playing out of age grade

Regulation 15 contains the regulations governing the circumstances under which a player is permitted, with the approval of the Sussex RFU and in some cases the RFU, to play out of their age grade.

Any club considering making an application to play an individual out of their age grade is strongly advised to read the relevant sections of Regulation 15 before making any application. 

The relevant sections are

15.1: General Regulations and Playing Principles

15.2: Combining of Age Grades

15.3: Playing Up

15.4: Playing Down

15.5: Playing Out of Age Grade Table

In accordance with Regulation 15.6: Playing Adult Rugby, Regulation 15.7:  England Academy, Centre of Excellence and England U18 Players and Representative Rugby Playing Adult Rugby and Regulation 15.5: Playing Out of Age Grade Table a male or female player can take part in Adult Contact Rugby when they reach their seventeeneth birthday. In order for a 17-year-old player to take part in adult training sessions and/or matches clubs need to follow a two-stage process.

STEP 1: COMPLETE THE CLUB APPROVAL FORM.

Before any 17-year-old player can take part in adult matches and/or training sessions the club needs to submit an on-line Playing Adult Rugby Club Approval Form to the SRFU.

KEY POINTS:

• Clubs are not allowed to submit Playing Adult Rugby - Player Approval Forms until the Playing Adult Rugby - Club Approval Form has been signed off by SRFU

• Clubs should allow up to 6 DAYS for a Club Approval Form to be signed off. 

• Clubs need to complete separate Club Forms for MALE and FEMALE players.

• On the Playing Adult Rugby - Club Approval Form under the section titled KEY PEOPLE clubs must identify:

- All of the coaches who are involved with 17-year-old players taking part in adult training sessions and or matches. All of these coaches MUST hold a valid DBS certificate. 

- At least TWO of the regular players (e.g. Captain and Vice Captain) in every squad that includes 17-year-old players. All of these players MUST hold a valid DBS certificate.

Given that squads change (e.g. long term injury) clubs are required to use their best endeavours to ensure that they always have at least two players with a valid DBS certificate associated with every squad in which 17-year-old players will be involved.

NOTE: If there is insufficient room on the Playing Adult Rugby - Club Approval Form to list all of the key people then a separate email should be sent to the:

-Female Age Grade Manager, Geraldine Brown (g.brown@sussexrugby.co.uk) listing any additional key people that need to be associated with 17-year-old FEMALE players taking part in Adult rugby 

- Male Age Grade Manager, Simon Flint (s.flint@sussexrugby.co.uk) listing any additional key people that need to be associated with 17-year-old MALE players taking part in Adult rugby. 

STEP 2: COMPLETING THE PLAYER APPROVAL FORM.

Once the Club Approval Form has been signed off by SRFU clubs can submit the on-line Playing Adult Rugby Player Approval Form to the SRFU to seek approval for individual 17-Year-old players to take part in Adult training sessions and/or matches. 

KEY POINTS:

• No players is allowed to take part in adult training sessions or matches until their Playing Adult Rugby Player Approval Form has been signed off by the SRFU

• Clubs should allow at least  6 DAYS for an application for a player to take part in adult training sessions and matches to be processed and signed off. 

• Clubs should only put forward players to take part in adult training sessions and matches in order to develop their skills, not just to make up number in the adult squads.

•  Clubs are required to carry out a comprehensive assessment of each 17-year-old player to demonstrate that they are will benefit from and are capable of playing adult rugby. It is recommended that a coach of at least England Rugby Coaching Award Level (previously Level 2) makes the assessment. The Age Grade Codes of Practice provide guidance on supporting evidence and measurement.

• If approval is given for an individual to play adult rugby, the club must notify the opposing teams and match officials at least 24 hours in advance of a game that there is an under 18-year-old in the side.

Certain age grades are permitted to play up one of two age grades for training and playing if recommended by the player’s club and in  accordance with Regulation 15.3: Playing Up and Regulation 15.5: Playing Out of Age Grade Table.

Before any player can play up the club needs to submit an on-line Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form and get it signed off by the SRFU. 

KEY POINTS:

• No players is allowed to Play Up until their Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form has been signed off by the SRFU
• Clubs should allow at least 6 DAYS for an application for a player to  Play Up to be processed and signed off. 
• Clubs should only put forward players to play up in order to develop their skills, not just to make up numbers in another squad.
• Clubs are required to carry out a comprehensive assessment of each player to demonstrate that they will benefit from and are capable of playing up. It is recommended that a coach of at least England Rugby Coaching Level (previously Level 2) makes the assessment. The Age Grade Codes of Practice provide guidance on supporting evidence and measurement.
• A player who has been signed off to play up an age grade is still allowed to take part in training sessions and matches with their chronological age grade.

Certain age grades are permitted to play down one of two age grades for training and playing if recommended by the player’s club and in  accordance with Regulation 15.4: Playing Down and Regulation 15.5: Playing Out of Age Grade Table.

Before any player can play down the club needs to submit the on-line Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form and get it signed off by SRFU. 

KEY POINTS:

• No players is allowed to Play Down until their Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form has been signed off by the SRFU
• Clubs should allow at least  6 DAYS for an application for a player to Play Down to be processed and signed off. 
• Clubs are required to carry out a comprehensive assessment of each player to demonstrate that they need to play down. It is recommended that a coach of at least England Rugby Coaching Award Level (previously Level 2) makes the assessment. The Age Grade Codes of Practice provide guidance on supporting evidence and measurement
• Once a Player is signed off to Play Down, they are NOT permitted to play in their Chronological Age Grade for the whole season (e.g. an U15 Player who is signed off to Play Down with the U14 squad must play with the U14 squad for the whole season).  
• If approval is given for an individual to Play Down, the club must notify the opposing teams and match officials at least 24 hours in advance of a game that there is a player(s) Playing Down out of their age grade in the squad.

Certain age grades are permitted to be Combine Age Grades together for training and playing in  accordance with Regulation 15.2: Combining out of Age Grades and Regulation 15.5: Playing Out of Age Grade Table. 

Combining Age Grades for the 2024/25 Season

Clubs need to follow the four stage process detailed below if they want to Combine Age Grades

Stage 1: Playing Up:

• The club needs to identify those players in the older age group who are capable of Playing Up an age grade, rather than simply allowing them  to Combine (Play Down) with the younger age grade
• For those older players in the non-viable squad who are capable of Playing Up  an age grade the club needs to submit an on-line Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form for each player. The application must include a comprehensive assessment of each player to demonstrate that they will benefit from and are capable of playing up an age grade. It is recommended that a coach of at least England Rugby Coaching Award Level (previously Level 2) makes the assessment. The Age Grade Codes of Practice provide guidance on supporting evidence and measurement.
• No player is allowed to Play Up an age grade until their Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form has been signed off by the SRFU. 

Stage 2: Completion of the Combining Out of Age Grade Approval Form.

• Before a club can apply for any players to Combine (Play Down) with a younger age grade they need to comlete a Combining Out of Age Grade Approval Form
• The following link will take you to the Guide to completing the Combining out of Age Grade Approval Form which gives you instructions on how to complete the form

Stage 3: Completion of the Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form

• When approval has been given for the club to combine two age grades the club needs to submit an on-line  Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form for each player that they want to play down. 
• The following link will take you to the Guide to playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form which gives instructions on how to complete the form.

Key Points:

• Clubs need to carry out a comprehensive assessment of each player that they want to Combine (Play Down) with a younger age grade. It is recommended that a coach of at least England Rugby Coaching Award Level (previously Level 2) makes the assessment.  The assessment needs to;

1. Demonstrate why the player is NOT able to Play Up an age grade  rather than simply allowing them  to Combine (Play Down) with the younger age grade
2. Explain why you believe it is safe for the player to Combine (Play Down) with players in a younger age group who may have an age,  physical, mental and/or emotional difference of up to 24 months. The assessment needs to include how you will address any mismatch in size, age,and ability to safeguard the opposition players.

• The club needs to submit a photograph of the players in the older age grade with the players in the younger age grade to enable the CB to determine if there is a significant mismatch in size between the players. The photograph must be emailed separately to the Male Age Grade Manager. It MUST NOT be sent as an attachment to the Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form. 
• No player is allowed to Combine (Play Down) until the Combining Out of Age Grade Approval Form and the  Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form have been signed off by the SRFU.

Stage 4: New Players.

• When a new player joins the non-viable squad the club:

1. MUST submit a Playing Up or Down Out of Age Grade Approval Form for each new player that joins the older age grade.
2. MUST email to the Male Age Grade Manager, Simon Flint a photograph of the new older player with the players in the Combined Squad
3. MUST NOT allow the new player to take part in any training sessions and/or matches with the Combined Squad until the Approval Form has been signed off the the Sussex RFU.

Below you will find guidance on the information that the SRFU will want to see covered in all player assessments.

ASSESSMENT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO PLAY-UP:

An assessment for a player to Play Up needs to address the following points:

Skill Level & Ability.

1. Is the player one of the more skilful players in their team and are they going to be able to perform in an older team?
2. Will the player benefit from playing up an age grade?
3. How many years have they played rugby
4. What experience does the player have of playing with CB and/or DPP squads
5. What level of rugby are they playing at school or college?
6. Are they outcompeting against other teams and players?
7. Are they able to manage all aspects of contact rugby correctly?
8. Has the player been assessed as being capable of playing up an age grade in the past?
9. A coach should have observed them in training and match situations and be comfortable that they are capable of playing up an age grade.

Physical Development for their age.

1. How does the player’s height and weight compare to others in the team and to the team they will be joining? 
2. Is this player faster, stronger and more powerful than their current teammates and performing above average in contact situations?
3. Have they started maturation?
4. Does their physique match the position they will be playing in the new age band
5. Are there any skills needed at the age group above that haven’t been practiced and how will this impact on the positions they can play in?  
6. The coach carrying out the assessment should be confident that the player will be physically safe to play up an age grade.

Social & Emotional Development for their age.

1. Does the player know others within the new team? 
2. Is the player resilient, confident, and able to fit in to different age group? 
3. Do they have a level of maturity suitable to the team they are moving into? 
4. Is the player comfortable leaving their peer group and players of the same age? 
5. Are they able to demonstrate self-control when under pressure or a stressful situation? 
6. What month were they born – what is the age gap between them and others? 
7. Will they be able to cope with the challenges another age group brings, with new rules, new peer groups and a more challenging game?

ASSESSMENT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO PLAY-DOWN:

An assessment for a player to Play Down needs to address the following points:

Physical Ability.

1. Is the player’s safety compromised by their small stature in comparison to other players in their chronological age grade or other individuals of their age?

Development issues.

1. Does the player have any developmental issues that will make it difficult for them to play in their chronological age grade?

Behavioural issues.

1. Does the player have any behavioural issues that will make it difficult for them to play in their chronological age grade?