In advance of next season, the Rugby Football Union has made changes to Regulation 15 regarding Age Grade Rugby and these changes will come into effect from August 1, 2012.
A working group of RFU professional staff was set up in 2011 to look at the age grade regulations. The remit was to make the age grade regulations more user friendly, easier to understand and for them to provide clubs and schools with more flexibility and not to form a barrier to participation.
The working group drew up a number of principles that outlined the proposed changes to the regulations; these were centred on the needs of players and allowing young people to play the Game.
The new regulations and guidance have been revised in order to assist in developing children and young players in the most appropriate and safest way, with long term development and retention being the ultimate aim.
Summary of regulation changes:The below information is a summary of the changes that will come into effect for the 2012-2013 season:
- Clubs and schools with a small number of players will continue to be able to apply to band the following age grades together: U7s and U8s, U9s and U10s, U11s and U12s but next season, they will be permitted to play those combined age grades in competitive fixtures and festivals. Currently these dual age bands are only permitted to train together. Head teachers and Constituent Bodies will have the authority to approve this.
- There will be much more flexibility for U6s to U8s to play and train together.
- U12s to U18s will be permitted to play up one grade with the relevant consents. Currently U12s are not permitted to play up.
- There will be more flexibility in relation to playing down all ages. Players will be permitted to play down one age grade if they are in the younger academic year or small in stature rather than having to rely solely on showing a developmental or physical disability. At U12 and below, Constituent Bodies and Head teachers (or who they elect within the school) will be able to make this decision. At U13 and above, in club rugby the parents or guardians will be able to make this decision and in schools’ rugby, the Head teacher.
- Training in certain combined age grades will be permitted.
- More responsibility and power to issue certain dispensations will be delegated to the Constituent Bodies, Schools' CSUs or Head teachers and parents so that informed decisions can be made at a more local level with knowledge of the full facts rather than remotely at the RFU.
- There will be more flexibility and clarity as to what activity is permitted during the season and outside of the season and less activity will require RFU approval.
- U13 – U18 will be able to undertake pre-season contact training two weeks before the start of the season.
- U16s will not be able to play in the front row of the scrum if playing up two age grades unless they are in the England Academy set up or England Age Grade teams and have been given formal dispensation to do so. This decision has been made following careful consideration of recently published and continuing university research into injuries in youth rugby, and forces developed in scrummaging.
- The regulations relating to girls’ age grade rugby are now integrated into Regulation 15.
These changes will allow greater flexibility for the delivery of rugby and allow the player to be the focal point of any decision and risk assessment. The regulations will also mean that there is more consistency between the school and club game.