds because it balances cost with a forgiving response that suits developing players. Acrylic-faced panels reproduce tournament conditions more accurately but demand a sturdier sub-frame and more precise anchoring to handle the extra weight. Whichever option you pick, leave a 5mm expansion gap around all edges so the sheet can move with humidity.
Fitting the Rebound Face
Screw the panel to the frame from the rear so the front face stays clean and free of snag points. Predrill every hole to stop the plywood splitting, especially near edges. Countersink the heads so they sit flush and don't catch the ball on a glancing return.
Spacing the fasteners evenly matters more than the sheer number. Run screws every 150mm along the perimeter and every 200mm through the centre stud. Skimping on the centre line is the most common reason a freshly built wall starts to drum and flex after a few months of use.
If you've routed a concave dish into the rear of the panel, ensure the dish faces forward when mounted. The concave shape generates a slightly higher, more consistent rebound off the wall and rewards players who like to play a tight, controlled game.
Anchoring and Weatherproofing
Set each post footing at least 600mm deep, with the bottom of the hole below your region's frost line if you're building somewhere like Canberra or the higher parts of the NSW tablelands. Pour the post mix dry and let ground moisture cure it, or add a litre of water per bag for a faster set. Brace the posts while the concrete goes off so they stay dead plumb.
Finish the lot with at least two coats of exterior acrylic or marine-grade polyurethane. Pay particular attention to end grain on the timber, which soaks up water faster than the faces. In the tropics or anywhere in northern Australia, an extra coat every twelve months keeps the structure looking fresh and extends its working life well beyond a decade.
Stainless steel post brackets last almost indefinitely, even within a few hundred metres of the ocean. Pair them with stainless coach screws and the only real maintenance over the first five years is the occasional repaint and a check that nothing has worked loose.
Drills and Tracking Your Progress
A practice net only delivers value if you turn up regularly. Start with basic catch-and-hit rallies to warm the hands, then progress to working specific shots: the cut, the half-volley, and the backwall boast that defines Rugby Fives. Set phone reminders for two short sessions a week rather than one long one — repetition locked in short bursts carries over better into match play.
Use markers on the face to simulate zones and targets. A piece of masking tape shaped into a 30cm square becomes a "must hit" target for a session, helping you build precision rather than just whacking the ball as hard as possible. Rotate which shots you practise to avoid lopsided habits, and remember to swap sides so the muscle memory you build matches real match conditions.
Tracking intensity makes solo sessions more productive. Many players now pair practice with a wrist-worn device to monitor effort, and a recent fitness watch comparison breaks down how the leading models handle battery life and heart rate precision across longer sessions. Picking a watch that lasts a full weekend tournament or a long arvo of drills keeps the data consistent.
After a month of consistent work, most players notice a sharper cut, a more confident boast, and a quieter mind under pressure. Share your build photos and drill ideas with the wider Rugby Fives community, and have a look at the fixtures, rankings, and coaching programs on the association site to find your nearest club.
Ready to put your hand up? Grab your list, head to Bunnings, and set aside a weekend to build the practice wall your game has been waiting for. Once it's standing, share what you've learnt with players around the country through the Rugby Fives Association, and use the championships and school programs listings on the site to find hitting partners, coaching clinics, and a place to test your new net against fresh opposition.
