At Featherstone Lions, we provide a fun, safe and progressive pathway for children aged 3-11 years old. Our Primary Rugby programme is designed to help young players develop confidence, friendships and sporting skills at a pace suitable for their age and development. Children begin their journey in our Tots & Cubs sessions (ages 3-6), where the focus is on fun, movement and learning through play. As they progress into U6-U9s, players take part in non-contact tag rugby, developing their passing, running and teamwork skills. From U10s and U11s, children are introduced to modified contact rugby league, playing smaller-sided games on reduced-size pitches to help them develop safely and confidently before moving into junior rugby.Whatever their age or experience, every child is welcomed into a positive and supportive environment where they can have fun, stay active and make lifelong friends.
Fun, Friendship & First Steps into Sport
At Featherstone Lions, our Tots & Cubs sessions are designed specifically for boys and girls aged 3-6 years old. These sessions are all about having fun, making friends and building confidence in a safe and welcoming environment.We understand that young children learn best through play, so our sessions focus on fun games and activities rather than traditional rugby training. Every child can take part, regardless of ability or experience.
More than Just Rugby
While we use rugby-themed games and activities, our sessions are about much more than rugby. Children develop important life skills while enjoying themselves and being active.Our activities help children improve:
Indoor Training all Year Round
If you're looking for a fun, active and affordable activity for your child, come along and give Tots / Cubs a try. Ages: 3-6 years
Boys and Girls Welcome
Indoor Sessions
Fun, Games and Activities
Just £1 Per Session We'd love to welcome you and your child to Featherstone Lions. No need to Book just come along
Our U6-U8s teams play tag rugby, providing children with the perfect introduction to Rugby League in a fun, safe and enjoyable environment.
Tag rugby allows young players to learn and develop all the core skills of the game without the physical contact of tackling. This means children can focus on running, passing, evasion, support play, communication and teamwork while building confidence and enjoying every session.
Players learn how to run into space, change direction, beat defenders, pass accurately and develop line speed in defence. These are all fundamental Rugby League skills that form the foundations for future success in the game.
One of the biggest advantages of tag rugby is that size and strength become far less important. Rather than bigger children simply running through opponents, success comes from speed, agility, awareness and teamwork. Every player has the opportunity to contribute and develop regardless of their physical size.
Without the worry of tackling or being tackled, children are free to play with a smile on their face, express themselves and build confidence with the ball in hand. This creates a positive learning environment where players can focus on having fun, making friends and developing their skills.
At Featherstone Lions, our coaches ensure every child is encouraged, supported and given the opportunity to learn at their own pace. The emphasis is always on enjoyment, participation and personal development, helping young players build a lifelong love of Rugby League.
Under 9s rugby is the first introduction to tackling, with children taught how to tackle safely and correctly while continuing to develop their running, passing, catching and teamwork skills.Games are non-competitive, with the focus on having fun, building confidence and helping every player develop at their own pace.For children who aren't quite ready or confident enough to tackle, tag rugby friendlies can still be arranged, allowing them to keep playing and developing without any pressure to move into contact before they are ready.Under 9s rugby is mixed for boys and girls, and players of all abilities and experience levels are welcome.
At U10s and U11s, players take the next exciting step in their Rugby League journey as they are introduced to contact rugby through modified games designed specifically for their age and development.
Games are played on smaller pitches with fewer players, ensuring children have more involvement, more touches of the ball and more opportunities to develop their skills. The reduced numbers and pitch size help players build confidence while learning the fundamentals of contact Rugby League in a safe and controlled environment.
At this stage, players begin to combine the running, passing, evasion and communication skills developed through tag rugby with tackling and defensive techniques. Coaches focus heavily on safe tackle technique, body position and player welfare, ensuring children learn the correct habits from the start.The smaller-sided format encourages players to make decisions, support teammates, find space and develop their understanding of the game. Every player has the opportunity to be involved, whether carrying the ball, making tackles or supporting their teammates in attack and defence.
While competition becomes a little more structured, enjoyment remains at the heart of everything we do. Our aim is to create confident, skilled players who love coming to training, enjoy match days and continue developing both on and off the field.At Featherstone Lions, we provide a supportive environment where every child can learn, improve and be part of a team. By the time players move into junior Rugby League, they will have developed a strong foundation of skills, confidence and game understanding that will benefit them throughout their sporting journey.