Coach's Guide to Rugby Canada U16-U18 Rugby 2025

• 15s (U15 and U16, and U17 to U19): 8 v 8 contested scrums with a 1.5m push.
• Sevens (U15 to U19): the World Rugby U19 Sevens Laws of the Game apply to the scrum.

Lineouts follow the World Rugby U19 Laws of the Game in 15s (with sevens variations in the sevens game).

In Rugby Canada's U15 to U19 community game cards, the tackle, ruck and maul each read "Apply World Rugby Laws of the Game", and no separate tackle height is listed. The lineout reads "Apply World Rugby U19 Laws of the Game" (with sevens variations in the sevens game). Kicking in open play follows the World Rugby Laws of the Game.

Specific variations: fending and hand-offs are permitted but with no contact to the head or neck, and squeeze ball is not allowed. At U15/U16 15s, if a try is scored between the 15m line and the sideline, there is an option to bring the ball to the 15m line for the conversion. Conversions follow World Rugby Laws in U17 to U19 15s and in sevens.

Yellow and red cards both apply in U15 to U19 community rugby.

• Yellow card suspension: 5 minutes in U15/U16 15s, 7 minutes in U17 to U19 15s, and 2 minutes in sevens.
• Match official: a certified and appointed match official where possible.
• Coaches on the field: none (the match official aside).
• Substitutions: rolling subs.
• Offside and penalties: World Rugby Laws of the Game apply (sevens variations in the sevens game).
• Contact to the head or neck: fending and hand-offs are permitted, but no contact to the head or neck is permitted. Squeeze ball is not allowed.

Rugby Canada's age grade variations say all age grade games in Canada should have appropriate first aid staff on site, supported by an Emergency Action Plan. Rugby Canada and its provincial unions offer World Rugby's First Aid in Rugby (FAIR) certification. The FAIR online module is hosted by World Rugby and is recommended for all stakeholders.

Rugby Canada's Concussion Policy sets these registration requirements:

• Registered participants under 26 must confirm in writing or electronically that they reviewed concussion awareness resources within the past 12 months, and must sign the Concussion Code of Conduct.
• For athletes under 18 (all U16 to U18 players), a parent or guardian must also confirm they reviewed the resources and sign the Code.
• Athlete support personnel, which includes coaches, must also confirm they reviewed the resources and sign the Concussion Code of Conduct, unless they will work only with athletes aged 26 or older.
• Coaches also sign Part B of the Code, which includes a commitment to give athletes opportunities before and after each training to raise concussion concerns.

Under Rugby Canada's Concussion Policy:

• Remove: a player with observable signs, symptoms or wrong answers to memory questions must be removed immediately by the designated person. Impact seizure, tonic posturing, ataxia, poor balance or amnesia means no return to the match or training that day unless an experienced healthcare practitioner finds the sign was not related to a concussion.
• After removal: consider calling 9-1-1; Rugby Canada must keep a record of the removal; tell the parent or guardian of a player under 18 that a physician or nurse practitioner must assess the player before return; remind them of the return-to-sport protocol.
• Care: the player is isolated in a dark, low-stimulus area, monitored, not left alone for at least 1-2 hours, not sent home alone, and not allowed to drive until cleared.
• Assessment: non-healthcare providers use the Concussion Recognition Tool 6 (CRT6). A physician assesses with SCAT6 (over 12) or Child SCAT6 (8 to 12), ideally within 72 hours of injury and up to a week after.

Rugby Canada's Concussion Policy sets a graded return to sport:

1. Symptom-limited activity (daily activities that do not worsen symptoms). Rest is relative for the first 24-48 hours.
2. Light aerobic exercise (up to about 55% of max heart rate, then about 70%).
3. Sport-specific exercise away from the team, with no activities at risk of head impact.
4. Non-contact training drills.
5. Full contact practice, only after medical clearance.
6. Return to sport with normal participation.

Allow at least 24 hours per step. If symptoms return or worsen, go back to the previous step; if they persist, see a physician. Steps 4-6 begin only after symptoms and clinical findings have resolved, including with and after exertion, and are monitored by a healthcare professional. Written determination of readiness from a healthcare provider is needed before unrestricted return. Expect a minimum of about one week, with unrestricted return typically up to one month.

Rugby Canada's NCCP Rookie Rugby course is for non-contact and under-12 programs. For contact rugby, Rugby Canada's NCCP Rookie Rugby FAQs point to the NCCP Community / World Rugby Level 1 course, which adds teaching how to safely introduce the contact areas of the game: tackle, ruck, scrum, lineout and maul.

• NCCP Make Ethical Decisions training is a cornerstone coaching competency that all coaches in Canada must complete as part of any coach education pathway. It is delivered by provincial and territorial multi-sport service organizations.
• World Rugby's online prerequisite courses are free on the World Rugby Passport.
• Completed training is recorded on your transcript in The Locker.
• Rugby Canada recommends the First Aid in Rugby (FAIR) module for all stakeholders.

Rugby Canada's Sport Integrity Policy Suite was approved on 1 February 2025 and applies to all registered participants, including coaches, officials, volunteers, parents or guardians and club administrators. It covers athlete protection, concussion management and complaints and discipline.

• Rugby Canada adopted the Canadian Safe Sport Program from 1 April 2025, with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) administering the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport.
• Report online at cces.ca/report-safe-sport or call 1-866-971-2777. Reports can be anonymous.
• Designated participants must complete the CCES e-learning course and sign the participant consent form.
• Rugby Canada keeps a searchable list of suspended or expelled members.