Mini Tag Rugby Under 7/8
(In season 2003 - 2004 Non Contact Mini Rugby Under 8 will be replaced by Mini Tag Rugby Under 8)

The emphasis in Tag Rugby is on enjoyment and learning the physical skills of running with the ball, evasion, running in support of the ball carrier, passing and running to tag the ball carrier.

Ball - size 3

Playing time - 10 minutes each way.

Pitch size (max) - 40m by 30m + 2m for each in-goal area.

The object of the game is to score a try (5 points) by placing the ball with downward pressure behind the opponents goal-line. Diving over the goal-line is not permitted at this stage.

Each team contains not more than seven players and not less than five.

All players wear a Tag belt, around their waist, with two tags attached to it by velcro.

The ball can only be passed sideways and backwards through the air, not handed to another player.
The ball carrier (remaining on his/her feet at all times) runs and dodges potential 'taggers' (i.e. the opposition). A 'TAG' is the removal of one of the tags by a tagger, at which point the ball carrier must pass the ball quickly to a team mate. The player must then retreive their tag from the tagger before re-joining play.

No contact is allowed in Tag Rugby, apart from the removal of a tag from the belt of the ball carrier. The ball carrier cannot fend off the opposition using their hands, likewise the opposition cannot barge the ball carrier, pull the ball out of their hands, pull their shirts, run in front of or force him/her into touch, etc. Any contact will be penalised with a free pass.

There is no kicking of any kind allowed in Tag Rugby.

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Mini Contact Rugby Under 9/10

Ball - size 3 and 4

Playing time - 15 minutes each way.

Pitch size (max) - 60m by 35m + 5m for each in-goal area.

The object of the game is to score a try (5 points).

Each team consists of nine players.

Tackling, scrummages and lineouts are now permitted in all age groups from under 9 upwards, although no kicking, no hand-off/fend off* and no fly-hacking (kicking a loose ball on the ground) is permitted at under 9/10 level.
* A hand -off/fend -off is defined as any movement of the hand, arm or ball to ward off a would be tackler.

The Uncontested Scrum - U9 level only.
The scrum is made up of one row of three players from each team. The team awarded the scrum will throw the ball into the scrum and must be allowed to win it without contest.

The Contested scrum - U10 level only.
The scrum is made up of one row of three players from each team. With this exception the laws of the game pertaining to the scrummage apply.

The Uncontested Line-out - at U9 level only.
The line-out is made up of two players from each team, plus the player throwing in and an immediate opponent, and one player from either team in a position to receive the ball (i.e. the scrum-half). The team throwing in must be allowed to catch and win the ball. The opposition are not allowed to compete for the ball until the line-out ends.

The Contested Line-out at U10 level is made up of the same number of players as at U9.

Lifting/supporting in the line-out is not permitted at either level.

Where U10's play with U9's, they must use the U9 Mini Contact format

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Midi Rugby Under 11/12

Ball - size 4

Playing time - 20 minutes each way.

Pitch size (max) - 60m by 43m + 5m for each in-goal area.

The object of the game is to score a try (5 points) and conversion (2 points).

Each team consists of twelve players.

Kicking now permitted, although hand-off/fend-off and fly hacking are not.

The scrum consists of five players from each team. The front row - three players (two props and the hooker in the middle) and two locks forming the second row.

The line-out consists of four players from each team, plus the player throwing the ball in and an immediate opponent, and one player from either side in a position to receive the ball.

Lifting/supporting in the line-out is not permitted at this level.

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Junior Rugby

Played as the 15 a-side game on a full size pitch but with Law variations.

The object of the game is to score a try (5 points) and conversion (2 points).

The scrum is made up of eight players from each team, 3-4-1.

Under 13/14

Ball - size 4

Playing time - 25 minutes each way.

The hand-off/fend-off and fly hacking now permitted.

Under 15

As per under 13/14

Ball - size 5

Playing time - 30 minutes each way

Under 16, 17, 18

Ball - size 5

Playing time - 35 minutes each way.

Players may now lift/support team mates in the line-out.

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