rugby laws & Regulations

Law Variations Can Be Found At USA Rugby

ELIGIBILITY: Play eligibility for the current youth rugby season starting in September 2021

  • Ages are determined by the age and grade the play was September 1st

  • Example 5th/6th Grade flag rugby summer 7’s - grade the player was in back in September

AGE/CATEGORIES FOR BOYS & GIRLS:

  • 3rd & 4th Grade co-ed flag rugby

  • 5th & 6th Grade co-ed flag rugby

  • 7th/8th Grade co-ed safe intro to contact rugby

  • Boys High School JV & High School Varsity contact rugby

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YOUTH NON-CONTACT RUGBY:

  • Starts as early as 3rd grade and develops the basic rugby skills before full contact is introduced. Youth non-contact rugby is only played 7 a side.

3rd/4th & 5th/6th GRADE FLAG RUGBY:

  • Non-contact touch or flag for boys and girls with teams of 10 playing with 7 players on the field at a time.

  • Co-ed= Girls and boys running together.

7th & 8th GRADE SAFE INTRO TO CONTACT RUGBY:

  • Safely introduces tackling with teams of 12 playing with 7 players on the field at a time.

SUBSTITUTIONS FOR CONTACT RUGBY:

  • In 2018, World Rugby introduced a different variation of the substitution law for 15’s: Each team can substitute up to 2 front row players (or 3 if they have three suitably-trained front row replacements) and up to 5 other players (for a total of 7 or 8) PER HALF.

  • Substitutions may only be made when the ball is dead and with the permission of the referee. The following provisions would be in effect:

    • In either half, once a player is replaced, they cannot return that half

    • A play who was replaced in the first half CAN play again in the second half

    • Rosters would still be capped at 22 for 15 a side matches (with 2 suitably-trained-frown-row replacements) or 23 (with 3 suitably-trained-front-row replacements).

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS & HS BOYS:

  • Teams have an unlimited number of players. They can play either 7’s, 10’s or 15 at a time. Girls are NOT allowed to play high school tackle rugby with boys.