Mini Tag, Mini Contact, Midi and Junior Rugby

Young players are introduced to rugby in three clearly defined stages, (referred to as Mini-Midi Rugby) so that by U13 players have acquired the skills and knowledge required to paticipate in the full 15-a-side game. Each stage has its own rules distinguishing it from the adult game and should not be considered as being merely a shortenend version of senior rugby.

This progression has been structured to accommodate the changing developmental abilities of children as they mature with the emphasis being on the improvement of individual skills through purposeful and enjoyable activity. Provision is made for testing these skills in match situations during a limited number of competitive fixtures and festivals/tournaments each season.

The three stages, as defined in the RFU Rugby Continuum, are:
Stage 1: Mini Tag Rugby - played by Under 7 and Under 8 age grades
Stage 2: Mini Rugby - played by Under 9 and Under 10 age grades
Stage 3: Midi Rugby - played by Under 11 and Under 12 age grades

The ages are defined by the age at midnight of the 31st August and players stay with their age group throughout their time in Mini and Youth Rugby. As each age group moves up the game develops with more aspects being introduced each year. The format is as follows:

Under 7 & Under 8

• Tag-tackling: with removable velcro tags on a waist belt,
  
• Ball to be passed backwards,
  
• Players to stay behind the ball during play (their side of the ball),
  
• Attempt to score a try,
  
• Play (re)starts with a pass
  
• Seven players per side.
  
• No Contact.
  
• No Lineout.
  
• No Scrummage.
  
• No Kicking.

Training at Under 8 progresses from the end of February with an uncontested three player per side scrum and the idea of a back line, together with contact tackling during training sessions, but none of these are used in matches.

Under 9

• Any player on their feet with the ball can be tackled (below the armpit),
  
• Ball to be passed backwards,
  
• Players to stay behind the ball during play (their side of the ball),
  
• Attempt to score a try,
  
• Play (re)starts with a pass,
  
• Knock-on or unplayable ball results in an uncontested scrum,
  
• Two player uncontested lineout (No lifting).
  
• Nine players per side (three forwards and six backs). Positions are interchangeable throughout the game.
  
• No Kicking.

Under 10

• Any player on their feet with the ball can be tackled (below the armpit),
  
• Ball to be passed backwards,
  
• Players to stay behind the ball during play (their side of the ball),
  
• Attempt to score a try,
  
• Play (re)starts with a pass
  
• Knock-on or unplayable ball results in a contested scrummage,
  
• Two player contested line-out (No lifting),
  
• Nine players per side (three forwards and six backs). Positions are interchangeable throughout the game.
  
• No Kicking.

Players then move up to junior rugby – U13’s to U19’s (School year 8+) played to RFU Laws with variations for each age group, distinguishing it from the adult game.

Junior Rugby

Played as the 15 a-side game on a full size pitch but with Law variations.
The object of the game is to score a try (5 points) and conversion (2 points).
The scrum is made up of eight players from each team, 3-4-1.

Under 13/14

Ball - size 4
Playing time - 25 minutes each way.
The hand-off/fend-off and fly hacking now permitted.

Under 15

As per under 13/14
Ball - size 5
Playing time - 30 minutes each way

Under 16, 17, 18

Ball - size 5
Playing time - 35 minutes each way.
Players may now lift/support team mates in the line-out.

Girls rugby
Currently differs slightly, whereby they play mixed rugby (through the 3 stages as above) up to Under 11.
Under 12 (school year 7) they can continue to play mixed rugby for one more year and/or play in the RFUW Lower Age Band (classed as U14, ie. school years 7 - 9).
U15 girls then play in the Upper Age Band (classed as U17, ie school year 10+). The game is played to RFU U14/U17 Laws with RFUW variations.