Join the Club: Rugby, American sports, Racquet sports

Join the Club is The Local's guide to becoming a member of sporting organizations in Sweden.

• Persson bidding for table tennis medal (29 Jul 12)
• Hercog defends Swedish Open title (23 Jul 12)
• 'English key to China changing the world': Swedish table tennis star (21 Jul 12)

This week we get our hands dirty and plunge headlong into muddy rugby pitches and dusty baseball diamonds before grabbing a strawberry or two and practicing our serve on manicured tennis courts.

Rugby

Founded in 1962, Stockholm Exiles RFC is one of the most successful rugby clubs in Sweden.

Exiles ladies are the current Swedish champions, while Exiles men came in second behind Enköping last year.

The club has more than 200 active members hailing from all corners of the globe.

Exiles currently field two senior teams, one ladies team, oldboys, juniors and 10 youth teams.

The club also organizes a hugely popular 10-a-side rugby tournament, Stockholm Tens. Last year the tournament attracted 1,200 players and officials from all over Europe, with most teams coming from the UK. This year's tournament will be held on July 26-27th.

Information and contact:

Exiles RFC

Stockholm Tens


If you're looking for a club closer to where you live, the Swedish Rugby Association website has an English-language Wanted section:

Swedish Rugby Association


Alternatively, you can find a list of all clubs playing in the Swedish league here:

Full club list


American Football

The Luleå Eskimos, Borås Rhinos, Botkyrka Raiders and the Helsingborg Crodiles... all proof that American Football has more than made its mark on Sweden.

Find a club near you using this handy list of teams active in the Swedish league:

List of clubs

Or contact the American Football Association if you want to know more about the alternatives in your part of the country:

Contact details


Baseball

Here's where to go for home run heroes looking to touch base with like-minded people:

Swedish Baseball & Softball Association


Racquet sports

Tennis

The home of Wimbledon legend Björn Borg has plenty of clubs for bashline bashers and aces of serve and volley game:

Swedish Tennis Association

Squash

What better way to work off the week's aggressions than to sweat buckets while whacking a little ball against a wall?:

Swedish Squash Association

Badminton

Grab a shuttlecock and make your way down to your nearest court:

Swedish Badminton Association

Any other clubs looking for members? Let us know and we'll add you to the guide.