Overcast, 12° CAGE GRADE & DISPENSATIONS
These regulations can be found in Section 15.1.2 – 15.1.4 of RFU Regulations
Players may only play contact rugby with other players of their age grade unless they have a dispensation to play with players from a different age grade.
When playing in Fixtures or Festivals, the Club must inform the coaches and match officials of opposing teams in advance of any dispensation being applied and identify each player concerned.
Clear and complete records must be kept of decisions taken and the basis for them.
Mini & Midi Rugby
In Mini and Midi Rugby players shall play in their own age grade unless one of the following dispensations apply:
(a) Training Dispensation
During internal Club training, players may train together and play internal training matches together in the following groups only:
(i) Under 7 and Under 8 squads;
(ii) Under 9 and Under 10 squads,
(iii) Under 11 and Under 12 squads, although no Under 13 player is permitted to train with an Under 11 or Under 12 squad in any circumstances.
(b) RFU Special Dispensation
The vast majority of children, with correct coaching, can play in their correct age grades but in exceptional circumstances, where the safety of the child may be compromised due to a developmental disability (physical or behavioural), application may be made to the RFU for an individual dispensation permitting a player to play down one age grade. Such dispensation will last for only one Season. Application for such dispensation should be submitted to ECRU initially for scrutiny.
Special dispensations to play outside of their true age grade will not be granted to players merely because they appear to have skills inferior or superior to their team mates.
(c) Under 6’s may train only!
(d) Where a Club does not have enough players to form an Under 12 squad, Under 12 players may play with an Under 13 side but only with written parental consent.
(e) Special Dispensation for Clubs with a Small Number of Players
(i) To allow age bands rather than single age grades. I.e. U7s with U8s; 9s with U10s; U11s with U12s;
(ii) Dispensation to be for one season at a time;
(iii) Teams to play in Rules of Play for the younger age grade. I.e. Under 7 Mini Tag; Under 9 Mini Rugby; Under 11Midi Rugby;
(iv) No more than half the players on the pitch at any time in a game should be from the older age grade;
(v) Teams can play in friendly fixtures after advising the opposition and gaining their consent;
(vi) Teams cannot take part in competitive Festivals (unless they comply with the existing Age Grade regulations);
Youth Rugby
The decision to allow a young person to play out of age grade lies with the person in the best position to assess all the relevant circumstances and they must obtain permission from the player’s parent or guardian.
The ultimate consideration must be for the welfare and safety of the player and those with whom he will be playing.
Players shall play in their own age grade unless they fall within one of the following exceptions:
(a) Very talented or physically developed players in the U13, U14 and U15 age grades may play up one age grade with appropriate permission;
(b) Those in the U16 and U17 age grades may play up two age grades;
(c) In very exceptional circumstances, where a young person’s safety may be compromised due to a developmental disability (physical or behavioural) that young person may play down one age grade;
(d) An England Academy Player may play up into a higher age grade if the RFU Head of Elite Player Development has given his specific written consent.
A Club team may not play or select as a replacement or substitute an U19 player within their team if an U16 player plays or is selected as a replacement or substitute for any team in the same match.
Players may not play adult rugby, or train with other adults, until they have reached their eighteenth birthday unless they comply with one of the following exceptions:
(a) players who are aged 17 may play adult (including Under 20) rugby and train with adults provided they have been assessed as capable of playing with adults and the RFU’s playing adult rugby form has been duly completed and signed. This exception does not apply to playing in the front row of the scrum during contested or uncontested scrummages either during training or in a match, where there is an absolute prohibition on players under the age of 18 playing in adult rugby.
