Getting Started: Player Guide

This guide will walk you through setting up your player profile and finding your first team opportunity on Rugby Network.

Step 1: Create Your Account

  1. Visit the Rugby Network homepage
  2. Click Login or Get Started
  3. You'll be redirected to our secure login page
  4. Choose to sign up with email or use an existing account
  5. Complete the registration process

Step 2: Set Up Your Profile

After logging in, you'll be taken to your dashboard. Let's set up your profile:

  1. Click on Profile in the navigation menu
  2. Fill in your basic information:
    • Name: Your display name
    • Bio: A brief description of yourself (optional)
  3. Click Save to update your profile

Step 3: Select Your Positions

Positions are crucial for matching you with the right opportunities:

  1. From your profile page, go to Manage Positions
  2. Click Add Position
  3. Select your primary position (the one you're most comfortable with)
  4. Check Primary Position for your main role
  5. Optionally add secondary positions you can play
  6. Click Save

Rugby Positions

The standard rugby positions are:

Forwards (1-8):

  • 1: Loosehead Prop (LHP)
  • 2: Hooker (HKR)
  • 3: Tighthead Prop (THP)
  • 4: Lock (LK4)
  • 5: Lock (LK5)
  • 6: Blindside Flanker (BF)
  • 7: Openside Flanker (OF)
  • 8: Number 8 (N8)

Backs (9-15):

  • 9: Scrum-half (SH)
  • 10: Fly-half (FH)
  • 11: Left Wing (LW)
  • 12: Inside Centre (IC)
  • 13: Outside Centre (OC)
  • 14: Right Wing (RW)
  • 15: Fullback (FB)

Step 4: Declare Your Availability

Let teams know when you're available:

  1. Go to Availability in the navigation menu
  2. Click Add Availability
  3. Select:
    • Start Time: When you're available from
    • End Time: When you're available until
    • Position: Your preferred position for this time slot (optional)
    • Notes: Any additional information
  4. Click Save

Tips for availability:

  • Add multiple time slots for different days
  • Be specific about your available times
  • Update your availability regularly
  • Remove slots when you're no longer available

Step 5: Browse Team Needs

Now you can find teams looking for players:

  1. Go to Browse Needs in the navigation menu
  2. Use filters to narrow down opportunities:
    • Position: Filter by positions you play
    • Date Range: Find needs that match your availability
  3. Click on a need to see details
  4. Review the team, event, and requirements

Step 6: View Your Commitments

When a team confirms you for an event, it becomes a commitment:

  1. Go to My Commitments in the navigation menu
  2. View all your upcoming commitments
  3. Each commitment shows:
    • Team name
    • Event details
    • Position you'll play
    • Date and time

Managing Commitments

  • Commitments are created by team owners
  • You cannot have overlapping commitments (the system prevents this)
  • Contact the team directly if you need to discuss changes
  • Cancelled commitments will be marked and no longer count against your schedule

Tips for Success

  1. Keep your profile updated: Teams want to know about your experience
  2. Be responsive: Check the platform regularly for new opportunities
  3. Be reliable: Honor your commitments or communicate early if issues arise
  4. Add multiple positions: This increases your chances of finding opportunities
  5. Expand your availability: The more available you are, the more matches you'll find

Common Tasks

Update Your Profile

  1. Go to Profile
  2. Edit your information
  3. Click Save

Change Your Positions

  1. Go to Profile > Manage Positions
  2. Add or remove positions as needed
  3. Update your primary position if it changes

Remove an Availability Slot

  1. Go to Availability
  2. Find the slot you want to remove
  3. Click Delete

Next Steps

  • Explore the Player Workflows for detailed task guides
  • Check the FAQ for common questions
  • Start browsing team needs and get playing!

Ready to find your next team? Head to Browse Needs to get started!