T1 Rugby emphasises fun, fitness, and inclusion, providing a welcoming and safe environment for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
It is the first non-contact form of the game to include lineouts, scrums, kicking, and breakdowns, while remaining simple to play. T1 Rugby can be played by mixed-gender teams, ensuring inclusivity and enjoyment for everyone.
If you are new to delivering rugby, a great place to start is our T1 Rugby Quick Start guide and World Rugby's introductory video.
Information on how to set up and market your sessions please see our Club Guide.
More resources for Clubs, including the Marketing Toolkit, can be found below as well as other useful information.
Please use these links if you are looking for information on T1 Rugby in Schools and Colleges.
An introduction to how to run a T1 Rugby session can be found in our Quick Start guide.
- T1 Rugby Quick Start guide
- How to introduce and progress T1 Rugby support video
- T1 Rugby Club Guide
- Marketing Toolkit (download)
6-week session plans:
• Stage 1 session plans (suitable for non-rugby specialists)
• Stage 2 session plans
• Referee tips
For a full outline of how to play the game, please see:
• Game infographic
• Game rules infographic
• How to play (short rules) infographic
• How to play (long rules) document
T1 Rugby is a low-barrier format of rugby and can be used for both growth and retention in the game. Insights show there is a large demographic of over a million young people who'd be interested in playing a non-contact format of rugby; T1 Rugby provides a playing opportunity that looks and feels like more traditional formats of the game.
England Rugby is investing in delivering T1 Rugby in schools across the country; providing an opportunity for many young people to try rugby in a safe and fun environment.
T1 Rugby is simple and easy to set up in any delivery space.
We encourage our deliverers to offer T1 Rugby all year round and incorporate it as best suits them; however, many clubs offer T1 Rugby out of the contact rugby season during the spring and summer months; with the season launch in April and most participants attending May - July.
You may choose to have mixed gender sessions; you may also choose to have mixed age sessions. If you choose to have mixed age sessions you must ensure all necessary adaptations are in place to ensure the safety of the youngest or most vulnerable participants.
All sessions must be properly risk assessed.
Once you've decided to run T1 Rugby sessions, you can promote them by using our marketing toolkit and tagging our social media channels. @T1RugbyEngland
More details on this can be found in our Club Guide.
Game Format & Implementation
The basics:
• Seven players per side with rolling, unlimited subs
• Played on half a pitch
• Seven touches to score
• 20-minute games (10 minutes per half)
What's new?
• Kicking in open play and to restart the game
• A non-contact breakdown formed of five players (three from the defending team and two from the attacking team)
• Scrums with three players from each side (no engagement, no push, no contest)
• Lineouts with three players from each side (no lifting, no contest)
Adaptations:
• Can be played with or without tags and at running or walking pace
• Mixed gender and mixed ages (provided all RFU regulations are followed)
• Pitch size, team size, match length can be adapted to the needs of your team.
• Rules such as kicking can be removed.
Safeguarding
As T1 Rugby can be played mixed ages and genders, it is vital that appropriate safeguarding measures are in place.
For full Safeguarding regulations please see our Safeguarding page.
Key Regulation to note:
• Regulation 15.6.2
• Players of all ages and both sexes may train and play together in non-competitive, 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 the best practice principles set out in the Code.
If clubs are interested in mixing ages and genders, a thorough risk assessment must be in place and any amendments required to ensure the safety of the youngest/most vulnerable participant must be implemented. (Ball size, remove kicking etc.)
• Should an incident occur the first request will be for the risk assessment and an understanding of what amendments were made to mitigate the risk.
It is recommended to clubs, but not regulation:
• The tone and nature of the session must be communicated and managed at all times to ensure it remains social and that no element of competition interferes and increases risk.
• Clubs may choose to not mix ages or genders should they feel more appropriate.
Any questions or incidents please contact the RFU Safeguarding team.
