How long can players play, and what does the Half Game Rule require?
Rule- England
- RFU
- Age grade rugby
- Regulation 15
- World Rugby laws
- Under 13-Under 18
- 2026/27
- Coaches
Playing time limits (RFU Regulation 15.12)
| Age | Max per half | Max rugby per day |
|---|---|---|
| Under 13 & Under 14 | 25 min | 80 min |
| Under 15 | 30 min | 90 min |
| Under 16 and above (incl. girls' Under 16/15 band) | 35 min | 90 min |
- An extra 15 minutes a day is allowed for the RFU's Activate injury-prevention programme.
- No player may play more than 35 matches a season.
- No extra time (other than injury stoppage time) and no place-kicking contests to settle a tie.
When a match must be stopped
- Under 13: if one team leads by more than 6 tries.
- Under 14 to Under 18 (including the girls' Under 14/13 band): if one team leads by more than 50 points.
Coaches can agree to carry on in another format, but extra time and results aren't officially recorded.
Half Game Rule (Regulation 15.13)
Every player in the match-day squad must play at least half of the available playing time (e.g. 35 minutes of a 70-minute match), including in sevens and festivals, where all of the day's matches are added together.
- Stoppages and time after the half expires don't count.
- Time off the pitch counts towards a player's half only for a temporary injury (up to 10 minutes) or a yellow card.
Added 21 Oct 2026