At U14 Age Grade Rugby (school year 9), players can continue to play contact, with the rules and regulations at each age banding set to help develop the game and the players’ skills.
The First Contact course, England Rugby Coaching Award (ERCA) and England Rugby Referee Award (ERRA) all support coaches involved in delivering to players in the U14 band and upwards.
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.
