Children of all ages and both genders are playing rugby, from under 7's right up to veterans. There are billions of clubs all over the world offering a chance for children to take part in the sport and play for a team.

AS and A Level Physical Education (Sport & Coaching)

LOCAL & NATIONAL

GRASS ROOTS

(Recreational Play)

LOCAL SCHOOL/COLLEGE LOCAL CLUB

Children of all ages and both genders are playing rugby, from under 7’s right up to veterans. There are billions of clubs all over the world offering a chance for children to take part in the sport and play for a team.

Looking at our country there are numerous different clubs, which have a ‘Youth & Minis’ section. Many children take part in a match every Sunday in this country. Rugby Union at grass roots level offers the basics to the sport and is a taster of what the game can have in store for them. The mini’s section teaches the juniors the common skills required to play the sport. Clubs have different age groups that the children are sectioned into:

U7’s
U8’s
U9’s
U10’s
U11’s
U12’s
U13’s
U14’s
U15’s
U16’s

In many clubs, such as Bournemouth RFC these different age groups form one big group called ‘Youth & Minis’. The RFU (Rugby Football Union) have devised different rules to suit the age group taking part, e.g. From Under 7’s right up until under 9’s can-not do contact (tackling), instead they formed a game very similar to rugby but without the tackling called ‘Touch Rugby’. There are many different rules for age groups that are needed in order to keep all players safe whilst playing the game.

The next group that comes after ‘Youth & Minis’ is seniors which again is sectioned into:

Colts (Mixture of U17’s & U18’s)
First’s
Second’s
Third’s
Veterans (Over 40’s)

The senior’s section follows the rules given by the RFU, known as ‘A normal game’. You require a lot of skill for this section and the game is very intense.

The RFU has employed someone from each county who has a wide knowledge of Rugby Union, their job is to encourage the game and get children to take part and join a club. They’re known ...