As the cost of grassroots sport continues to rise, one local rugby club is bucking the trend by removing junior fees entirely.
Nelson Rugby Football Club has opened registrations for the 2026 season with all junior rugby subscriptions free of charge. The decision follows research into the barriers preventing young people and families from taking part in physical activity, with the cost of seasonal sport ranking among the biggest hurdles.
Nelson’s oldest rugby club has a long tradition of participation and success but has noticed the financial strain on families in recent years.
Junior club captain Lisa Trusler says that the hope is that removing registration fees will encourage more to sign up for a season of fun and community.
“We’ve wanted to do it for a while now, but we thought there’s no better time to give it a crack and see if we can make it work moving forward.”
Several clubs around the region have introduced similar zero fee registration options for some junior grades, but not the entire junior space.
According to Lisa, the announcement has been met with surprise and delight by coaches.
“We’ve put it out to the people within our club and they are stoked. The plan now is to advertise to the community and let them know that we’re a family-first club that will look after everyone, regardless of age.”
The club is also exploring ways to keep other playing costs down. A cupboard full of preloved rugby boots is available at club headquarters, and each season begins with a community gear swap for training shirts, shorts and socks.
Families can find out more at the club’s first preseason open day or by visiting the club’s social media pages.
