Rugby Canada
AGE GRADE VARIATIONS
FOR CLUB RUGBY
www.rugbycanada.ca
Mouth Guards
As per World Rugby and Rugby Canada mouth guard policies,
all age grade players are required to wear mouth guards.
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Rookie Rugby Under 7
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
10
7
min
min
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
6m
Size of Playing Area
4v4
(15m x 12m)
7v7
(40m x 30m)
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
60
min
Restart/Kick Off
Tap & Pass
at Half
Ball Size
3
Tackle
Flag is
Pulled
Excluding In-Goal
Fend-Off
Not
Allowed
Squeeze Ball
Not
Allowed
Subs
Rolling Subs
Goal Kicking
(Conversion)
No
Scrum
Kicking in Open Play
No
Lineout
Tap & Pass
Instead
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
Yes
Tap & Pass
Instead
Yellow Card
Rucks
None
Referee
Modified 4 v 4
game recommended
however games up
to 7 v 7 permitted
Offside
Where
Flag was
Pulled
Maul
None
Penalties
By Coach Tap & Pass
Red Card
Time Out (2min)
Player sits out for
a short period to
get coaches
feedback
on foul play
(Learning
opportunity)
Maximum #
Per Team
No
Integrity – Respect – Solidarity – Passion – Discipline
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Rookie Rugby Under 9
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
15
7
min
min
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
6m
Size of Playing Area
4v4
(20m x 15m)
7v7
(45m x 25m)
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
60
min
Restart/Kick Off
Tap & Pass
at Half
Ball Size
3
Tackle
Flag is
Pulled
Excluding In-Goal
Fend-Off
Not
Allowed
Squeeze Ball
Not
Allowed
Subs
Rolling Subs
Goal Kicking
(Conversion)
No
Scrum
Kicking in Open Play
No
Lineout
Tap & Pass
Instead
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
No
Tap & Pass
Instead
Yellow Card
Rucks
None
Referee
Modified 6 v 6
game recommended
however games up
to 8 v 8 permitted
Offside
Where
Flag was
Pulled
Maul
None
Penalties
By Coach Tap & Pass
Red Card
Time Out (2min)
Player sits out for
a short period to
get coaches
feedback
on foul play
(Learning
opportunity)
Maximum #
Per Team
No
Integrity – Respect – Solidarity – Passion – Discipline
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Rookie Rugby Under11
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
20
10
min
min
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
70
min
(Transition to Contact)
Ball Size
Maximum #
Per Team
3
8
(Equal playing time encouraged)
Number of
Forwards
Number of
Backs
3
Tackle
Yes Below Shoulders
(Ball Carrier to place
ball and roll away)
Maul
5
Fend-Off
Not
Allowed
Squeeze Ball
None
Not
Allowed
Penalties
Subs
Tap & Pass
Rolling Subs
Kick is permitted
inside defending
team’s 5m
kick zone
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
6m
Goal Kicking
(Conversion)
No
Scrum
YES - 3 v 3
Uncontested
(No Push and opposing
9 does not challenge)
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
No
Size of Playing Area
60m x 35m
Excluding In-Goal
Restart/Kick Off
Punt or
Drop-Kick
Kicking in Open Play
Rucks
Yes
from each team
to bind in contact over
the ball (No Push)
Inside
5m zone
Lineout
1 thrower and 2
receivers from each
team (Nearest 3 Players)
Yellow Card
1 Player
Referee
By Coach
Red Card
Time Out (2min)
Player sits out for
a short period to
get coaches
feedback
on foul play
(Learning
opportunity)
Integrity – Respect – Solidarity – Passion – Discipline
No
Rugby Canada
AGE GRADE VARIATIONS
FOR CLUB RUGBY
(Contact Rugby)
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Under13
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
25
15
min
min
# of Forwards
Tackle
Yes Below Shoulders
Maul
70
min
# of Backs
6
7
Fend-Off
Not
Allowed
Squeeze Ball
YES
Use or Lose
Application
Not
Allowed
Penalties
Subs
Tap & Pass
Rolling Subs
Kick is permitted
inside defending
team’s 22m
kick zone
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
As Per Laws
of the Game
Goal Kicking
(Conversion)
In front
of Posts
Scrum
Ball Size
4
13
Size of Playing Area
Punt or
Drop-Kick
Kicking in Open Play
Rucks
Yes -
As Per Laws
of the Game
IInside
the 22m
when
defending
6v6
6 v 6 Max
(Hookers contest but no
push) (Opposing 9 does
not challenge no 8 pick)
No Lift
No
Restart/Kick Off
60m x 35m
Lineout
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
Maximum #
Per Team
Yellow Card
Time Out (2min)
Player sits out for
a short period to
get coaches
feedback
on foul play
(Learning
opportunity)
Integrity – Respect – Solidarity – Passion – Discipline
Referee
By Referee if
possible
Red Card
Yes
Player is removed
from the remainder
of the game but
must be replaced
to keep equal
numbers
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Girls Under 13
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
20
10
min
min
Number of
Forwards
Kick Restarts
Punt or
DropKick
Maul
Yes Use or Lose
Application
Subs
Rolling Subs
70
min
Number of
Backs
3
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
4
Tackle
Yes Below Shoulders
Maximum
Squad Size
12
Goal Kicking
(Conversions)
No
Scrum
3 v 3 Contested
(1.5m Push)
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
Coaches not
permitted on the
field of play during
games
Lineout
Contested No Lift
Yellow Card
Time Out (2min)
Player sits out for
a short period to
get coaches
feedback
on foul play
(Learning
opportunity)
Ball Size
Maximum #
Per Team
4
7
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
Size of Playing Area
60m x 35m
6m
Kicking in Open Play Rucks
Yes Inside
5m
zone
Match Official
Games to be
officiated by
an appointed
accredited
referee
Red Card
Yes
Player is removed
from the remainder
of the game but
must be replaced
to keep equal
numbers
Integrity – Respect – Solidarity – Passion – Discipline
2v2
(plus carrier
and tackler)
Penalties
As Per
Laws
of the
Game
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Under 15
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
30
20
min
min
Number of
Forwards
Kick Restarts
90
Tackle
As Per Laws
of the Game
Match Official
Games to be
officiated by
an appointed
accredited
referee
22
Hand-Off
Yes
Below Shoulders
Rucks
Maximum
Squad Size
7
Drop Kick
Allowed
Squeeze Ball
Maul
YES
Use or Lose
Application
Penalties
As Per
Laws
of the
Game
Ball Size
4 or 5
Maximum #
Per Team
15
min
Number of
Backs
8
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
Not
Allowed
Subs
As Per Laws
of the Game
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
Size of Playing Area
Full Field
As Per Laws
of the Game
Goal Kicking
(Conversions)
Kicking in Open Play
Both drop kick and
kicking off encouraged
Yes - Inside
15m line if
scored out wide.
(Both drop kick and
kicking off encouraged)
Scrum
8v8
Contested
(1.5m Push)
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
Coaches not
permitted on
the field of play
during games
Integrity – Respect – Solidarity – Passion – Discipline
Lineout
Lifting Permitted with
no Contested Pre-bind on shorts
Yellow Card
5 min
Red Card
Yes
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Under 17
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
35
20
min
min
Number of
Forwards
Kick Restarts
Drop Kick
Rucks
As Per Laws
of the Game
Match Official
Games to be
officiated by
an appointed
accredited
referee
90
min
Number of
Backs
8
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
Maximum
Squad Size
7
Tackle
25
Hand-Off
As Per Laws
of the Game
Allowed
Squeeze Ball
Maul
As Per Laws
of the Game
Penalties
As Per
Laws
of the
Game
Not
Allowed
Subs
As Per Laws
of the Game
Ball Size
Maximum #
Per Team
5
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
15
Size of Playing Area
Full Field
As Per Laws
of the Game
Goal Kicking
(Conversions)
As Per
Laws of
the Game
Scrum
8v8
Contested
Kicking in Open Play
As Per Laws
of the
Game
Lineout
As Per Laws
of the Game
(1.5m Push)
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
Coaches not
permitted on
the field of play
during games
Inte
In
Integrity
tegr
te
grit
gr
ityy – Respect
it
Resp
Re
spec
sp
ectt – So
ec
Soli
Solidarity
lida
li
dari
da
rity
ri
ty – PPassion
assi
as
sion
si
on – DDiscipline
isci
is
cipl
ci
plin
pl
inee
in
Yellow Card
7 min
Red Card
Yes
Age Grade Variations
for Club Rugby
Under 19
Maximum Time
Per Half Single Game
Maximum Time
Per Half Festival
35
20
min
min
Number of
Forwards
Kick Restarts
Drop Kick
Rucks
As Per Laws
of the Game
Match Official
Games to be
officiated by
an appointed
accredited
referee
90
min
Number of
Backs
8
Maximum playing
time for players per
day / event
Maximum
Squad Size
7
Tackle
25
Hand-Off
As Per Laws
of the Game
Allowed
Squeeze Ball
Maul
As Per Laws
of the Game
Penalties
As Per
Laws
of the
Game
Not
Allowed
Subs
As Per Laws
of the Game
Ball Size
Maximum #
Per Team
5
Safety Zone
between
Playing Areas
15
Size of Playing Area
Full Field
As Per Laws
of the Game
Goal Kicking
(Conversions)
As Per
Laws of
the Game
Scrum
8v8
Contested
Kicking in Open Play
As Per Laws
of the
Game
Lineout
As Per Laws
of the Game
(1.5m Push)
Coaches on field
(not including Ref)
Coaches not
permitted on
the field of play
during games
Integrity – Respect – Solidarity – Passion – Discipline
Yellow Card
7 min
Red Card
Yes
www.rugbycanada.ca