Born from military camaraderie. Built for everyone. United by rugby.
For many serving and former members of the Armed Forces, the military is more than just a career. It’s a community, a family and a place where lifelong friendships are formed. But when that chapter comes to an end, maintaining those connections and finding that same sense of belonging can sometimes be difficult.
STATE OF MIND SPORT have been delighted to hear that’s where Legacy Cowboys and Cowgirls began.
Our roots are firmly within the military community, built around the friendships, camaraderie and shared experiences that come with serving together. But what started with those military connections is slowly growing into something much bigger.
Today, Legacy Cowboys and Cowgirls is becoming a social rugby community for everyone, regardless of whether they’ve served in the Armed Forces or not.
We’re bringing together people from all walks of life who share one simple thing: a desire to enjoy rugby, make friends and be part of something.
Because ultimately, you shouldn’t need a military background, years of rugby experience or a particular level of ability to feel like you belong.
You just need to want to be there.
Bringing the enjoyment back into rugby
At Legacy Cowboys and Cowgirls, we don’t measure success purely by what’s on the scoreboard.
Of course, we want to compete, play good rugby and enjoy our matches, but what matters most is everything that happens around the game.
It’s the laughter in the changing rooms, the friendships made on the sidelines, the conversations over a drink afterwards and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself.
We recognise that not everyone wants to play rugby at the highest level. Some simply want to pull on a shirt again, have a run around with their mates and enjoy the sport without pressure.
Others might be returning to rugby after years away, looking to meet new people or simply searching for a community to call their own.
And that’s exactly what we want to provide.
With both our Cowboys and Cowgirls teams, we’re continuing to create opportunities for more people to get involved, make memories and rediscover what made them fall in love with rugby in the first place.
You don’t have to be the best player on the pitch. You don’t even have to have played before. What matters is that you feel welcome, included and part of the team.
Military roots, an open door to everyone
Our military heritage will always be a huge part of who we are.
One of the driving forces behind Legacy Cowboys and Cowgirls is recognising the challenges that can come with leaving the Armed Forces.
Military life provides structure, purpose, routine and a strong sense of identity. For some, transitioning away from that environment can mean losing the everyday connections and friendships they’ve relied upon for years.
We want serving personnel and veterans to know that, even when their military career ends, the friendships, support and camaraderie don’t have to end with it.
But we also recognise that the need to belong isn’t exclusive to the military.
People from every background can experience loneliness, isolation, difficult periods in life or simply the feeling that they’ve lost their social circle.
That’s why our doors are open to everyone.
Whether you’re a veteran looking to reconnect with that familiar sense of camaraderie, someone new to an area hoping to make friends, or a rugby player who just wants to enjoy the game again, there’s a place for you with us.
Our military roots gave us our foundations, but it’s the people joining us from all walks of life who will help shape our future.
The importance of belonging
We don’t pretend that a game of rugby can solve every problem, but we firmly believe that friendship, physical activity and having somewhere you belong can make a real difference.
Sometimes it’s not about having a serious conversation or asking someone how they’re feeling.
Sometimes it’s simply about giving them a reason to get out of the house, meet their mates, have a laugh and feel included.
It’s knowing that there’s a group of people looking forward to seeing you at the weekend.
It’s having somewhere you can turn up, forget about the pressures of everyday life for a few hours and just enjoy yourself.
And sometimes those small moments can mean more than we realise.
As Legacy Cowboys and Cowgirls continues to grow, we want to create more than just rugby teams. We want to build a genuine social community where friendships extend beyond matchdays and everyone feels they have people around them.
Because being part of a team shouldn’t stop when you step off the pitch.
Working together to make a difference
Mental health and wellbeing are subjects that matter enormously to us, particularly within the military and sporting communities.
That’s why we’re excited to develop a relationship with State of Mind, an organisation that shares our belief in the power of sport, conversation and human connection.
We want to help break down barriers around mental health, encourage people to look out for one another and remind everyone that reaching out for support should never be seen as a weakness.
We also want to show that supporting mental wellbeing doesn’t always have to begin with a difficult conversation.
Sometimes it begins with an invitation to play rugby.
A message asking someone to come along.
Or simply making sure that nobody feels forgotten.
As our club continues to grow, we hope to create more opportunities to bring people together, raise awareness and support those who might otherwise feel isolated.
More than a team. A community. A legacy.
Ultimately, Legacy Cowboys and Cowgirls isn’t about creating the most successful rugby team.
It’s about creating something that lasts.
A place where old friendships continue, new friendships begin and people always have something to look forward to.
We’re incredibly proud of our military heritage, and that will always remain part of our identity. But our ambition is to build a community that reaches far beyond it.
A club where serving personnel, veterans, civilians, experienced players and complete beginners can all stand alongside one another, wearing the same shirt and sharing the same sense of belonging.
You don’t have to wear the uniform anymore to still have a team behind you. And you don’t have to have worn one at all to be part of ours.
Because when the final whistle blows, the friendships, memories and support don’t have to end.
Born from military camaraderie. Built for everyone. United by rugby.
That’s the Legacy Cowboys and Cowgirls.’
