Contents:
1. General Regulation and Playing Principles
5. Playing Out of Age Grade Table
7. England Academy, Player Development Group, England U18 Players and Representative Rugby
8. Season and Out of Season Activity
9. Approval of Competitive Activity, Rugby Camps and Tours
11. Duration of Matches, Coaching and Training Sessions
Regulation 15 is supplemented by the following documents:
- (a) Online Playing Out of Age Grade and Rugby Camps, Competitions & Events Approval forms, available at https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/rules-and-regulations/regulations
- (b) Competition Menu and Competitive Playing Calendar, available at https://www.englandrugby.com/run/coaching/age-grade-rugby/playing-calendar
- (c) Age Grade Codes of Practice, available at https://www.englandrugby.com/run/coaching/age-grade-rugby/codes-of-practice
- (d) Half Game Rule FAQs, available at https://www.englandrugby.com/run/coaching/age-grade-rugby/half-game
- (e) RFU Regulation 21 (Safeguarding), available at www.englandrugby.com/governance/rules-and-regulations/regulations
- (f) RFU Safeguarding Policy, available at https://www.englandrugby.com/run/safeguarding
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) should be made on the RFU online forms provided. Any CB not using the RFU online POOAG systems must upload their data to the RFU system on a weekly basis.
- 15.1.8 There is no regulation stopping girls only rugby at Under 11 and below. Girls can play both mixed and girls only rugby at Under 11 and below, provided at all times that Regulation 15 is complied with in full.
- 15.1.9 The Competitive Menu contained in the Age Grade Playing Calendar defines the competition formats that can be played at each age grade. This must be complied with in full, including that league rugby is only permitted from the Under 15 age group upwards, together with the publishing of league tables. For the avoidance of doubt, waterfall pools are permitted from the Under 12 age group upwards, but must not be published as full league tables. Please see further details via the following link: https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/coaching/age-grade-rugby/playing-calendar.
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.
- 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 (the specific numbers are 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 school and club rugby at Under 9, 10 and 11, approval to play up can be applied for if the player is educated in the academic year above their age grade. This is only available if they are permanently in a single academic year group which is no more than one year above their chronological age grade, and is not available if they are in multiple year academic groups and/or classes;
- (g) 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
- (h) 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) the player is an Under 19 (Year 14) in a school or college and must be in at least their third year of study at the school or college and in their second year of their first full level 3 qualification. They must not: (a) have previously completed a full level 3 qualification; and/or (b) be repeating or re-sitting a year; and/or (c) have 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 approval 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 in all playing environments, or their approval may be withdrawn at the discretion of the applicable CB and/or the RFU. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes U19s who are playing down into an age grade setting from adult rugby; 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) |
COMBININGAGE 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 U11son 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.
U11s boys are not permitted to play up. |
Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| 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) |
Combining with U12s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 4 U13s in a team on the pitch)
Combining with U14s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 4 U14s 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 (Yr9) |
Combining with U13s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (may 4 U14s in a team on the pitch) Combining with U15s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 5 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 |
| U15s (Yr10) |
Combining with U14s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (may 5 U15s in a team on the pitch) Combining with U16s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 5 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 |
| U16s (Yr11) |
Combining with U15s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (may 5 U16s in a team on the pitch) Combining with U17s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 5 U17s in a team on the pitch) |
Yes, in accordance with 15.3.2 and below:
|
Playing down is permitted in limited circumstances in accordance with 15.4 |
| U17s (Yr12) |
Combining with U16s is permitted in accordance with 15.2.2 (max 5 U17s in a team on the pitch) U17s are permitted to play with U18s |
U17s are permitted to play with U18s, and 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 |
U18s are permitted to play with U17s Playing down two age grades 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 |
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. For the avoidance of doubt, this applies to all Clubs (including professional clubs) and in all cases, Club approval must be in place before a player application for approval can be made.
- (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 clubs and all male and female players other than the above | 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 Championship League
- iv. Men’s Championship Cup
- v. Premiership Women’s Rugby
- vi. Premiership Women’s Rugby 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).
- (f) subject to 15.7, no player in the U18 age grade or below is permitted to play in the following competitions:
- 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 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 2025-26 will run from Saturday 6 September 2025 until Monday 4 May 2026.
- - Season 2026-27 will run from Saturday 5 September 2026 until Monday 3 May 2027.
- 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 & U6s | YES | NO | NO | NO | YES |
| U7s & U8s | YES | YES | NO | NO | YES |
| U9s to U18s (incl.) | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
- 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) in respect of Season 2025/26 only, Incoming Tours in all age grades from Saturday 1 August to Friday 5 September, as long as Regulation 15.9 is complied with in full;
- (c) 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;
- (d) 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
- (e) Academy or Player Development Group activity is permitted if pre- approved 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: Further detail and support on Summer Activity, including format rules can be found at https://www.englandrugby.com/run/coaching/age-grade-rugby/summer-activity
15.9 Approval of Competitive Activity, Rugby Camps and Tours
- Competitions, Tournaments, Festivals, Rugby Camps and Tours are permitted but the 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-and- regulations/regulations.
| ACTIVITY | ORGANISED FOR | APPROVED BY |
| In Season& Out of Season Competitions, | Clubs | CB |
| Locally organised Festivals, Tournaments and Competitions | Schools | CSU |
| Colleges | ECRFU | |
| National Festivals, Competitions and Camps if participating teamsare from more thanjust 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/fixtures-results/match-competition-information/rugby-tours | |
15.10 Clothing and Goggles
- 15.10.1 Age grade players are permitted to wear base layers (including both long and short sleeve tops and full length tights) provided they comply with the World Rugby Regulatory requirements set out in World Rugby Regulation 12 and Law 14 which are available on www.worldrugby.org. The Rugby Safe Essential Guide provides guidance on base layers in the frequently asked questions: https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/playing/player-welfare-rugby-safe
- 15.10.2 Players of all age grades are permitted to wear spectacles, glasses or specifically designed sports goggles in all forms of non-contact rugby. Players are permitted to wear specifically designed sports goggles in any form of contact rugby only where the following conditions are satisfied:
- (a) the sports goggles must be dispensed by a General Optical Council (“GOC”) registered dispensing optician or an optometrist registered with the GOC; and
- (b) the player must have written confirmation from the registered dispensing optician or optometrist that:
- i. the goggles are required to correct the vision of the player or are required to protect the player’s eyes due to a medical or optical condition, to enable the playing of rugby union; and
- ii. the goggles do not substantially restrict any normal field of vision and are suitable for use in evasion contact sports; and
- iii. the goggles do not constitute a physical danger to the player or other players; and
- iv. the player is not capable of wearing contact lenses and why this is the case; and
- (c) the player must have the consent of their parents or guardian to the wearing of the sports goggles.
- 15.10.3 Clubs/schools must report any injuries caused as a result of the sports goggles to the RFU Community Medical Team by emailing sportsinjuriesadmin@rfu.com and the player’s parents or guardian must report the injury to the dispensing optician or optometrist who prescribed the goggles.
- Note: If an optician is registered with the GOC they will be listed on the GOC’s list of registered members which is available at www.optical.org. Please check the list by inserting the name of the individual optician/optometrist.
15.11 Duration of Matches, Coaching and Training Sessions
- 15.11.1 All players, match officials, schools, colleges and clubs must ensure that no player plays more than 35 matches per Season and in respect of all matches and festivals, plays no more than the maximum playing times set out in the table below:*
| AGE GRADE/BAND | MAXIMUMMINUTES EACH HALF | MAXIMUMMINUTES PER DAY |
| U7s & U8s | 10 | 50 |
| U9s & U10s | 15 | 60 |
| U11s & U12s | 20 | 70 |
| U13s & U14s | 25 | 80 |
| U15s | 30 | 90 |
| U16s and above (including the girls dual U16/15 age band) | 35 | 90 |
- * save that for each Age Grade group an additional 15 minutes per day shall be allowed for delivery of the RFU’s injury prevention exercise programme, Activate. For example, U16s and above may engage in a total of 105 minutes of rugby activity on a match or festival day where 90 minutes is attributable to playing and 15 minutes is attributable to the delivery of Activate.
- Important guidance as to playing times and durations for single fixtures, festivals, tournaments and coaching and training sessions are set out in the Age Grade Codes of Practice.
- 15.11.2 No extra time is permitted in any match except that added for injury time.
- 15.11.3 Matches must be brought to an end if:
- (a) at Under 7s to Under 13s the try difference rises to more than six; or
- (b) at Under 14s to Under 18s (including the girls dual U14/13 age band) the points difference is more than 50 points.
- 15.11.4 In the event that a Match is brought to an end in accordance with 15.11.3, an alternative format of play can be implemented to manage the mismatch to allow the players to continue playing, if considered appropriate in all the circumstances and with the agreement of the coaches of both teams. However, if such alternative format is agreed in accordance with this 15.11.4, the results of any additional Match or playing activity having implemented any alternative formats of play will not be recorded.
15.12 Half Game Rule
- 15.12.1 Other than set out in Regulation 15.12.2, all clubs, teams, schools and colleges must ensure that each player selected in every match day squad plays at least half of the Available Playing Time. This requirement is mandatory across the entire age grade game and in respect of all contact and non-contact age grade matches, including 7 a-side matches and festivals/tournament matches.
- 15.12.2 In respect of the U18 Academy Competition only, all clubs must ensure that each player selected in every match day squad plays at least 20% of the Available Playing Time.
- 15.12.3 ‘Available Playing Time’ means the total amount of time allocated to a particular match (or matches) by RFU Regulations, any competition specific regulations or by the coaches of the playing teams (in circumstances where those coaches have agreed to play a shortened match). Any stoppages that may occur during a match are not to be taken into account when calculating the Available Playing Time. For example, where a match is 70 minutes long, the Available Playing Time is 70 minutes and each player must receive a minimum of 35 minutes playing time under the Half Game Rule. Where a team is participating in multiple matches in one day, the Total Available Playing Time will be the total number of minutes allocated to all matches played by the team on that day; and in all cases (a) includes playing time spent off the pitch due to a temporary injury or yellow card and (b) excludes playing time that would have been available had a match not be abandoned or shortened due to bona fide reasons or in accordance with Regulation 15.11.3.
- 15.12.4 Regulation 15.12.1 will not apply in the event that a player is permanently removed from the match:
- (a) due to an injury incurred during the match;
- (b) as a result of a bona fide risk of injury; or
- (c) as a result of a red card or in the event of the referee requesting that a player be permanently removed from the match.
15.13 Clusters
- 15.13.1 Teams from two or more Clubs, Schools or Colleges may Cluster in their age grades as a short term measure in order to increase participation, provided that the following conditions are met:
- (a) a primary Club, School or College is identified and agreed by all Clubs, Schools or Colleges within the Cluster;
- (b) all Players must be registered to their own Club on GMS; and
- (c) no Clusters may participate in any of the competitions set out in Regulation 15.14.
- 15.13.2 If teams from two or more Clubs, Schools or College Cluster on more than three occasions in a Season, they must:
- (a) jointly register the Cluster with their Constituent Body via the following form: Age Grade Cluster Registration Form; and
- (b) If teams involved in a Cluster are members of separate Constituent Bodies, they must register with each Constituent Body with which a participant Team in the Cluster is a member using the form in 15.13.2(a) above.
- Further guidance on Clusters is available here: Cluster-Guidance.pdf
15.14 Competition Regulations
- 15.14.1 Regulation 15.2, 15.3, 15.4 and 15.5 will be applied to all RFU National Competitions and CBs/Organising Committees/third party organisers are strongly recommended to follow the same approach.
- 15.14.2 Overseas players must be treated in regulation (including in the Competition Regulations for RFU National Competitions and in the competition regulations set by CBs/Organising Committees/third party organisers) as incoming players to a club or institution in the same way as other recruited players to a club or establishment.
- 15.14.3 There are specific competition regulations relating to the following Age Grade competitions and these are available on the Competitions Regulations page of the RFU website:
- (a) U15s and U18s Schools Cup (Boys)
- (b) ACE League (Boys)
- (c) ACE League (Girls)
- (d) National U18 Clubs Cup (Boys)
- (e) U18 Academy Competition (Boys)
- (f) National U16 Clubs Girls Cup
- (g) National U18 Clubs Girls Cup
