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.

Rugby Fives Association

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

How Rugby Fives Builds Stronger Corporate Teams

Corporate team building works best when people have a shared challenge, clear goals, and enough space to communicate naturally. Rugby Fives offers all three in a compact, energetic format. Played with the hands against one or more walls, the sport is quick to learn, physically engaging, and adaptable to different levels of experience.

The game creates useful parallels with workplace collaboration. Players must read situations, trust their partners, respond quickly, and contribute even when they are not striking the ball. These behaviours can carry into meetings, project work, leadership development, and cross-department relationships.

A session can be arranged as a friendly introduction, a structured workplace competition, or part of a wider wellbeing and community programme. With support from the Rugby Fives Association, organisations can connect with experienced clubs, coaches, venues, and volunteers while giving staff an unusual sporting experience.

Why the sport suits workplace development

Rugby Fives has a simple basic premise, but it rewards awareness and cooperation. Players use their hands to hit a ball against a wall, aiming to make it difficult for the opposition to return. The pace encourages participants to make decisions without lengthy discussion, while doubles play gives colleagues regular opportunities to coordinate.

The activity also avoids some of the barriers associated with conventional corporate sports days. Participants do not need advanced technical knowledge, specialist equipment, or previous experience in a major team sport. A coach can teach the fundamentals quickly, then adjust the intensity for beginners, experienced players, or mixed groups.

Because matches are short, employees can rotate between playing, observing, scoring, and supporting teammates. That variety creates opportunities for people with different fitness levels and personalities to take part meaningfully.

Skills that transfer beyond the court

A well-designed Rugby Fives session can make workplace behaviours visible. Communication is especially important: partners need concise calls, timely warnings, and agreement about who will cover each area. Teams that fail to communicate often leave gaps, duplicate movements, or react too late.

The game also develops situational awareness. Players must watch the ball, understand the position of their teammate, and anticipate the opponent’s next shot. In a business setting, this resembles monitoring changing priorities, recognising dependencies, and responding to new information without losing sight of the wider objective.

There is also a valuable lesson in shared responsibility. A player cannot control every exchange, and a single mistake does not have to define the match. Teams can reset, alter their approach, and support the person taking the next shot. That makes the activity useful for conversations about resilience, accountability, and constructive feedback.

Choosing the right format for your group

The best format depends on the size of the workforce, available facilities, and the purpose of the event. A short taster session is suitable for an away day where the sport forms one part of a larger programme. A round-robin tournament works well when the organisation wants friendly competition and a clear schedule.

For leadership or team development, facilitators can combine play with short reflection periods. Groups might discuss how they shared information, responded to pressure, or included quieter colleagues. These observations can then be connected to current workplace projects rather than treated as abstract lessons.

Format	Best for	Typical emphasis	Practical considerations
Introductory taster	First-time participants	Basic skills and confidence	Keep groups small and allow frequent rotation
Doubles round robin	Social competition	Communication and partnership	Use short matches and simple scoring
Coached development session	Managers or project teams	Decision-making and feedback	Build in reflection between activities
Charity or community event	Wider staff engagement	Participation and shared purpose	Partner with a club or local programme
Workplace championship	Large organisations	Team identity and friendly rivalry	Plan fixtures, officials, timings, and results

Whatever the format, organisers should explain the purpose before play begins. Staff are more likely to engage when they know whether the priority is wellbeing, relationship building, competition, fundraising, or a combination of these aims.

Planning a safe and inclusive session

A corporate event should begin with a clear risk assessment and an honest description of the physical demands. Warm-up activities, suitable footwear, hydration, and sensible match lengths help participants enjoy the sport safely. Coaches should demonstrate controlled striking, court awareness, and appropriate movement before competitive play starts.

Inclusion needs to be built into the format rather than added afterwards. Mixed-experience pairings, flexible rotations, modified rules, and alternative roles can help more people participate. Some employees may prefer scoring, coaching support, photography, or event coordination before trying a full match. These roles still contribute to the team experience.

Organisers should collect relevant information in advance, including accessibility requirements, medical considerations, and confidence levels. A welcoming briefing can establish that the event is about learning and collaboration, not athletic status. The Rugby Fives Association and affiliated clubs can help identify suitable facilities, coaches, and local expertise.

Turning play into meaningful learning

The activity becomes more valuable when facilitators connect what happens on the court with real work. A short debrief can focus on specific observations: Who communicated clearly? How did the team handle an unexpected change? Did everyone understand the plan? What happened when one person dominated the decision-making?

These questions should be linked to practical workplace situations. For example, a team might compare court positioning with the distribution of responsibilities on a project, or compare recovery after a missed shot with the way colleagues respond to an error. The aim is not to force a dramatic lesson from every point, but to create useful shared language.

Managers can reinforce the learning after the event by agreeing on one or two behaviours to practise. Teams might adopt clearer handovers, shorter check-ins, or a rule that every member has an opportunity to contribute before a decision is finalised. A memorable sporting session then becomes part of ongoing team development.

Recommendations for a successful event

Set a clear purpose, such as improving communication, welcoming new colleagues, supporting wellbeing, or raising money for a cause.
Use qualified coaches or experienced Rugby Fives players to teach the fundamentals and manage different ability levels.
Keep games short, rotate partners, and mix departments so employees build relationships beyond their usual teams.
Provide accessible options for people who cannot or do not wish to play continuously, including officiating, scoring, coaching assistance, and event support.
Schedule a short debrief and record one practical team behaviour to carry into the workplace.

A strong event also benefits from careful administration. Confirm the venue, equipment, timings, changing facilities, first-aid arrangements, and communication plan well in advance. If several teams are involved, publish fixtures and scoring rules before the day so that competition remains enjoyable rather than confusing.

The association’s wider network can add depth to the experience. A local club may provide players or coaches, while a school or community partnership can give the event a social impact dimension. Organisations could combine a staff tournament with fundraising, volunteering, or support for youth participation in the sport.

Measuring the impact after the event

Evaluation does not need to be complicated. Before the session, organisers can ask employees to rate confidence in areas such as cross-team communication, collaboration, and workplace connection. A short follow-up survey can repeat those questions and invite specific examples of changed behaviour.

Attendance, participation rates, and feedback from different departments can reveal whether the event reached the intended audience. It is also useful to note whether new relationships formed across teams, particularly in organisations where hybrid working has reduced informal contact.

Longer-term impact can be tracked through team meetings and project reviews. If staff continue using clearer communication, involve colleagues more evenly, or approach setbacks with greater composure, the value of the session extends well beyond the court. Rugby Fives becomes a practical setting for rehearsing the habits that help teams perform well.

Bring your colleagues together through a Rugby Fives experience designed around participation, connection, and shared achievement. Contact the Rugby Fives Association to explore coaching, clubs, competitions, and community opportunities for your organisation, and start planning an event your team will remember.

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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

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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

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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

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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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