Archer Academy, East Finchley

First timer’s recommendation – a good introduction to rugby if you haven’t played it before, or if you like the sport but don’t fancy a pair of ears that look like Martin Johnson’s.

Another of the big sports that we didn’t play at school, unless you’re counting a half term in January back in 1999 where the freezing weather and rock-hard pitches were enough to put most players off for life. I played in a Rugby League Sevens Tournament that same year with a friend who went on to play semi-professionally, but haven’t played since. Tag rugby appealed as it involved the things I like watching in rugby such as passing, running, side-stepping, faking, and kicking, but not those that in my old age I’d rather avoid such as tackling, hand offs and gouging.

It is a brilliant sport, and the fact that even a watered down version of it can still be popular and a pretty decent run around says a lot about its appeal. The company called Try Tag Rugby have set up leagues around London where you can join as an individual or as a team (6-a-side) and they are very welcoming to players of all abilities. The game is similar to rugby league in that you get 6 attempts to score, and a try is worth one point, but if scored by a female (two on each team), the points are doubled. Games are 15-minutes each way and it was one of the best sports I’ve tried this year.