Norsk rugby - hvordan erfarer norske spillere de sosiale fenomener i rugby?

The purpose of this study is to explore the social experiences of Norwegian rugby players within the sport. The research question addressed is: What social experiences do Norwegian male rugby players aged 18–35 have from participating in rugby in Norway, and what commonalities exist in these players’ individual experiences of Norwegian rugby? The empirical foundation of the study is literature on the social aspects of rugby internationally, as well as research on team sports in Norway. Following semi-structured interviews with six active Norwegian male rugby players, three recurring themes emerged: inclusion, peer pressure related to alcohol consumption, and transferable values. The findings reveal a consensus among the informants that rugby in Norway is inclusive on several levels. The sport’s many positions and roles require a wide range of physical attributes among players, which allows for greater body diversity compared to more popular team sports in Norway. Additionally, rugby culture is inclusive across teams, and socializing between teams after matches is a tradition. The informants had differing experiences with peer pressure to drink within the rugby environment, and there was no agreement on whether it constitutes a problem. However, they did agree that participating in the rugby community teaches positive values that can be applied to other areas of life.