What age can my child start rugby at Barrelhouse?

The youngest Juniors group, the RugRats, is for 4-year-olds. After that, squads run from Under 6 to Under 18, based on your child's age on 1 September 2026.

Where and when are the sessions?

Juniors squads train at Dubai Science Park in Arjan. RugRats to Under 9 train on Monday and Under 10 to Under 18 on Wednesday, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, and all squads train on Saturday from 8am to 9am. Community sessions for Under 6 to Under 9 run on Tuesday in Emirates Lakes and Thursday in Al Safa 1, from 5pm to 6pm.

How much does it cost?

Juniors (two sessions a week) cost 1,500 AED a term or 4,000 AED a year. Saturday-only Juniors is 900 AED a term or 2,600 AED a year. Community sessions are 900 AED a term or 2,600 AED a year. The yearly options are discounted and non-refundable.

Is there a free trial session?

The website does not mention a trial. Ask the club on WhatsApp before you register.

Yes. The academy page says it is open to boys and girls of all ages and abilities.

Register online on the Juniors or Community page of the website. The form asks for your child's details, Emirates ID, passport number and medical conditions, and the club emails a payment link within 3 working days.

Barrelhouse Rugby Academy: junior rugby for boys and girls in Dubai

Ball SportsRugby

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Safa

Ages5–8years old
PriceAED 900a term, lowest price
OpenAskNot published yet
WhereAl SafaOpen in Maps

Book online

Barrelhouse Rugby Club was set up in the UAE in 1982 by a few expatriates, and its Barrelhouse Academy coaches boys and girls of all abilities. The academy runs all year alongside the school terms. For the 2026-27 season, the Juniors squads train at Dubai Science Park in Arjan twice a week, on a weekday evening and on Saturday morning, in age groups from the RugRats (4-year-olds) up to Under 18, and the club says its juniors play in UAE leagues and tournaments. For younger children who want something lighter, Community sessions for Under 6 to Under 9 run once a week in Emirates Lakes and Al Safa 1, with more of a mix of ages and a focus on skills and enjoying the game. Fees are on the website: Juniors cost 1,500 AED a term for two sessions a week. You register with an online form, and the team answers questions on WhatsApp.

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The activity

Rugby, explained

Rugby for children is a running, passing and teamwork game. Young players learn to carry the ball, pass it backwards to a teammate, dodge and chase, and work out where to run to help their side. As they grow, sessions add tackling technique, the breakdown, kicking and position-specific skills, always taught step by step within their own age group. Rugby builds fitness, speed and agility, coordination and confidence, and it teaches children to rely on their team and respect the referee and opponents. Squads are organised by age: at Barrelhouse the youngest group, the RugRats, is for 4-year-olds.

Who it's for

Boys and girls of all ages and abilities, according to the academy page. Juniors squads run from the RugRats (4 years old) through Under 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 and Under 18. Your child's squad depends on their age on 1 September 2026: a child who is 10 on that date plays Under 11. Community sessions are for Under 6 to Under 9. School ECA sessions are only for pupils at the schools where they run.

What to expect

Sessions last an hour. RugRats to Under 9 train on Monday and Under 10 to Under 18 on Wednesday, both from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, and every Juniors squad trains again on Saturday from 8am to 9am. Community sessions run from 5pm to 6pm. Training covers catch and pass, ball carrying, support play, spatial awareness, decision making, defence and the breakdown, kicking, speed, agility and fitness. To join, fill in the registration form, which asks for your child's Emirates ID, passport number and any medical conditions; the club emails a payment link within 3 working days. The site does not mention a trial session or a kit list, so ask on WhatsApp.

Highlights

Juniors squads for the 2026-27 season train at Dubai Science Park in Arjan (barrelhouserugby.club)
Age groups from RugRats (4 years old) to Under 18, for boys and girls (barrelhouserugby.club)
Juniors: 1,500 AED a term or 4,000 AED a year for two sessions a week (barrelhouserugby.club)
Community sessions for Under 6 to Under 9 in Emirates Lakes and Al Safa 1 (barrelhouserugby.club)
Juniors play in UAE leagues and tournaments (barrelhouserugby.club)
Barrelhouse Rugby Club was set up in 1982 (barrelhouserugby.club)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

Barrelhouse Rugby Academy is rated 4.9 on Google from 15 reviews. 14 of those reviews are five-star and one is three-star.

The facts

Ages: RugRats (4 years old) to Under 18; Community sessions Under 6 to Under 9; squad by age on 1 September 2026
Prices: Juniors: 1,500 AED per termor 4,000 AED per year (two sessions a week)
Saturday only: 900 AED per termor 2,600 AED per year
Community: 900 AED per termor 2,600 AED per year
Yearly options are discounted and non-refundable (prices on the site in September 2026)
Schedule: Juniors at Dubai Science Park: RugRats to Under 9, Monday 5.30pm-6.30pm and Saturday 8am-9am; Under 10 to Under 18, Wednesday 5.30pm-6.30pm and Saturday 8am-9am. Community: Tuesday 5pm-6pm (Emirates Lakes) and Thursday 5pm-6pm (Al Safa 1), Under 6 to Under 9. Term 1: 5 September to 12 December 2026
Where: Dubai Science Park, Arjan (Juniors squad sessions) · Emirates Lakes (Community sessions, Tuesday) · Al Safa 1 (Community sessions, Thursday)
How to book: barrelhouserugby.club/juniors · wa.me/971505045198 · [email protected]

Guide · 8 min readRead: One sport or several? What the evidence says about kids playing more than one sport

Questions parents ask

Good to know

The programme follows the school terms. Term 1 2026 runs from 5 September to 12 December, with half term from 19 to 25 October and a break from 2 to 6 December (barrelhouserugby.club)
Squads go by your child's age on 1 September 2026 (barrelhouserugby.club)
The yearly payment options are discounted and non-refundable (barrelhouserugby.club)
After you register, a payment link is emailed within 3 working days (barrelhouserugby.club)
The club says many of its coaches are former elite rugby players (barrelhouserugby.club)
The website also has a netball academy page, but it is for 2024, so ask whether netball runs this season (barrelhouserugby.club)