RFU Clarification for IAPS School
New Rules of Play
Following meetings and ratification from the RFU further clarification from the IAPS Sport
Committee is as follows:
The New Rules of Play are guidance and are there to help children play the best they can for
their enjoyment, welfare, development and safety - they are not there to stop children
playing. It is up to the Head and Director of Sport how they implement them based on the
schools philosophy and ethos.
Clarification on RFU Regulation 15:
The following age groups may play together however are NOT permitted to play contact
rugby:
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U7’s + U8’s
U8’s are not permitted to play rugby with U9’s under any circumstances
Where a Prep school has a sufficient number of players, players should play with children of
their own age. Where schools do not have sufficient numbers to field teams at each age
group, then dispensation can be acquired to enable age groups to be mixed. The following
age groups may play contact rugby together however MUST play to the rules of the lower
age group:
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U9’s and U10’s (play U9 rules)
U10’s and U11’s (play U10 rules)
U11’s and U12’s (play U11 rules)
U12’s and U13’s (play U12 rules)
Age group individuals may play together if the Head and Director of Sport are in agreement
that their players are physically and mentally capable of playing outside of their age group.
In respect of matches against other schools, IAPS recommends that the HM’s of both
schools agree in advance by email, to play combined age groups. The process to combine
age groups is clearly defined within Regulation 15 and must be followed and respected. This
is intended as the exception for individual players, not as a way to combine entire age
groups.
Teachers from both schools can determine the rules that are to be played that will provide
the most appropriate playing experience for this group of children.
Fully contested scrums are permitted in the U13 rules should each team have six players
confident and competent to do so. If any player misses a stepping stone in the development
of any aspect of the game due to playing in a combined age group, it is essential that those
coaching the child in the following season take this into consideration. This can be the case
in Under 12 and 13 with the push in the scrum. All schools have the responsibility to ensure
that teachers coaching the game are suitably trained and up-to-date in order to make
informed decisions in this regard.
Goalposts
Schools are permitted to have goalposts to practise goal kicking although this does not now
form part of the game until Under 14 when kicking for goal is introduced.
Fixtures / Festivals / Tournaments / Competitions
The Age Grade Rugby Competitive Menu 2016-2017 clearly sets out the relative competitive
menu for each age group. Organisers of any competitive opportunity must ensure that they
are in line with the menu for the specific age group taking part.
In brief, this includes inter-school friendlies, triangulars and festivals up to and including
Under 11 and the addition of waterfall tournaments at Under 12 and 13; all aimed at
maximising participation for all players.
Templates are being developed by the RFU to help organisers stage these formats.
IAPS members are asked to play within these regulations and to note that any Rugby
played outside of these regulations/guidance may potentially nullify insurance.
James Thompson
Mark Saltmarsh
IAPS Sport Committee Chairman
RFU Head of Education Development
May 2016
Additional Resources:
Regulation 15 Videos