Age Grade Rugby
Age Grade Rugby ensures that every player is able to enjoy rugby safely and develop as people, as well as get active. We want girls and boys to develop a lifelong involvement in rugby and other sports. Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes, and it really doesn’t matter how good you are or if you have never played before... EVERYONE is welcome!
Age Grade Rugby is the game for all boys and girls aged 6 – 18. It is played in clubs, schools, colleges and representative teams. There are age grade rules of play, regulations, playing formats, competitions and calendar for the season.
Age Grade Rugby is based on the principles of player-centred, development-driven and competition-supported. These put the wants and needs of young people at its heart.
This infographic clearly shows the progression of Age Grade rugby, and an overview of the rules and regulations at each age band.
Age Grade Rugby is a fun and enjoyable game for all players aged six and over in clubs, schools, and colleges. Children younger than six years of age can still participate in Early Year’s fun, informal rugby activities. The activities focus on each child being active, having fun and being engaged. They are appropriate for the age and stage of each child, and can be easily adapted, making them accessible for all children. The sessions help to nurture Physical development & Movement; Emotional, Social and Personal development; and Communication and Language development.
As children reach six years of age, and are in school year 2, they can take part in U7 Age Grade Rugby, which is tag and non-contact rugby with the child and fun remaining the top priorities.
From U9 Age Grade Rugby (school year 4), children can start to be introduced to contact rugby and/or continue to play non-contact. Boys and girls play together up until U11 (school year 6). At U12 (school year 7), girls transition to girls only rugby, where there are dual age bandings. Boys progress through Age Grade Rugby with single age bands U12 and U13. While the default is always for young people to play in their own year group with their peers, players can play out of their age group in specific circumstances and with defined approvals in Regulation 15.
For those children not wanting to progress to contact, T1 Rugby is an alternative way to play. This is mixed for girls and boys to play together at all ages. Please refer to T1 Rugby.
At U14 Age Grade Rugby (school year 9), children can continue to play contact, with the rules and regulations at each age banding set to help develop the game and the players’ skills. Following on from the change at U12, girls continue to play girls only rugby, where there are dual age bandings U14, U16, and 18, and boys continue to play in single age bands U14, U15, U16, U17, and U18. While the default is always for young people to play in their own year group with their peers, players can play out of their age group in specific circumstances and with defined approvals in Regulation 15.
For those not wanting to progress to contact, T1 Rugby is an alternative way to play. This is mixed for girls and boys to play together at all ages. Please refer to T1 Rugby.
