The rugby union network includes both professional staff and volunteers who support universities and young people. To help you start or develop your university rugby union programme there is a wealth of information and support available below. Anything you can’t find please make your way to our Help Portal. and use our FAQs to search for and answer to your query.
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) provides regular competitive rugby opportunities for all students with leagues, knockout competitions and rugby sevens events. With over 65 leagues across the UK, there is a league suitable for all abilities and experience levels. Please check with your university to find out more information about their BUCS teams.
BUCS also run National Leagues for both male and female players (BUCS Men’s Super Rugby and Women’s Super Rugby), providing the chance for players to play and develop at a high level as well as gaining a degree. For more information please visit the BUCS website.
View the latest BUCS Super Rugby fixtures, results and league table.
Rugby Union is a game for all and we’d encourage universities to offer as wide a programme of rugby, including non-contact (T1 Rugby), Reduced Contact (X Rugby) and full contact. To find out more on each of these formats please click on the links below:
T1 Rugby is our non-contact format of rugby.
It can be played anywhere (you only need a ball to get started), can be mixed gender and is easy to introduce and deliver.
It’s:
- easy to adapt and is suitable for any group of players.
- It looks and feels more like the game of rugby union, with the same tactical problems and rugby specific skills.
- suitable for all shapes and sizes – a key selling point of rugby union.
- a great way to introduce people to the contact game if they want or is a game in its own right.
T1 Rugby gets players active and is a great way to make friends, develop social skills and give opportunities to become a leader, or even referee. England Rugby has a suite of physical and online resources to help you get started.
XRugby is our modified format of contact rugby.
It is big on enjoyment, a quick game, with fewer players which can be played almost anywhere. It is contact rugby but not as you know it!
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It can be played with 5, 7, or 10 players on each team.
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It is played across the pitch with rolling substitutions.
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The number of players on the pitch determines the rules of that will be played.
Contact rugby has running, passing and scoring tries like all other formats of rugby and also includes tackles rucks and mauls.
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Contact rugby is introduced slowly from Under 9s in the age grade game to help young people understand the game while also making sure they learn the proper technique to approaching contact. As players get older, there will be a couple of differences to the game. Most noticeably, the number of people in a team will increase as will the number of laws (rules).
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When players are in the age grade game, they stay in their age group until Under 11s. After this, the game switches to single gender from Under 12s to Under 18s.
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Under 14s onwards can play 15-a-side, full contact rugby.
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There are no mixed gender playing opportunities in contact rugby.
7-a-side contact rugby, also known as rugby sevens, is a fast-paced version of contact rugby where two teams of seven players compete on a standard-sized rugby field.
The game is played with similar rules to 15-a-side rugby, including scrums, lineouts, and penalties.
- CPD for those wanting to coach/teacher or referee. There is more information, including how to book in our course training booklet.
- Headcase - The RFU’s HEADCASE programme aims to increase understanding and provide information on concussion and other related topics, including how to prevent and manage suspected concussions. It is recognised as one of the UK’s leading concussion awareness and education resources. All Staff delivering XRugby rugby should have completed Headcase concussion module and either England Rugby First contact or equivalent.
- England Rugby Secondary Schools Course – This face to face course includes XRugby content.
This non-assessed course is designed for those teaching players starting out in contact and non-contact rugby. It will help teachers to progress from non-contact to contact safely, building confidence and competence to teach and referee the contact areas of the game. It is recommended that everyone teaching, coaching or refereeing contact rugby in a university setting has attended with course.
- XRugby – eLearning
- For further advice, get in contact with your local club or university partner who will be delighted to help.
- CPD for those wanting to coach/teacher or referee. There is more information, including how to book in our course training booklet.
- Headcase - The RFU’s HEADCASE programme aims to increase understanding and provide information on concussion and other related topics, including how to prevent and manage suspected concussions. It is recognised as one of the UK’s leading concussion awareness and education resources. All Staff delivering Full contact rugby should have completed Headcase concussion module and ERCA or equivalent.
- England Rugby Coaching Award – This face to face course includes Full contact content.
This is a competency-based course. It's designed to provide coaches with the skills and knowledge to coach players of all ages. It includes face-to-face days, Communities of practice, and In-situ based tasks. Everyone teaching, coaching, or refereeing contact rugby in a university setting should have completed this course.
- For further advice, get in contact with your local club or university partner who will be delighted to help.
- CPD for those wanting to coach/teacher or referee. There is more information, including how to book in our course training booklet.
- Headcase - The RFU’s HEADCASE programme aims to increase understanding and provide information on concussion and other related topics, including how to prevent and manage suspected concussions. It is recognised as one of the UK’s leading concussion awareness and education resources. All Staff delivering Full contact rugby should have completed Headcase concussion module and ERCA or equivalent.
- England Rugby Refereeing Award – This face to face course provides the knowledge, skills and attributes to
safely and effectively referee young players and adults. The course develops the learner in a practical-based environment,
designed for those refereeing from U12 upwards. Everyone refereeing contact rugby in a university setting should have completed this course.
- For further advice, get in contact with your local club or university partner who will be delighted to help.
The Students’ RFU (SRFU) is a national constitute body of the RFU representing higher education. They are an Independent Limited Company with Charitable Status which is run by volunteers. There are over 100 universities with student rugby clubs that make up the membership of the SRFU and are in turn full voting members of the Rugby Football Union. For more information on how the SRFU can help you at your university, including the SRFU Grants Scheme, follow the below links and get in touch.
As part of the RFU's strategy to encourage increasing numbers of people to continue to play rugby, the Community Game Board (CGB) agreed to initially introduce the RFU Student Pass.
Both of these provide players with an increased choice and access to regular playing opportunities. This additional flexibility in player movement is governed by the RFU Regulations as well as World Rugby Regulation 4.5.8.
The Student Pass enables verified students to be simultaneously registered with two RFU clubs who compete in the RFU Leagues, or with one club in the RFU Leagues and with another club in another Union; subject to compliance with the RFU Student Pass application process in all respects.
Student Pass - Application Process
For Women representing a club at levels 2-6 and for Men at levels 5 and below, you can apply via email to your RFU Registrar, using the following form and the relevant guide above: Student & Services Pass - Dual Registration Form
For Men representing a club at Levels 3-4, you can apply for a Student or Services Pass Dual Registration, by submitting the application form below via DocuSign.
Student & Services Pass DocuSign User Guide
Apply for Student or Services Pass via DocuSign
The RFU has a close partnership with universities across the country, all of which deliver a broad rugby programme for students, from representative competition in BUCS to more local opportunities. With a focus on GROWTH, SUSTAINABILITY and TRANSITION of students into and out of their universities.
Details of our Partners can be found on the map below.
University Partners:
Birmingham City University (BCU) RFC
Bishop Grosseteste University
Canterbury Christ Church University RFC
De Montfort University (Leicester) RFC
Exeter University RFC
Hartpury University RFC
Imperial College RFC
Lancaster University RFC
Leeds Beckett University RUFC
Loughborough Students RFC
Manchester Metropolitan University RFC
Nottingham Trent University RFC
Sheffield Hallam University RFC
University of Bath RFC
University of Birmingham RFC
University of Brighton RFC
University of Bristol RFC
University of Durham RFC
University of Hull RFC
University of Keele RFC
University of Leeds RFC
University of Leicester RFC
University of Liverpool RFC
University of Manchester RFC
University of Northampton Students' Union
University of Nottingham RFC
University of Plymouth RFC
University of Southampton RFC
University of the West of England RFC
University of Warwick RFC
University of York Student Union
Our University Partnership Officer advises and provides support that enables universities to grow and sustain their rugby programmes. Please see contact details below.
Jonny Stephenson – jonnystephenson@rfu.com
A club link is an agreement between a university and a local club to work together to develop the very best sport opportunities for young people. Our club link guide provides practical advice on developing a link and working together in the best interests of the player.
With nearly all BUCS matches taking place on a Wednesday, local rugby clubs are a great way to continue playing rugby, on a Saturday, when you go to university. Many student-friendly clubs offer a student discount to make rugby as accessible as possible for all. Local clubs are also the perfect way to meet and network with other adults who may be able to assist in your professional development and help with job prospects after you’ve graduated. To find the nearest club to your university, please use the Club Finder.
To help us keep you up to date and to best help support you we ask that All student rugby union players register for a Game Management System (GMS) account and link it with their university.
You can find more information about GMS here.
Player safety and welfare is vitally important for everyone involved with rugby union. Rugby Safe is the RFU’s overarching player safety and welfare programme, putting player welfare at the heart of the game.
Find out more about Rugby Safe.
University Guidance, including regulation 9.
