Can I play a player up or down an age group?

SA Rugby's School Rugby Age-Banding Regulations (January 2026) set the age group by the age a player turns during the calendar year. Nobody may play in an age group if they are older than its limit, so playing down is not allowed.

U13 (primary school): two-year band, no exceptions. A player may be at most two years younger than the oldest age in the group, so U13 players are turning 12 or 13 that year.

U14 to U18 (high school): two-year band, extendable to three years for an individual player. For example, a player turning 16 could play U18, but only if:

• the coach holds at least a World Rugby Level 2 coaching qualification and active BokSmart certification, and
• Schedule A (the two-year exemption and consent form, signed by the coach, a parent or guardian, and the provincial union's manager of schools rugby) is accepted before the player trains or plays with the older team. Front-row players also need Schedule B, and Schedule C where it applies.

The coach must answer "Yes" to every question on physical development, skill, experience and safety risk, and must have completed the BokSmart pre-participation screening with the player.

The three-year band is the absolute limit. A whole team may not enter an older age group's league.