About Me
I am Rugby Dave
My name is Dave Rumary and I work with schools and youth organisations to support young people through values-led rugby training.
Not to create rugby players – but to create calmer groups, clearer boundaries and more confident young people.
One of my first training assignments: volunteering to look after the RCU U8s at an RVBy tournament in 2017
Rugby is the tool, not the goal
The Beginning
Where it all started
My first experience of rugby: being taken to play mini rugby at Guildford and Godalming (G&G), combined with playing for Glebelands secondary school in an unbeaten year at age 12.
One of the many successes G&G had
Team Photo. That’s me looking in the wrong direction (top row, far left). A habit I have not got out of!
My School Days
School was loud, my energy often got me into trouble – but rugby gave me structure, belonging and a way to channel frustration into something constructive. I didn’t have the words for it back then. I just knew: when rugby was part of my life, I functioned better.
Progression:
As a teenager, rugby became the place where things finally made sense to me.
On the Pitch
My Rugby Journey
Rugby has been a constant presence throughout my life. Growing up in the UK, it gave me structure and clear values.
University of Sunderland 1st Team, 1994 (1st row, far right)
Where I Belong
When I left school and started at Guildford College
When I took the massive step to move to opposite ends of the country, to attend Sunderland University
When I started working in the Medway Towns & Royal Leamington Spa
Finding a Rugby club gave me an immense sense of belonging. It was a home from home when dealing with big changes.
Medway RFC 3rds, 1996 - 97 (1st row, far left )
A home abroud
When I moved to Germany, rugby again became my way of finding connection and community, providing me with a safe space through familiarity in a strange and challenging environment.
Representing Medway RFC in 1996. This photo appeared in the local paper (White headband)
A selection of the Rugby Clubs that I have been proud and honoured to represent
Added commitment
My passion for the sport motivated me to take on more responsibilities away from the pitch, including taking on the role of Team Manager.
Off the Pitch
Helping out at the RCU Summer Camp 2024 in my role as Mr Sun Cream
Never able to just stand on the sidelines so picking up a whistle and refereeing an U8 game
An honour
My biggest achievement to date has been being recognised by the Rugby Club Unterföhring as their Clubman of the Year. This was for my efforts in the role of Amenities and Wellbeing Manager, establishing a culture of club solidarity through developing, managing and running the Clubhouse, which is now named after me.
In my “Happy Place”, running the RCU Club House, now named Dave’s in my honour. I was awarded the Clubman of the Year in 2019 for my efforts
The Family Follows
As soon as I knew that my children were following in my footsteps in wanting to play rugby, it was immediately clear that I wanted to put more back into the sport and move into youth coaching.
Realisation
As I made this move, I began to see how powerful the game can be beyond sport — especially for young people who struggle with confidence, boundaries or belonging.
The early days of my daughters Hannah and Lilly catching the Rugby Bug
A big step
A Career Change
After a long career in engineering and a period that gave me the opportunity to stop and rethink everything, I came to the conclusion that once again, I wanted to give more back: to promote this amazing sport and to give young people in Germany the same opportunities to benefit, as I did, from playing rugby.
Receiving my Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1998. I am not sure this would have been possible without the help of rugby
Familiar patterns
I quickly recognised some similar patterns from my experiences with Rugby:
Restless students finding focus.
Shy students finding courage.
Groups learning to work with each other instead of against one another.
RCU RiS
Thanks to faith, trust and support from Unterföhring Rugby Club (RCU), I launched the Rugby in Schools Project (RiS). Using contacts within the club, I arranged some training sessions and. I soon found myself back on a school playground with a rugby ball in my hands with a group of students in front of me.
The Rugby Club Unterföhring e.V. (RCU) Rugby in Schools (RiS) Logo - the project I started and continue to manage
An epiphany
That was the moment I understood something clearly:
I want to use Rugby to help these children as it helped me.
Today
Do you still play rugby?
This is a question I am often asked. My answer is simple: I do not play regularly, as the mind is willing, but the body less so. However I am not retired and definitely have not played my last game!
A pre season game with local rivals MRFC in 2024. Shaking hands with team mates and opposition - something that is core to rugby
Hot, exhausted and being subsituted in the same pre season game against MRFC - a team I used to play for
Another incredibly proud moment rugby has given me: Celebrating my Bundesliga 2 debut with my son Max on the team in 2024
Another big step
In Summer 2025, I decided to take an even bigger step and in September of the same year I started the Rumary 5 Rugby Training business. This means that I can give a long-term commitment to continue my journey using rugby to support young people in their development.
The R5R Logo: a Lineout performed by the RvBy U15 womens team, including my daughters. The colours are from my favourite sports teams. The message: The Rugby Values are core to my work
Support
With continued support from the RUGBY CLUB UNTERFÖHRING and STUDENTENSTADT RUGBY, my rugby training journey continues in schools and youth organisations. I design and lead bespoke-designed training sessions to provide fun, interesting and challenging experiences.
How I work
Respect
From the very first minute, one thing is clear:
respect is given as a baseline.
In return, I expect it back – for teammates, for the space, and for the boundaries.
Generating Understanding and Confidence
My sessions are calm, structured and predictable – especially important for students who struggle with discipline, frustration or self-confidence. Boudaries are set based on principles rather than arbitory instructions. The result: an an understand of the why, and feeling of safety to try, learn from trying and grow
Values
I use the rugby values of Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Passion and Solidarity. In fact they are so important they feature on the RCU RiS and R5R Logos.
My Beliefs
I believe in:
Clear, fair boundaries
Mutual respect as the foundation of every interaction
Second chances – without lowering standards
Safe spaces where trying matters more than being perfect
I also believe:
Continuous punishment is not a long-term solution
Lowering expectations is not the answer
Difficult behaviour does not mean that a child is a problem
When young people feel respected, they are far more willing to respect others in return
Above all
From personal experience, I believe passionately that rugby can support and aid the development of young people
Convinced?
Yes
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Not yet
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Contact
Telephone :
+49 (0) 172 841 3511
Email:
Dave.Rumary@R5Rugby.com
Address:
Waldstr. 2,
85540 Haar,
Germany