 |  |
| Age Banding |
|
|
|
Children and young people should be playing and training with other people of the same age and physical maturity. Scottish Rugby's Age Banding Policy Medical research into boys' rugby strongly indicates that there is an increased risk of serious injury when under-16 players play under-18 rugby, and when under-18 players play adult rugby. It is Scottish Rugby's policy that the age at which male players are allowed to play under-18 rugby is 16 years old. Girls may play under-18 rugby aged 15 years old and this difference is due to the relative physical maturity of 15-year-old girls when compared to boys. It will remain Scottish Rugby policy that the age at which any player is permitted to play adult rugby is 18 years old.
Exception There are sometimes exceptional cases of players who combine increased technical ability and early physical maturity. For a few of those players it may be that they are capable of safely playing up an age band. Scottish Rugby offers exceptional players the opportunity to apply for an exception to play up in the following age grades.
Under-16 players in under-18 rugby Male players under 16 years old are not permitted to play under-18 or under-17 level school or club rugby. This policy must be followed unless exceptional cases can be demonstrated where a player’s physical maturity, skill level and experience are of a comparable standard to that of the game/competition in which they intend to play. · Front row players (props and hooker) will not be eligible for exception. · Only players aged 15 years old are eligible to apply for exception. · Clubs and schools who have a player that they wish to put forward for exception will need to follow the procedures detailed in the Under-16 Players in Under-18 Rugby policy. This consists of an application form to be submitted to Scottish Rugby, followed by a physical maturity assessment at a Scottish Rugby assessment centre. · All players are encouraged to complete the IRB Rugby Ready course – it’s a short, online assessment that covers correct technique, physical preparation, injury prevention and injury management. The assessment must be completed, however, by the player applying for exception. · The online IRB Rugby Ready course can be accessed at www.irbrugbyready.com
Under-18 players in senior rugby Male players under 18 years old are not permitted to play senior or adult rugby. This policy must be followed unless exceptional cases can be demonstrated where a player’s physical maturity, skill level and experience are of a comparable standard to that of the game or competition in which they intend to play. · Front row players (props and hooker) will be eligible for exception if they complete a further level of assessment. · Only players aged 16 or 17 years old are eligible to apply for exception. · Clubs and schools who have a player that they wish to put forward for exception will need to follow the procedures detailed in the Under-18 Players in Senior Rugby policy. This consists of submitting a consent form and additional front row exemption form, if relevant, to Scottish Rugby. · All players are encouraged to complete the IRB Rugby Ready course – it’s a short, online assessment that covers correct technique, physical preparation, injury prevention and injury management. The assessment must be completed, however, by the player applying for exception. · The online IRB Rugby Ready course can be accessed at www.irbrugbyready.com
Under-18 team playing adult team in a one-off match We have created a specific, one-off match player safety form following several requests from clubs who play one-off fixtures between their under-18 and adult teams (e.g. Christmas fixtures like Old Crocks v Colts) In accordance with the principles of Scottish Rugby's Are You Ready to Play Rugby? initiative, this form adapts the under-18 in adult rugby policy to suit the whole team, rather than an individual player, to reduce administration burden for these special occasion one-off matches. Please note: this form is only relevant for one-off fixtures and will not clear under-18 players for other adult rugby matches. As per other exception forms, please return fully completed forms to Georgia Catoni - Are You Ready to Play Rugby? Administrator at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it @sru.org.uk, or Scottish Rugby, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh , EH12 5PJ
Dispensation for younger age grade In exceptional cases a player may be given dispensation to participate in rugby at a level below their true age grade, due to an existing or previous medical disability (physical or behavioural). Any dispensation, if granted, would only be valid for one season; and would only allow players to play down one age grade, in a specific team. If a club/school wishes to apply for such a dispensation for a player they must make a written submission to Scottish Rugby, including any supporting evidence of the player's condition. The player and their coach must have completed the online IRB Rugby Ready course (www.irbrugbyready.com), and submissions should be signed by the player's parent/guardian and coach. Submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Scottish Rugby's medical team. Submissions should be sent to the Are You Ready to Play Rugby? administrator at Scottish Rugby, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ; or emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Scottish Rugby will endeavour to contact clubs/schools with a decision within one month of receipt if submitted before the first of the month (e.g. a sumbission received by 1 September will be decided by the end of September). Submissions for season 2011/12 will be taken from 1 September to 1 December 2011.
School Rugby Scottish Rugby recommends that male school rugby is played in a maximum of two year age bandings; for example, players in S1 can play with the S2 year group, but not with the S3s. Where clubs or schools need to combine age groupings (e.g. S1 and S2), the lower age grade law variation (S1) should be applied.
Age bands and exceptions (girls) Girls and boys play rugby in the same teams up to and including Primary 7. Beyond this, girls play rugby at under-15 and under-18 age bands. Girls participating in senior women's rugby must be aged 18 years or over. All national competitions and events will be run at under-15 and under-18 age bands, based on 1st January eligibility date. Clubs and schools are encouraged to adopt the smallest age range of players possible when arranging training and matches. The maximum age range for girls to participate in contact rugby in Scotland is three years, whether training or playing a competitive or friendly match. It is the responsibility of the coach to assess the capabilities of players on a game-by-game basis. In exceptional cases, a player's physical development, skill level and/or experience may be such that she may be allowed to participate in contact rugby outwith her age band. However, these players must have the appropriate exception approval from Scottish Rugby prior to participation. Exception approval will be made by a Scottish Rugby panel. Please allow a minimum of four weeks for an application to be processed. Please note that when an exception is approved, the player will not be allowed to play in the front five of the scrum under any circumstances. All players are encouraged to complete the online IRB Rugby Ready course (www.irbrugbyready.com) - it's a short, online assessment that covers correct technique, physical preparation, injury prevention and injury management. The assessment must be completed, however, by the player applying for exception (excluding those under 12 years of age).
Rugby participation for primary school children It is the policy of Scottish Rugby that children can begin their introduction to training and playing contact rugby from the age that they enter their 4th year of primary school. Children of Primary 1 to 3 years of age should participate in non-contact versions of the game like tag rugby, focusing on the development of basic movement and coordination skills. Further information on what to prioritise at each age and stage of a child and young person's development in rugby is available in Scottish Rugby's Long Term Development Strategy (LTPD), which is available below. Please note Scottish Rugby's insurance policy covers participation in the game from the age of 5 (Primary 1) to 55 years of age.
Frequently asked questions (relative to boys’ rugby)
Application Forms
When is the paperwork going to be made available? Application paperwork for season 2011/12 is now available from the downloads and links section of this website.
How do we submit these forms? Completed application forms can be sent in the post to the Are You Ready to Play Rugby? administrator at Scottish Rugby, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ; or a clear copy may be faxed to 0131 346 5001 or scanned (with signatures) and emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Scottish Rugby will acknowledge receipt by way of an email to the coach.
15 Year Olds in Under-18 Rugby
What happens to kids who are too old for under-16s but are not 16 until the end of the year so, technically, not eligible to play under-18s? As a club we struggle at this age group but are now struggling more as we have a good few kids that fit this category and don’t have enough for an under-17. From season 2010/11, regional and local club competitions follow the national competitions in adopting an age grade cut-off date of 1st September for the age bandings of under-16 and under-18.
Does this apply to every school, who need 16s to make up 1st XVs? Yes, these policies apply to all Scottish rugby, including clubs and schools, and any player who has not reached the age of 16 should not play in under-18 school or club rugby unless they have been cleared by Scottish Rugby to do so.
Am I right in saying that an under-16 prop isn’t allowed to play under-18 rugby at school or club? Players aged 15 and under cannot play prop or hooker in a senior school or under-18 club fixture until they turn 16 years of age.
If a player aged 15 has been given an exception to play under-18 rugby at one club/school, does that discount him from playing at his proper age group for another club/school? No, however where possible we are trying to keep players under 16 playing in their own age group.
What happens if a 15 year old player who has been cleared to play under-18 rugby wants to change clubs/schools? If a 15 year old player has been granted an exception to play under-18 rugby for their club/school and wishes to play under-18 rugby for a different club/school, it is the responsibility of the new club/school to ensure that the player has completed the exception process, by seeking confirmation from Scottish Rugby.
A 15 year old boy is put forward for assessment to play in under-18 rugby and passes the test. Can he also play in under-16, or does he have to play under-18 rugby? Only players who are going to play under-18 rugby aged 15 should apply for the assessment; if the player is going to stay playing under-16 rugby we would recommend that he isn’t put forward for the assessment. Please remember that this is about players playing with and against players of the same maturity grouping and not about pushing players forward or indeed holding them back to strengthen the team.
We have a few players who were given clearance to play under-18 rugby at the end of season 10/11, and they will still be 15 at the start of season 11/12. Do they need to be retested? No, as the physical parameters will not change this season, players who were granted an exeption to play under-18 rugby at 15 years of age in season 2010/11 will still be eligible in season 2011/12. However, the SCOT group of consultant orthopaedic surgeons review the physical parameters on an annual basis, taking into account data collected over the previous season and injury trends, and so the parameters are subject to change on a yearly basis.
At what age is a player allowed to play under-17 games? A player cannot play under-17 rugby until he has turned 16 years of age or has completed an application for an exception to play under-18 school or club rugby.
Physical Maturity Assessments
Who is going to be conducting the physical assessments on players who are put forward for moving up an age group, and what do the tests involve? Are You Ready to Play Rugby? physical maturity assessments are conducted at an assessment centre set up by Scottish Rugby and manned by suitably qualified medical personnel.These assessments will consist of height, weight and hand grip strength measurements being taken, and the data collected will be used as part of an ongoing study into rugby injuries.
How do we get boys assessed for physical maturity? Complete and submit the appropriate application forms, and Scottish Rugby will arrange an appointment for a physical maturity assessment, in your area where possible. Please note: only players who have submitted application forms to Scottish Rugby in advance will be assessed. Scottish Rugby will be taking a proactive approach to physical maturity assessments in season 2011/12 and, where possible, will supply clubs and schools with dates of assessment centres in advance. This should allow teachers and coaches a better opportunity to organise their players’ attendance.
Where are these assessment centres are going to be, will they be local? As part of our review of the policy for season 2010/11, Scottish Rugby established a number of new regional assessment centres, spread evenly across the country and covering most major population centres.
16/17 Year Olds in Senior Rugby
Are 16 or 17 year old Front Row players able to apply for an exception to play senior rugby? Any under-18 player wishing to apply to play in the front row of a senior rugby team must complete the Front Row Exception Form, in addition to the regular Are You Ready to Play Rugby? application form, supplying as much detail as possible about their front row experience.
If a 16 or 17 year old player is cleared for senior rugby and wishes to change clubs or teams, do they need to reapply for clearance to play in their new team? Yes, if a player wishes to change teams (even within the same club), they will need to apply to Scottish Rugby for an exception to play in their new team. An under-18 player’s suitability for senior rugby is assessed in the context of each proposed competition, and so any potential change in competition will need to be reconsidered by a Scottish Rugby Regional Panel. Similarly, if a player wishes to change positions within their team this must also be approved by Scottish Rugby.
How long will this process take? Scottish Rugby aims to have most applications for under-18 players in senior rugby turned around within two weeks of receipt of the completed application forms, where possible.
In relation to the under-18 playing senior rugby; does each individual need to go through the application process to play senior rugby, or would it be agreed that they are to an acceptable level if they are: (a) A district under-18 player; or (b) A national under-18 squad member? Players aged 16 and 17 playing adult rugby are at greater risk of injury than players playing within their age group. As such, all under-18 players playing adult rugby must go through the application process to play senior rugby.
A boy born, say, in October goes to university at the age of 17 but can’t play university rugby as it’s adult men’s rugby and there is no under-18 (1 September) team near his university. Where does he play? A player in this situation has three options open to him: he can either play in the university freshers or under-20 set up; apply for dispensation to play adult rugby for the university or a local club; or, if practicable, play for a local club or return to his home club to play under-18 (1 September) rugby.
We have a player who was cleared to play in our senior team last year as a 16 year old. Will he need to reapply as a 17 year old this season? No, his clearance will still be valid as long as his circumstances remain the same. However, if he changes teams (even within the same club), or positions within the team, it is vital that a new application be made.
Dispensation to Play in a Lower an Age Grade
Is there a process which allows us to apply for a player to be given dispensation to play in a younger age grade? In exceptional cases a player may be given dispensation to participate in rugby at a level below their true age grade, due to an existing or previous medical disability (physical or behavioural). Any dispensation, if granted, would only be valid for one season; and would only allow players to play down one age grade, in a specific team. If a club/school wishes to apply for such a dispensation for a player they must make a written submission to Scottish Rugby, including any supporting evidence of the player's condition. The player and their coach must have completed the online IRB Rugby Ready course (www.irbrugbyready.com), and submissions should be signed by the player's parent/guardian and coach. Submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Scottish Rugby's medical team. Submissions should be sent to the Are You Ready to Play Rugby? administrator at Scottish Rugby, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ; or emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it sru.org.uk. Scottish Rugby will endeavour to contact clubs/schools with a decision within one month of receipt, if submitted before the first of the month (e.g. a sumbission received by 1 September will be decided by the end of September). Submissions for season 2011/12 will be taken from 1 September to 1 December 2011.
One-Off Match Between Under-18 and Senior Rugby Teams
We are planning an exhibition match between our under-18 team and an over-35’s team – how does this new policy affect us? We have devised an application form which clubs can use for a one-off match such as this. It can be downloaded from the Are You Ready to Play Rugby? section of the Scottish Rugby website. Please note that this form is only valid for the match detailed on the form; if players wish to participate in any other senior rugby matches they will need to go through the regular exception process for under-18 players in senior rugby.
Rugby Sevens
How does this new policy apply to rugby sevens? As with all other occasions where players wish to play rugby with or against players in a higher age grade than their own, the Are You Ready to Play Rugby? policy must be adhered to. The only difference is that there are no restrictions placed on front row players in sevens. Please be sure to note on any application forms that the proposed competition is rugby sevens.
Teams from other Unions
We are hosting a team from another Union; how do these policies apply? Any teams from other Unions playing in Scotland must abide by Scottish Rugby's policies and regulations. This includes age banding policies. No 15 year olds may play under-18 rugby, and no 16/17 year olds may play adult rugby, in Scotland without receiving the proper clearance to do so. Scottish Rugby will endeavour to accommodate requests for clearances wherever possible, but please keep in mind that this may take a little longer to arrange and so please submit applications as early as possible.
|
||||||||||||||||
