A full list of all the FAQs highlighted within their relevant sections is below: 

AGE BANDING 

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. 

Where do you get application forms for exemption?

Application forms will be sent to all clubs and schools and will be available to download at the Are You Ready to Play Rugby?  section of the Scottish Rugby 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-16 but are not 16 until the end of the year so, technically, not eligible to play under-18 rugby? 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 10/11, 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 2011/12, 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). And 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 a 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 submission 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.  

AGE GRADE LAW VARIATIONS 

In the case of S1, P7 and P6, these are all year groups not age groups.  Can you confirm that it is the year group which is crucial and not the age group which would normally be implied by such year groups?

Within each school year group there will be a number of age groups but it is crucial that the school year groups and club year groups play to the same law variations for the school year group. 

We presume that it is okay for pupils in P6 to play in P7 teams, P7 in S1 teams as routinely happens in prep schools.  Are we right to do so?

The policies launched this year focus on the under-16 and under-18 age groups. Moving forward we will be looking at age banding from age 8 upwards; in the interim we would recommend playing in two year age bands with prior agreement between teams – i.e. P4 and P5 playing together, P6 and P7 playing together, S1 and S2 playing together and S2 and S3 playing together – with the law variations being applied consistently across these bandings. Again, common sense must apply. 

What happens to the smaller clubs/schools that play combined teams e.g. joint under-15/under-16?

Combining age groups below under-16 is fine, as long as it is within a two year age banding and as long as common sense prevails.  The emphasis should be on keeping physically immature and physically mature players apart and, as such, a combined under-16/under-17 team is not acceptable. 

A boy’s birthday is ten days after the cut-off but, if he is not physically ready to go up to the next age group, does he have to play in the higher age group?  Say, if he is in S2 and, due to his date of birth, should be in under-15, can he continue to play in S2?

The policies launched this year focus on the under-16 and under-18 age groups. Moving forward we will be looking at age banding from age 8 upwards; in the interim we would recommend playing in year groups up until formal competition starts at under-15 (1  January). 

Does this mean that a school/club under-16 league is being set up, as previously the form IV, V and VI all played together?  If not, then the kids in form IV will not get any games and we may lose some of them, unless they play for clubs?

We are encouraging all clubs and schools to schedule appropriate fixtures for their players and would encourage under-16 teams in schools, even if this means 10-a-side. Please contact your Regional Development Manager to get further information on playing opportunities that are available in your area.

All age grade playing structures will be available and reviewed in due course. 

MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR COACHING AND REFEREEING 

Will we be able to recruit new referees, if they are under new pressure in trying to guarantee safety under the new procedures?

Referees are not being put under any new pressure – player safety has always been paramount to everything that referees do when refereeing a game. 

Can I coach if I don’t have online rugby ready?

No, the IRB Rugby Ready online course is now the minimum requirement for all rugby teachers and coaches in Scotland. Scottish Rugby has begun to monitor compliance within all clubs and schools, and will continue to do so throughout season 2011. The online Rugby Ready course is a short, self-checking assessment which provides valuable information on all safety aspects of rugby, and models of good practice. 

Will I need to complete the new practical coaching course?

In 2009, Scottish Rugby stated their intention to increase the minimum requirement by following some other tier one unions in introducing a new practical update course for all teachers, coaches and referees at the start of every season. (For example, the introduction of the course in New Zealand led to a huge decrease in the instances of serious spinal injuries).

Scottish Rugby's new course, the Rugby Ready Practical, is currently being delivered in clubs and schools throughout Scotland by rugby development and coach education staff, and also some teachers, at local venues. Please visit the coaching section of this website for more information. 

INJURY AND GAME MANAGEMENT 

Who is responsible for pre match risk assessments, and is there a liability if something goes wrong? 

There are no risk assessment procedures being implemented this year. We will work internally to develop risk assessment procedures for programs run by Scottish Rugby and we will produce game management guidelines for all clubs and schools to follow for the start of the season. If something goes wrong, all involved in coaching and refereeing are covered under Scottish Rugby’s insurance scheme.