15.1
General Regulation and Playing Principles
15.1.1
Regulation 15 applies to the playing, training and coaching of all variations of rugby for all age groups up until and including Under 18s, including Under 19s playing down into Under 18s rugby (‘Age Grade Rugby’). This Regulation 15 applies to both genders unless indicated otherwise.
15.1.2
A player’s age grade is determined by their age at midnight on 31st August at the beginning of each Season and that age grade applies for the whole Season. Players must play in their own age grade unless permitted to play outside their age grade in the limited circumstances set out in these regulations. Players move to their new age grade from 1 August each Season. Age grades and corresponding school years are shown in the first column in the table at 15.5 below.
15.1.3
Players and Match Officials must comply with the World Rugby Laws of the Games, subject to any permitted Law Variations set out in Appendices of Regulation 15 and such other Law trials and variations as the RFU may adopt.
15.1.4
All Age Grade Club Players must be registered annually on the RFU’s online registration platform: (a) for new Age Grade Players at a Club, within 45 days of them first joining the Club; and (b) for existing Age Grade Players at a Club, within 45 days of them starting a new Season at the Club.
15.1.5
Constituent Bodies and/or event organisers may require registration cards and copies of any special dispensations issued to be taken to each match or festival. Team managers must produce these documents for inspection by the opposition if requested.
15.1.6
Disciplinary matters relating to Age Grade rugby shall follow the procedures set out in Appendix 6 of RFU Regulation 19.
15.1.7
All applications for playing out of age grade in clubs, schools and colleges (Combining, Playing Up, Playing Down and U17s Playing Adult Rugby) must be made on the RFU online forms provided.
15.2
Combining of Age Grades
15.2.1
Certain age grades are permitted to be combined together for training and playing as set out in the table at Regulation 15.5, save in respect of the combining of the male age grades from Under 14s to Under 18s which shall be permitted in respect of the 2024/25 Season.
15.2.2
If age grades are being combined, the following conditions must be met:
(a) the school or club does not have a sufficient number of players to make up a team in the single age grade;
(b) the school or club completes the online Combining Out of Age Grade Form and process;
(c) the school’s headteacher or the club’s Constituent Body provides written approval (such approval to be valid for up to one season only);
(d) no more than a third of the players of each team on the pitch at any time can be from the older age grade (as shown in Regulation 15.5);
(e) the team plays to the rules of the younger age grade;
(f) the provisions of Regulation 15.5 are followed in relation to U11 girls and the girls U12, 14, 16 and 18 age bands; and
(g) if approval is given, the club/college/school must notify the opposing team at least 24 hours in advance of the game although an opposition’s objection shall not prevent the player from playing.
15.3
Playing Up
15.3.1
Certain age grades are permitted to play up one or two age grades for training and playing if recommended by the player’s club, school or college as set out in the table at Regulation 15.5.
15.3.2
If players are playing up, the following conditions must be met:
(a) in each case an appropriate assessment is carried out (and documented) by the club/school/college. Best practice on carrying out an appropriate assessment is set out in the Age Grade Codes of Practice;
(b) the club/school/college completes the online ‘Playing Up’ Out of Age Grade Form and process;
(c) in clubs, approval is obtained from an individual who has parental responsibility for the player, the club’s Age Grade Chair and from the club’s Constituent Body;
(d) in colleges (and irrespective of whether that college plays against other institutions), approval is obtained from an individual who has parental responsibility for the player (who may be the college principal in loco parentis), from the college’s principal, and from England Colleges RFU;
(e) in schools (and irrespective of whether that school plays against other institutions), approval is obtained from an individual who has parental responsibility for the player (who may be the school’s headteacher in loco parentis) and from the school’s headteacher
(f) in respect of school or college rugby for U16s and above, the individual who has parental responsibility for the player (who may be the principal/headteacher in loco parentis) and the school headteacher or college principal is informed that it is possible that this dispensation may result in the player playing with and/or against one or more U19 players who are playing down in accordance with Regulation 15, and the assessment by the school or college includes reference to this age imbalance; and
(g) if approval is given, the club/college/school must notify the opposing team at least 24 hours in advance of the game although an opposition’s objection shall not prevent the player from playing.
15.4
Playing Down
15.4.1
Certain age grades are permitted to play down one or two age grades for training and playing if recommended by the player’s club, college or school as set out in the table at Regulation 15.5 and only in the following circumstances:
(a) the player must be in a younger academic year at school/college than the player’s academic birth year; or
(b) the player’s safety may be compromised due to their small stature in comparison to other players in the same age grade or due to a developmental or a behavioural issue; or
(c) for intra and inter-school/college matches only, the player is an Under 19 (Year 14) and must be in at least their third year of study at the school/college and in their second year of their first full level 3 qualification. They must not have previously completed a full level 3 qualification or embarked on an ‘additional’ one year programme post 16 at any level.
15.4.2
If players are playing down an age grade, the following additional conditions must be met:
(a) in each case an assessment of risk to the individual and the potential players they will play with and against is carried out by the club/college/school. In respect of U19s playing down, the assessment must take into account the possibility of the U19 playing with and against 15-, 16- and 17-year old players. Best practice as to how to carry out an assessment is set out in the Age Grade Codes of Practice;
(b) the club/school/college completes the online ‘Playing Down’ Out of Age Grade Form and process;
(c) in clubs, the approval of an individual who has parental responsibility for the player and the club’s Age Grade Chair, and for all ages, the approval of the club’s Constituent Body is obtained;
(d) in colleges (and irrespective of whether that college plays against other institutions), the approval of an individual who has parental responsibility for the player (who may be the principal in loco parentis) and the college principal, and the approval of England Colleges RFU is obtained;
(e) in schools (and irrespective of whether that school plays against other institutions), the approval of an individual who has parental responsibility for the player (who may be the headteacher in loco parentis) and the approval of the school headteacher is obtained, and for U19s playing down, the approval of England Rugby Football Schools Union is obtained;
(f) if approval is given, the club/college/school must notify the opposing team at least 24 hours in advance of the game although an opposition’s objection may not prevent the player from playing;
(g) any permission to play down is valid for up to one season only and the player must remain in that lower age grade for the entire Season; and
(h) For U18s and younger and if playing down two age grades, the written approval of the RFU Legal & Governance Director must also be obtained by sending a completed copy of the ‘Playing Down’ Out of Age Grade Form to regulations@rfu.com.
15.5
Playing Out of Age Grade Table
| AGE GRADE (SCHOOL YEAR) | COMBINING AGE GRADES | PLAYING UP | PLAYING DOWN |
| MALE AND FEMALE PLAYERS | |||
| U6s (Yr1) | U6s are not permitted to play matches, competitions, tournaments or festivals with any older age grades. | ||
| U7s (Yr2) | U7s and U8s can play and train together | Yes, with U8s only | U7s and U8s can play and train together |
| U8s (Yr3) | No playing up permitted | ||
| U9s (Yr4) | U9s are permitted to be combined with U10s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 3 U10s on the pitch) | No playing up is permitted | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U10s (Yr5) | U10s are permitted to be combined with U9s or with U11s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 3 U11s on the pitch) | No playing up is permitted | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U11s (Yr6) | U11s are permitted to be combined with U10s or with U12s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 3 U12s on the pitch) | U11 girls are permitted to play with U12 girls in accordance with 15.3.2. | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U11s boys are not permitted to play up. | |||
| From U12s and above, mixed rugby is no longer permitted and different regulations apply to male and female players as below | |||
| FEMALE PLAYERS | |||
| U12s (Yr7) | No combining is permitted | No playing up is permitted | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U13s (Yr8) | U13s are permitted to play with U14s | No playing up permitted | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U14s (Yr9) | U14s are permitted to play with U13s | No playing up permitted | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U15s (Yr10) | U15s are permitted to play with U16s | No playing up permitted | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U16s (Yr11) | U16s are permitted to play with U15s | No playing up permitted | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U17s (Yr12) | U17s are permitted to play with U18s | 17 year olds are permitted to play up in accordance with 15.6 & 15.7 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U18s (Yr13) | U18s are permitted to play with U17s | 18 year olds are permitted to play up in accordance with 15.6 & 15.7 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U19s | No combining permitted | Not applicable as U19s are adult players | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| MALE PLAYERS | |||
| U12s (Yr7) | U12s are permitted to be combined with U11s or with U13s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 4 U13s in a team on the pitch) | Yes, playing up one grade is permitted in accordance with 15.3.2 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U13s (Yr8) | U13s are permitted to be combined with U12s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max | Yes, playing up one age grade is permitted in accordance with 15.3.2 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| 4 U13s in a team on the pitch) | U13s are not permitted to play with U14s or older age grades | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 | |
| U13s are permitted to be combined with U12s | |||
| U14s (Yr9) | U14s are permitted to be combined with U15s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 6 U15s in a team on the pitch) | Yes, playing up one age grade is permitted in accordance with 15.3.2 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U14s are not permitted to play with U16s or older age grades | |||
| U15s (Yr10) | U15s are permitted to be combined with U14s or U16s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 6 U16s in a team on the pitch) | Yes, playing up one age grade is permitted in accordance with 15.3.2 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U15s are not permitted to play with U17s or older age grades | |||
| U16s (Yr11) | U16s are permitted to be combined with U15s or U17s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 4 U17s in a team on the pitch) | Yes, playing up one age grade is permitted in accordance with 15.3.2 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U16s are not permitted to play with U18s or older age grades | |||
| U17s (Yr12) | U17s are permitted to be combined with U16s or U18s in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 6 U18s in a team on the pitch) | Yes, playing up one age grade is permitted in accordance with 15.3.2 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U17s are not permitted to play with U19s or older age grades | |||
| U18s (Yr13) | U18s are permitted to be combined with U17s or U19s in accordance with 15.2.2 | Yes, playing up one age grade is permitted in accordance with 15.3.2 | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U18s are not permitted to play with 20 year olds or older age grades | |||
| U19s | No combining permitted | Not applicable as U19s are adult players | Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
15.6
Playing Adult Rugby
15.6.1
Subject to 15.7, players can play and train in adult contact rugby when they reach their seventeenth birthday provided the following conditions are met:
(a) the player does not train or play in the front row of the contested scrum. Once a player has reached the age of 18, the player may play in any position;
(b) the RFU Safeguarding Policy and RFU Regulation 21 are complied with;
(c) the Club has an appointed Safeguarding Officer and is approved by its Constituent Body to play 17 year old males and/or females in adult rugby for the Season by completing the online Playing Adult Rugby – Club Approval Form and process; https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/08311987b26f4e7dbdd3c5a55ac8bb91
(d) the player has been assessed as capable of playing with adults and the school/college/ club’s assessment has been countersigned and approved by the adult club’s Constituent Body to play adult rugby until their 18th birthday by completing the online Playing Adult Rugby – Player Approval Form and process; https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0dfda3b353b74227aecc0774b3081287
(e) approval is required as follows:
| England Academy Players, Player Development Group players and EPS players playing in any level of male adult or female adult rugby | Approval in accordance with 15.7 by completing the online England Pathway Player – Out of Age Grade Approval Form and process here. |
| All other players | Approval by applicable Constituent Body |
(f) subject to 15.7, no player in the U18 age grade or below is permitted to play in the following competitions:
i. Men’s Premiership League
ii. Men’s Premiership Cup
iii. Men’s Premiership Shield
iv. Men’s Championship League
v. Men’s Championship Cup
vi. Women’s Premiership Women’s Rugby
vii. Women’s PWR Cup,
unless, in exceptional circumstances for Premiership Rugby Club Players, approved by the Club, the RFU and PRL, and for Player Development Group Players, approved by the Club and the RFU;
(g) U16 age grade players, regardless of whether they are an England Academy Player or Player Development Group Player or England U18 Player, can only play in the U18 Academy and Player Development Group Competitions with the prior written approval of the RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby (or their delegate).
15.6.2
Players of all ages and both sexes may train and play together in noncompetitive, non-contact rugby provided the following conditions are met:
(a) Regulation 15.8 is applied;
(b) the organiser and/or coach has assessed the session and/or match to be safe for all players; and
(c) under no circumstances is any element of contact rugby permitted and the training session and/or match should be conducted in accordance with specific best practice principles set out in the Age Grade Codes of Practice.
15.7
England Academy, Player Development Group, England U18 Players and Representative Rugby
15.7.1
With the prior written approval of the RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby (or their delegate) and by completing the online
England Pathway Player – Out of Age Grade Approval Form and applicable process (here), England Academy Players (as defined in RFU Regulation 1), Player Development Group Players and England U18 Players can:
(a) in the U16 age grade, play up in the U17 and U18 age grades including
in the front row of the scrum;
(b) at 16 years old, play and train with adults, except in the front row; and
(c) in the U17 and U18 age grades, play and train with adults, including in the front row.
15.7.2
Subject to applicable competition regulations, a player may qualify to represent an Age Grade representative team in a Constituent Body for that Season if the player meets one of the following criteria:
(a) they attend a school affiliated to that Constituent Body Schools’ Union;
(b) they reside in that Constituent Body for any part of that Season;
(c) they were born in that Constituent Body;
(d) they are a registered playing member of a club affiliated to that Constituent Body;
(e) they played for that Constituent Body in a representative fixture the previous season.
15.7.3
Membership of a Constituent Body’s Developing Player Programme (DPP)/Elite Player Development Group (EPDG), Premiership Women’s Rugby Squad, Player Development Group (including the Foundation Phase) or an Academy does not entitle a Player to play for that Constituent Body if the Player does not satisfy one of the criteria set out in 15.7.2.
15.7.4
Where a player has not been selected for a Constituent Body the Divisional Chair of Selectors may allow the Player to play for another Constituent Body for which the Player is not qualified if it is in the interests of the Player’s development.
15.8
Season and Out of Season Activity
15.8.1
In Age Grade Rugby the Season shall be as set out below:
- Season 2024-25 will run from Saturday 7 September 2024 until Monday 5 May 2025.
- Season 2025-26 will run from Saturday 6 September 2025 until Monday 4 May 2026.
15.8.2
Rugby activity is permitted during the Season as set out below (and summarised in the table at Regulation 15.8.3).
15.8.3
In the U13s and younger age grades (but excluding the girls dual U14/13 age band), all rugby activity is permitted during the Season as specifically set out in the table below:
| AGE GRADE/BAND | IN SEASON ACTIVITY | ||||
| NON-CONTACT | CONTACT | OUTGOING & INCOMING TOURS | |||
| Training | Matches & Competitions | Training | Matches & Competitions | ||
| U5s & | YES | NO | NO | NO | YES |
| U6s | |||||
| U7s & U8s | YES | YES | NO | NO | YES |
| U9s to | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| U18s | |||||
| (incl.) | |||||
15.8.4
Rugby training and playing activity is permitted out of Season as specified in the RFU Summer Activity Framework as summarised in the table at 15.8.6.
15.8.5
In addition to the RFU Summer Activity Framework, the following activity is permitted out of Season:
(a) Outgoing Tours and preparations for such tours in the U14s to U18s age grades (including girls U14/U13 age band) only, as long as Regulation 15.9 is complied with;
(b) at U15 and U17, CB Representative Rugby activity as per the Age Grade Playing Calendar up to and including the last May Bank Holiday Monday;
(c) if a competition match scheduled to be played within the Season is abandoned or postponed due to adverse weather conditions, such match may be replayed up to and including the last May Bank Holiday Monday, at all times in accordance with Regulation 15.9 which requires prior written approval; and
(d) Academy or Player Development Group activity is permitted if preapproved by the RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby (or their delegate).
15.8.6
An overview of the RFU Summer Activity Framework is set out below:
Note: Best practice principles on out of season activity can be found in the Age Grade Codes of Practice
15.9
Competitions, Tournaments, Festivals, Rugby Camps and Tours are permitted butthe following conditions must be met:
(a) Regulation 15 is complied with in full;
(b) they are in line with the Age Grade Playing Calendar and competition format of the specific age grade; and
(c) written prior approval is obtained as set out in the table below by completing the online Approval of Activity form and process to be found under Regulation 15 at https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/rules-andregulations/regulations.
| ACTIVITY | ORGANISED FOR | APPROVED BY |
| In Season & Out of Season Competitions, Locally organised Festivals, Tournaments and Competitions | Clubs | CB |
| Schools | CSU | |
| Colleges | ECRFU | |
| National Festivals, Competitions and Camps if participating teams are from more than just neighbouring CBs and there are more than six entrants | Clubs | CB |
| Schools | ERFSU | |
| Colleges | ECRFU | |
| Rugby Camps - Local/County | All | CB |
| Rugby Camps - Regional/National | All | RFU |
| Annual activity beyond club and school/college level (incl domestic Unions), to be included and approved in AG Playing Calendars and published on CB websites | All | CB Executive |
| Outgoing and Incoming Tours | See RFU Regulation 10 and Guidance at https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/running-your-club/rugby-tours | |
