When can a player train and play adult rugby?

Under RFU Regulation 15.7, a player can train and play contact rugby with adults from their 17th birthday, provided:

• they don't play or train in the front row of a contested scrum until they turn 18;
• the club complies with the RFU Safeguarding Policy and Regulation 21 and has an appointed Safeguarding Officer;
• the club has been approved by its Constituent Body to play 17-year-olds in adult rugby that season (this must be in place before any individual application);
• the player has been assessed as capable of playing with adults, and the individual application (made through GMS) is approved by the Constituent Body. Approval lasts until their 18th birthday.

England Academy, Prem and Girls Player Development Group and England U18 players apply to the RFU's Executive Director of Performance Rugby instead.

Competitions closed to Under 18 age grade players:

• Constituent Body adult representative rugby, including the County Championships. Under 18s can't play in the U20s County Championship in any circumstances, even if they've turned 18.
• Men's Prem Rugby League and Cup, Champ Rugby, and Premiership Women's Rugby and its cup, unless there are exceptional circumstances and the required RFU (and, for academy players, club and PREM Rugby) approvals are given.