Age Grade Rugby Changes 2021-22

With the season underway across clubs, schools and colleges, a reminder of changes to the Age Grade regulations is available on the Return to Rugby page.

A key change is the delayed shift to the next set of age grade rules until 1st January 2022. This means everyone still moves up an age (e.g. U9s become Under 10s) but play the rules and progressions they missed last season first.  Age Grade rules of play are in the Appendices of Regulation 15.  This applies to the mixed (U7-11) and boys (U12+) game. Girls U13, 15 and 18 bands play to their normal rules with specific guidance available to ensure safe player progression here.

There is a need to:

• Support players (mostly in one-term rugby schools) that do not usually play rugby after December and
• Introduce and develop new skills safely in training before 1st January 2022.

Therefore, from 1st November 2021, the new set of rules can be introduced in training. This includes playing internal training matches to help players apply the skills in a game. From 1st January 2022, everyone moves to their new rules.  For further detail, please read the Age Grade Changes.

Finally, online Age Grade Affiliation is also underway.  After this weekend 51,000 players across more than 700 clubs have affiliated – a great effort from everyone involved! There are guides and support for parents and club volunteers on the Help Portal.