Playing out of Age Grade
Guidance for 17 year olds playing adult rugby and players playing out of age grade for U17 and below.
17-Year-Olds Playing Adult Rugby
Players can train and play adult contact rugby from their 17th birthday, but clubs and individual players must complete the RFU approval process before they can do so.
The process is there to make sure that moving into adult rugby is appropriate for the individual player and that the right safeguarding arrangements are in place.
Before you start
Under RFU Regulation 15.6, a 17-year-old may train and play adult contact rugby provided that:
- they do not train or play in the front row of a contested scrum until they are 18;
- the requirements of the RFU Safeguarding Policy and Regulation 21 are followed;
- the club has been approved to play 17-year-old males and/or females in adult rugby; and
- the individual player has been assessed and approved as capable of playing adult rugby.
- The club has completed the Safeguarding Self Audit
- The is an up-to-date Club Safeguarding Policy (on website)
There are therefore two steps to complete.
Step 1 – Get your club approved
Your club must first be approved to play 17-year-olds in adult rugby. This must be completed before applications can be made for individual players.
The application is completed through your club’s GMS Organisation Profile.
A club volunteer with the appropriate GMS permissions can:
- Open the club’s Organisation Profile and select Organisation Information.
- Select Play up to Adult.
- Complete the required club and safeguarding information.
- Identify the relevant club personnel:
- All individuals must have a valid RFU DBS.
- Coaches must have Active Coach Badge – Adult (which includes Safeguarding and Headcase) and suitable qualification e.g ERCA. Find out more on England Rugby Learning here.
- Team Managers / First Aiders / Team Captains must have Intro to Safeguarding & Headcase.
- Submit the application.
The application is then sent electronically to your Club Safeguarding Officer for approval, followed by Hampshire RFU for checks and final approval.
Please note: the person starting the club application needs a club role and GMS Level 3 permission or above.
RFU step-by-step guide – Club Approval
Step 2 – Get each 17-year-old player approved
Once the club has been approved, you must complete a separate application for every 17-year-old who wishes to train or play adult contact rugby.
An Adult Male Registrar, Adult Female Registrar or Age Grade Registrar with the appropriate GMS permissions starts the application through Player Management.
They should:
- Find the player’s record in Player Management.
- Open the player’s account.
- Select Request Ability to Register as Adult.
- Complete the required player information and assessment.
- Submit the application.
The application is then reviewed by the Club Safeguarding Officer before being sent electronically to Hampshire RFU for approval.
Only once Hampshire RFU approval has been given can the player proceed with the relevant adult registration process.
RFU step-by-step guide – Player Approval
Important
Club approval does not automatically approve individual players. Each 17-year-old must have their own approval completed before taking part in adult contact rugby.
Likewise, completing the player application is not the end of the process – clubs should check that Hampshire RFU approval has been confirmed before the player trains or plays with adults.
The player, once approved, must also be registered as an adult player.
Players aged 17 cannot train or play in the front row of a contested scrum. Once a player reaches their 18th birthday, this restriction no longer applies.
Following approval
Approval should be treated as the start of an ongoing player-centred transition into adult rugby. Clubs should monitor the player’s overall training and match load, work with parents/guardians and age-grade coaches where relevant, and take account of school or college commitments. An end-of-season review with the player is also expected and be requested by Hampshire RFU.
Need help?
The RFU guidance includes screenshots and step-by-step instructions for completing both parts of the process:
Club approval:
How to complete the Club Approval process
Individual player approval:
How to complete the Player Approval process
Please use the RFU guidance above in the first instance if you experience problems completing the process.
Playing Out of Age Grade (U17 and under)
The starting point for Age Grade Rugby is simple: players should normally train and play within their own age grade.
However, RFU Regulation 15 allows an individual player to play up or play down an age grade in specific circumstances, where this is appropriate for the player and the required RFU conditions and approvals have been met.
The priority throughout should always be the safety, welfare and development of the individual player.
Does my player need approval?
Before allowing a player to play outside their normal age grade, clubs should first check the requirements of RFU Regulation 15.
Playing out of age grade is an individual player decision. It is different from combining whole age groups or teams, and the requirements vary depending on the player’s age and whether they are playing up or playing down.
Check the RFU guidance on Playing Up or Playing Down
Playing Up
Regulation 15 allows players to play above their normal age grade in certain circumstances.
The relevant conditions depend on the player’s age, so clubs should always check the current Regulation 15 requirements before allowing a player to play up.
Where approval is required, the decision should be based on whether playing up is safe and appropriate for the individual player, rather than the playing needs of the team.
Playing Down
Regulation 15 also allows an individual player to play down an age grade in specific circumstances.
Playing down is intended to support the needs, safety and development of an individual player. It should not be used simply to strengthen a team or address player-number issues.
The player must meet the criteria set out within Regulation 15 and the appropriate approval process must be completed before they play down.
How to complete the process
1. Check Regulation 15
First, check that the player’s age and circumstances allow them to play outside their normal age grade.
Check the RFU Playing Up and Playing Down guidance
2. Coach – consider the RFU risk assessment questions
A qualified coach (ERCA) should consider whether playing outside the player’s normal age grade is safe and appropriate for that individual.
To help with this, coaches should use the RFU risk assessment questions. These provide a simple framework for considering the factors relevant to the player and their proposed move between age grades.
A copy of the risk assessment questions are below, or you can you use and submit them using our webform (your responses will be sent automatically to your clubs Safeguarding Lead (CSO)).
The coach should provide their completed responses to the Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO).
There is no separate Hampshire RFU coaching assessment form to complete.
3. Club Safeguarding Officer – review and submit
The Club Safeguarding Officer should review the information provided by the coach alongside the relevant RFU requirements and ensure that the necessary consent has been obtained.
The CSO should then complete the online Playing Out of Age Grade Approval Form using the information provided.
Complete the Playing Out of Age Grade Approval Form
Please make sure all required information is available before starting the form.
4. Wait for approval
Where Hampshire RFU approval is required, the player must not play outside their normal age grade until approval has been confirmed.
Once approved, the club should retain a record of the approval and make sure the relevant coaches and volunteers are aware.
Once a player has been approved
Playing out of age grade should remain appropriate for the individual player throughout the season.
Coaches should continue to consider the player’s:
- safety and welfare;
- physical development;
- confidence and enjoyment;
- ability to participate appropriately at the different age grade; and
- overall experience of rugby.
If circumstances change or there are concerns about whether playing outside the player’s normal age grade remains appropriate, the club should review the arrangement.
Remember – approval is for one season only
A simple process for clubs
Coach identifies a potential need → Check Regulation 15 → Coach completes the RFU risk assessment questions → Provide these to the Club Safeguarding Officer → CSO completes the approval form → Wait for approval → Player can play out of age grade
Useful links
RFU Playing Up and Playing Down guidance
View the RFU guidance
RFU Risk Assessment Questions
Hampshire RFU approval
Complete the Playing Out of Age Grade Approval Form
