ABOUT YOUTH RUGBY

Experiencing rugby can be highly rewarding for young people as it carries benefits for personal improvement, not just in terms of physical and athletic skill development but also by encouraging a sense of community and self-worth.

The RFU have laid down a clear playing pathway through youth rugby allowing youngsters to develop at a rate most suitable to their age and physical ability.

Young players are introduced to rugby in clearly defined stages, starting with mini/midi rugby so that by the U13 (school year 8) age grade players have acquired skills and knowledge to graduate into junior rugby and the full 15-a-side game.  From the junior ranks via colts rugby it is hoped that players will eventually migrate into the senior game by representing our first XV and who knows… maybe beyond.

Each stage has its own rules distinguishing it from the adult game and should not be considered as merely a shortened version of senior rugby.

This progression has been structured to accommodate the changing developmental abilities of children as they mature with the emphasis being on the improvement of individual skills through purposeful and enjoyable activity.  Provision is made for testing these skills in match situations during a limited number of competitive fixtures and festivals/tournaments each season.

Starting with Mini Tag for the U7/8 (school years 2/3) age grades, boys and girls progress through Mini Rugby U9 and U10 (school years 4/5) age grades onto Midi Rugby for the u11 and u12 (school years 6/7) age grades.

Full details of the structure, laws and regulations relating to mini/midi rugby are contained in The Rugby Continuum which can be found on the RFU website.

Players then move up to junior rugby, U13 to U17 (School years 8 to 12) and onto senior youth rugby for U17's (School year 12) and colts (School years 13 and 14), played to RFU Laws with variations for each age group, distinguishing it from the adult game.

Further information on law variations for Junior and Colts rugby can be found on the RFU website.

Girls rugby currently differs slightly, whereby they play mixed rugby up to U11 (School year 6), at U12 (School year 7) they can continue to play mixed rugby for one more year and/or play in the RFUW lower age band (classed as U14; school years 7 to 9).  From here girls then play in the upper age band (classed as U17; school years 10 to 12).  The game is played to RFU U14/U17 Laws with RFUW variations, details of which can be found on the RFU website in the RFUW age grade rugby section.

The RFU website is well worth a visit as it contains a great deal of information relating to youth rugby and provides evidence that the whole structure of rugby has the best interests of young people at heart.

Ilkeston RUFC through the Junior Elks structure are following RFU guidelines closely and we are keen to witness our young people progress through 'the ranks' and graduate into senior rugby having had a solid rugby education during their time with the juniors.  Above and beyond all else however we hope that our youngsters have fun ….because to us it is more than a game … it is rugby!