St Ives rugby captain hopes World Cup paves next step for grassroots
John Paxton has been involved with the club for around two decades
A grassroots rugby club captain in Cambridgeshire believes success for the home nations in this year's World Cup can only mean an uplift for the local game.
England face a showdown with holders South Africa tonight in a repeat of the Rugby World Cup final from four years ago.
John Paxton's been involved at St Ives Rugby Club for around 20 years:
"With grassroots rugby, it's about all ages and abilities; I remember coming back a few years ago we had a 60-year-old playing so it includes everyone," he said.
"Success breeds success; if you see successful teams or the Home Nations teams bringing some silverware back, it gives people that boost to want to play and be a part of the sport."
Last season, John recalled the first team fielding around 52 different players across the whole of the 2022-23 season.
He wants to see more consistency throughout the senior and junior game, in the hope this will develop grassroots rugby now and after the World Cup.
"You've got to make sure you're having fun"
"It was a struggle with not having as many players as you're filling the gap with older gaps who may be thinking of retiring, so I think that's where it's been tough," John added.
"Retention is massive; you want to train tough and play hard but you've got to make sure you're having fun at the same time.
"Winning does breed fun but you've got to make sure there is some discipline there; it's also making sure the people who are not wanting to play in the first team are included."
Victory for England would see them play either New Zealand or Argentina in the final on October 28 in Paris.