There is no doubt that rugby is on the up in the UK, with the sport experiencing a boom in recent years. This is largely down to the success of the national team, who have won the Six Nations Championship three times in the last four years.

However, the success of the national team is only part of the story. The grassroots game is also flourishing, with more and more people taking up the sport. This is evident in the fact that rugby union is now the third most popular sport in the UK, behind only football and cricket.

The future of rugby in the UK looks bright, both at the grassroots level and at the top, and especially the future of my rugby with the members of my family either playing for the first time or returning to the game after many years away.