Over 100 colleges offer both male and female rugby. The RFU, in partnership with AoC Sport and England Colleges RFU, provides colleges with accessible competitions for all levels, from participation including regional festivals to performance involving national leagues and championships.
Local clubs throughout England welcome college learners. To find your nearest one, please use the Club Finder.
Full details of all our college offers, along with additional supporting resources can be found in the drop down sections below.
Education Resources
We have a comprehensive package of resources, designed by teachers for teachers, to help anyone—regardless of prior knowledge or experience—to deliver T1 Rugby with confidence. Our resources include:
6-week lesson plans:
- Stage 1 plans (suitable for primary, or non-specialist PE staff)
- Stage 2 plans
- How to introduce and progress T1 Rugby support video
- T1 Rugby eLearning - coming soon
- Referee tips
School specific support (linked to stage 1 plans):
T1 Series
T1 Rugby Series is a fun, inclusive national programme, open to every school and college in England, to provide opportunity for teams to play at Allianz Stadium.
T1 Rugby Series is the evolution from Touch to Twickenham which introduced 400 schools to non-contact rugby, with 60% of those taking part new to rugby and 50% female participants.
It is player centred, inclusive and drive participation. It’s the same activity as before; just a slightly different game with slightly different rules.
This season we continue to evolve so every school, regardless of playing experience, can take part.
What do I need to know?
- Open to teams at Year 9 and Year 12/13
- Parallel events for brand new and for those with previous rugby experience
- Eight-a-side teams with a minimum of four girls on the pitch at a time
- Local and regional events, leading to the finals day in Worcester, with successful teams progressing to play at Allianz Stadium
- Playing to T1 Rugby rules, which will be adapted for brand-new teams.
The benefits that sport and rugby union in particular can have on young people include social connections, confidence, character and physical skills. Rugby helps develop transferable skills within other sports, the classroom and the wider environment.
To help colleges play rugby we have developed playing offers to suit the needs of your learners.
Rugby Union is a game for all and we’d encourage Colleges 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 – Our non-contact offer: Delivery and support
- XRugby – our modified contact: PDF Guide, Support Videos and eLearning
- Full contact 7-a-side or the traditional XV-a- side formats:15-a-side
Our 8 partner colleges have been selected based on their regional location and ability to act as flagship colleges, offering support to their local community.
Acting as flagship colleges, through providing best practise, providing high quality player experiences on and off the field and a network for developing colleges, partner colleges will drive club/community partnerships, playing formats and the growth of the girls game.
Congratulations to Hartlepool 6th form, Bishop Burton College, Loughborough College, Hereford College, Henley College, The City of Oxford College, Exeter College and Truro and Penwith College for their advocacy and support of the College game.
| Rugby being delivered | Courses/eLearning |
|---|---|
| T1 rugby |
England Rugby Primary Teachers course 3 hour face to face course designed to support those delivering rugby in curriculum or extra curriculum settings in primary schools. The course supports the development of active-purposeful, enjoyable and safe non contact rugby environments for children. |
| XRugby |
England Rugby First Contact Course – 3 hr face to face course aimed at supporting players who are new to contact rugby.
XRugby – eLearning |
| Full contact rugby | Headcase England Rugby Coaching Award course. This face to face course includes XRugby content. All Staff delivering contact rugby should have completed both the Headcase concussion module and ERCA or equivalent. |
| Refereeing full contact rugby | Headcase Click here for free E-Learning England Rugby Refereeing Award |
The England Rugby Young Leaders Award is designed to be delivered by college staff to learners. It can be delivered as a series of 1-hour lessons or as a full day. The resource is suitable for all students to participate in and is designed to enable all colleges, including non-rugby specialists, to deliver.
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.
The England Colleges Rugby Football Union (ECRFU) is the colleges arm of the RFU with around 100 member colleges.
ECRFU play a key role in the running, support and development of the college game, membership is free and includes the following:
- Entry to England International ticket ballots
- Access to ECRFU funding and equipment grants - including the new LEARN and PLAY grant, driving teacher education and playing opportunities.
- Invitation to ECRFU conferences and events and selected RFU offers
- Development support and resources for college rugby programmes
- The ECRFU termly College Memo for up-to-date tools and guidance
For further details please contact the ECRFU at ECRFUhonsec@rfu.com
To help us keep you up to date and to best help support you we ask that colleges and teachers register on our Game Management System.
You can find more information on the https://help.rfu.com page.
A club link is an agreement between a college 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.
For the rules of play for each age group and to find regulation around playing up and down, or combining year groups, please visit Regulation 15 and the Age Grade Codes of Practice.
A college tour can improve team spirit and identity and provides a rare opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better and to establish friendships at home and abroad which can last a lifetime.
The RFU issues general advice, and specific guidelines for schools and colleges on the tours area, together with checklists and information.
