AGE BANDS FOR WOMEN’S RUGBY

WRU Women’s Rugby is divided into under 12s, under 15s, under 18s and senior competitions. All age banding is based on a players’ age at midnight, 31st August/1st September 2010.

Age prior to 1st September / Age Band / Rules / Special Requirements for involvement
6 / WRU Under 7’s Mixed Tag Rugby 5-a-side / WRU Tag Rugby Laws
7 / WRU Mixed Under 8’s 7-a-side Rugby
8 / WRU Mixed Under 9’s
10-a-side Rugby / Under 9’s WRU Rugby Pathway Laws
9 / WRU Mixed Under 10’s
10-a-side Rugby / Under 10’s WRU Rugby Pathway Laws
10 / WRU Mixed Under 11’s 12-a-side Rugby
and
WRU Inter District Schools
OR
WRU Women’s Under 12’s
and
WRU Women’s District Under 11’s / Under 11’s WRU Rugby Pathway Laws
Under 11’s Game Rygbi Cymru Pathway Laws (15-a-side)
TBC / 2 year age banding
11 / WRU Mixed Under 12’s 15-a-side Rugby
OR
WRU Women’s Under 12’s
and
WRU Women’s District Under 13s / Under 12’s WRU Rugby Pathway Laws
TBC
12 / WRU Women’s Under 15
and
WRU Women’s District Under 13s / Under 19 IRB Laws with WRU modification / 3 year age banding
13 / WRU Women’s Under 15
(Club and regional) / Under 19 IRB Laws with WRU modification
14 / WRU Women’s Under 15
(Club and regional) / Under 19 IRB Laws with WRU modification
15 / WRU Women’s Under 18
(Club and regional) / Under 19 IRB Laws / 3 year age banding
16 / WRU Women’s Under 18
(Club and regional) / Under 19 IRB Laws
17 / WRU Women’s Under 18
(Club and regional) / Under 19 IRB Laws
18-55 / WRU Women’s Senior Rugby / Full IRB Laws / Eligible from 18th birthday

UNDER 7’S TO UNDER 12’S

The playing regulations for these age grades are detailed in the WRU Rugby Pathway 2010-11, which can be found at http://www.wru.co.uk/13165.php Girls are permitted to play mixed gender rugby up to and including WRU under 12s. To be eligible, girls have to be under 12 as of 1st September at the start of the season. There is no provision by the WRU for girls’ to play down age bands.

If clubs wish to develop girls’ under 12s teams this will be supported by the WRU and forms part of the long term plan for women’s rugby. This age group will take into account girls’ aged 10 and 11 as of 1st September. The laws for this age band are to be confirmed.

Players who are 12 by 1st September may not play mixed gender rugby with the exception of all forms of non-contact rugby such as Tag and Touch rugby.

District under 11’s and under 13’s development centres are also being created in each of the regions. The rational for this is to ensure there are players coming through to under 15s, to attract girls’ that do not want to play mixed rugby and to keep any players that may find under 15s tough in the first year. Under 11’s takes into account players who are under 10 and under 11 on 1st September and under 13’s, those that are under 12 and under 13 on 1st September (i.e. 2 year age banding for each). The laws for these age bands is to be confirmed.

WOMEN’S UNDER 15’S

This age band takes into account girls’ age 12, 13 and 14 (school years 8, 9 and 10) as of 1st September at the start of the season. Girls’ who are under 12 as of 1st September should play mixed rugby or girls’ under 12s rugby (see above). Players are not permitted to play up from under 12s to under 15s, under 15s to under 18s or under 18s to senior rugby. Laws are currently under review.

WOMEN’S UNDER 18’S

This age band takes into account girls’ aged 15, 16 and 17 (school years 11, 12 and 13) as of 1st September at the start of the season. Players are not permitted to play senior rugby until their 18s birthday except in the case of players selected for Welsh under 20s or seniors with the consent of the Performance Manager. Matches are played to IRB under 19 variations with additional WRU variations.

SENIOR WOMEN’S RUGBY

Players must be 18 years of age to participate in senior rugby.

REGIONAL RUGBY

Regional rugby is played at under 15s, under 18s and senor women’s. Players are eligible to trial for the region in which they live.