‘Are You Ready to Play Rugby?
Scottish Rugby’s Player Safety Initiative
Consultation on changes to the Male Under-18 in Adult Rugby Policy for
season 2013-14
Introduction
Scottish Rugby’s ‘Are You Ready to Play Rugby?’ initiative was launched in February 2009 to ensure a
consistent approach to player safety is adopted across Scotland by all players, coaches, teachers,
referees and volunteers. The initiative focussed on the following areas to reduce the risks of serious
injury, minimum standards of training for coaches, teachers and referees, age grade law variations,
age banding and injury management.
Within age banding two areas of higher risk of serious injury were identified for players, nonphysically mature players playing against physically mature (under-16 in under-18 policy) and under
18s playing in adult rugby.
This paper will focus on the under 18 in adult rugby policy which was introduced for season 2009-10.
Medical studies support the view that there is an increased risk of injury for under 18 players when
they play contact sports with adults (over 18 years of age), and a further risk for players in the front
row (prop and hooker).
It is Scottish Rugby policy that the age for which male players are permitted to participate in senior
rugby shall be 18. In exceptional cases, a player’s physical development, skill level and experience
may be such that they may be allowed to participate in senior rugby at an age younger than 18 years
old. Players are only permitted to participate in senior rugby aged younger than 18 in the following
circumstances:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Where a player is 16 or 17 years old – i.e. no players under 16 can play senior rugby.
Where the player and coach have completed the online IRB Rugby Ready course (see
www.irbrugbyready.com). The coach must have also completed the RugbyReady
Practical course within the past year.
Where the club (or school) completes the Under-18 in Senior Rugby application form.
Front row players (props or hookers) are eligible for exception if the club (or school)
completes the Front Row Exception form, in addition to the Under-18 in Senior Rugby
Application form.
Scottish Rugby’s written approval must be received before any under-18 player
participates in senior rugby.
Two years ago Scottish Rugby reported that it was concerned about the number of under-18 players
that were being placed at an increased risk of serious injury by playing adult rugby. At that time, a
commitment was made to monitor the situation closely with a view to making further changes to the
Under-18 in Adult Rugby Policy if the number of players did not decrease significantly.
Current Situation
Last season (2011-12) some 302 applications to play adult rugby were received which represented an
increase of 30% from season 2010-11. To date 192 (as of 22 December 2012) applications to play
adult rugby have been received, which mirrors the number of applications received up to December
during season 2011-12.
In a number of other countries there are policies in place to restrict the number of under-18 players
playing adult rugby. Examples are below:
Ireland – A full restriction is in place regarding under-18 players playing adult rugby. No exceptions
apply.
Australia – The age at which players are eligible to play adult rugby is 18 years old. Under-18 players
must apply to play senior rugby. This application involves a skill and strength assessment undertaken
by a minimum level 2 qualified coach.
South Africa - Players younger than 18 years old shall not be allowed to play under-20 or senior rugby
in any position, at any level of rugby under the auspices of South African Rugby Union or any of its
provincial unions. South Africa makes provision for professional players under the age of 18 playing in
under-20 and adult competitions following a rigorous application process involving a medical and
coach assessment and parental consent.
It is also an IRB guideline that under-18 players should not play adult rugby. This is for the purposes
of elite competition. Elite players must undergo a series of assessments including a musculo-skeletal
evaluation before being granted permission to play in elite competitions.
Scottish Rugby is concerned that too many under-18 players are being put at an increased risk of
serious injury for exceptional circumstances and not exceptional players for which the policy is
designed for e.g. under-18 players playing for an adult team as they are short of adult players as
opposed to the correct reason of the players being exceptional and ready physically, technically,
experientially and medically to compete in adult rugby.
As a result Scottish Rugby is consulting with its clubs on how best to reduce the number of under-18
players in adult rugby, thus reducing the risk to serious injury.
Consultation
As a starting point Scottish Rugby has suggested four options for clubs to consider with regards to the
under-18 Player in Adult Rugby Policy for season 2013-14. Details of each of these options are
contained at the end of this document. A series of regional consultation events listed below have
been arranged to provide club and school representatives with an opportunity to discuss options for
season 2013-14. It is hoped that a member of the SCOT (Scottish Group of Orthopaedic and Trauma
Surgeons) Group who have advised Scottish Rugby on medical matters related to safety will be in
attendance.
Consultation events:
To register your attendance at one of the events, please email [email protected].
Venue
Dundee HSFP RFC, Glasshouse room
Aberdeen Grammar FP RFC club rooms on Queens Road
Ayr RFC
Highland Council Chambers, Glenurquhart Road,
Inverness
Murrayfield Stadium, West Stand 1925 Suites
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Date
Monday 28 January
Monday 4 February
Wednesday 6 February
Monday 11 February
Time
7pm – 9pm
Monday 18 February
Monday 25 February
If your club would like to provide written feedback, in addition to attending a consultation event or if
you were unable to attend one of the workshops, please email in your comments to
[email protected] by Friday 1 March 2013.
It is Scottish Rugby aims to complete the consultation by the end of March 2013 and then following
board approval communicate the situation regarding the male under-18 in adult rugby policy for
season 2013/14 to all clubs by the end of May 2013.
Male Under-18 Adult Rugby Policy – Proposals for 2013-14
OPTION 1
Status quo – Keep the current policy that consists of:
• 16 & 17 year olds can apply to play senior rugby.
• Players are only permitted to participate in senior rugby aged younger than 18 in the following circumstances:
1. Where a player is 16 or 17 years old – i.e. no players under 16 can play senior rugby.
2. Where the player and coach have completed the online IRB Rugby Ready course. The coach must have also completed the RugbyReady Practical course
within the past year.
3. Where the club (or school) complies with the application procedure and completes the Under-18 in Senior Rugby application form.
4. Front row players (props or hookers) are eligible for exception if the club (or school) completes the Front Row Exception form, in addition to the Under-18 in
Senior Rugby Application form.
5. Scottish Rugby’s written approval must be received before any under-18 player participates in senior rugby.
OPTION 2
Full restriction -No players under the age of 18 are allowed to play in adult rugby.
OPTION 3
• No 16 year old players can apply to play adult rugby.
• Only exceptional 17 year old players can apply to play adult rugby.
o Exceptional players are defined as those selected for the Scotland U18 squad and/or a regional academy player.
OPTION 4
• No 16 year old players can play adult rugby.
• Only 17 year old players can apply to play adult rugby.
Process for application:
Stage 1:
1. Coach (min. RugbyReady Practical, UKCC Level 2 and/or SRU S&C Level 2 or equivalent) completes a physical competence assessment on the player(s).
a. Physical assessment potentially consisting of strength assessment e.g. bench press, squat, chin ups etc and a tackle assessment.
2. Application sent containing info on player, level of rugby to be played, experience and medical history (with assessment results) into Scottish Rugby. Further
detail for front row players will be required.
Stage 2:
1. Scottish Rugby regional panel to assess application. Club will then be informed of the clearance decision.
Stage 3:
1. For front row players cleared by the regional panel, an additional appointment will be made to attend a neck strength assessment at Murrayfield Stadium
2. Club will then be informed of the clearance decision.