From Six Teams to Eighty-Four: How Steve Redfern Built Europe's Biggest Beach Rugby Weekend in Magaluf

Oliver sits down with Steve Redfern, former Leicester, England and Sheffield Eagles prop, who seventeen years ago brought six teams to a beach in Mallorca and started what is now one of Europe's biggest beach rugby tournaments. This year's edition had 84 teams, six pitches, more women's teams than men's, and an estimated two million euros flowing into the Magaluf economy over one weekend. Steve talks about the pink card that stops fights, the German team that brings ham and flags, the referees who double as crowd entertainers, and why he has never introduced prize money. Plus: next year's dates are confirmed and bookings are already filling up.

Steve Redfern is a former professional rugby player (Leicester, England, Sheffield Eagles) and the founder and organiser of Mallorca Beach Rugby, one of Europe's largest full-contact beach rugby tournaments. He has been running the event on Magaluf beach for 17 years.

• Steve Redfern: Leicester, England, Sheffield Eagles (late 70s/80s)
• Retired from playing due to double retina detachment
• Mallorca Beach Rugby: 17 years, started in Santa Ponza, moved to Magaluf year two
• 2026 edition: 84 teams (record), 6 pitches, 5,000-6,000 spectators
• 2027 dates: 1-2 May (opening party 30 April), first UK May bank holiday
• Women's competition: now equal or more teams than men's
• Vets tournament: 12 men's teams, 6 women's teams
• Auburn: women's team from year two, still competing, won trophy this year
• Bremen: German team, 12-13 years attending, tent/flags/ham tradition
• Matthias: Bremen organiser
• Pink card: players must kiss and hug to defuse tension
• Roger Musi Memorial Trophy: named after late Mambo's DJ
• Rules: 5-a-side, rolling subs, 4 mins each way, no scrums/line-outs
• Sponsors: Tom Brown's, Blackbeard's, Crusoe's, Chili Lounge, the Square
• Calvia Council support, Mayor (former Old Toro player) presents prizes
• Pembroke: first team booked for 2027
• Scottish national team once played under a fake name
• Economic impact: estimated two million euros
• Website: mallorcabeachrugby.com
• Luna Radio: where Steve and Oliver first met

• 00:00 Intro / Steve's playing career (Leicester, England, Sheffield Eagles)
• 01:40 The retina detachment that ended his playing days
• 02:28 How Mallorca Beach Rugby started (Italy trip, Magaluf boys' weekend)
• 03:17 Year one in Santa Ponza, year two in Magaluf
• 04:52 From 6 teams to 84: the growth
• 05:18 Rules of beach rugby explained
• 06:13 The social side: rugby players in Magaluf
• 08:27 The pink card: kiss and make up
• 09:04 Why there is no prize money
• 10:19 Women's teams: from one to majority
• 11:50 Vets tournament and diversity of players
• 13:01 Bremen: the German team that defines the spirit
• 14:15 Roger Musi Memorial Trophy
• 14:46 Next year: dates, bookings, and how to enter
• 15:56 Economic impact: 5,000 people, two million euros
• 17:05 Calvia Council and the Mayor
• 18:25 Biggest beach rugby tournament in Europe?
• 19:00 Come and watch: why non-rugby fans love it

https://www.majorcabeachrugby.co.uk/

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