Coach's Guide to WRU Mini and Junior Rugby Under 7-Under 16 2025/26

Yes. Under WRU regulations:

• Every coach must register with a WRU member club or girls' hub on https://my.wru.wales and record their "intent to coach" for the coming season. A parent or guardian registers a coach who is under 18.
• Registration is done each year, between July and September, before the season starts. The club then verifies your position, and the WRU database is updated to allow you to coach.
• The full registration process includes completing a DBS check, and it must be done before you take part in any activity.
• You must also hold the mandatory coaching qualification for your age group before coaching it.

The WRU requires all affiliated clubs to adopt and implement its Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, including safeguarding training for volunteers and a way to report concerns. Safeguarding incidents must be reported through the correct channels.

Age group: a player's age group is set by their age on 1 September at the start of the season. In the mixed and male pathway, players play in their own age band, which follows their academic school year. Players can register from age 6.

Mixed and male pathway:

• Players may play up one year group where needed, if qualified coaches judge it safe.
• They can never play up from U8 to U9 (tag to contact).
• From U12 to U16, a player may only play up one year.

Playing down isn't allowed in any circumstances, in the male, mixed or female pathway.

Girls' pathway: girls play in two-year bands, with no exceptions for playing outside them:

Up to U11, a girl can play in both the mixed and the girls-only pathway in the same season (dual registration). She follows the Pathway Laws of whichever club or hub she's playing for at the time.

U7 and U8 play tag rugby. Contact rugby isn't allowed, and there are no kicks, scrums or lineouts.

Key rules:

• After six tags the ball is turned over to the opposition.
• A tagged player must pass within 3 seconds.
• The tagger must hand the tag back before rejoining play. Persistent offending gives away a penalty.
• When a scrum would normally be awarded, play restarts with a tap and pass, and the opposition must retire 10m. When the ball goes into touch, play restarts with a free pass 5m in from the touchline.
• A player needs both tags to score. If a tag comes off while they're scoring, the try stands. A player who crosses the line with one tag is brought back 5m and the tag count continues.
• Substitutions are unlimited. Players leave and enter at the halfway touchline and hand over two tags to the substitute.
• Tags must be 37.5cm to 40cm long.
• Both teams must field the same number of players.

Coach and referee qualification: WRU Tag Leaders Award. Tag can continue beyond U8 if both teams agree.

Also:

• Substitutions are unlimited (rolling at U11), and both teams must field the same number of players.
• Scrums follow crouch, bind, set, and the scrum half passes from the base.
• Free passes are tapped forward with the foot, and defenders retreat 5m.
• No "cavalry charge": at a free pass, first receivers can start no more than 2m from the passer. The penalty is at the place of the infringement.
• U11 penalties are all free kicks, and scoring is tries and conversions only.

At all three ages:

• Tackles must be waist high or lower. The waist is the line of the shorts.
• Defenders may not rip the ball from the ball carrier.
• The offside line is 1m back from the rearmost part of the body at the tackle area.
• No mauling. If a maul forms, a free pass goes to the non-offending team.
• The acting scrum half must pass without delay and can't be tackled.

U9 (contact is introduced):

• Only one tackler is allowed.
• A high tackle gives a free pass to the non-offending team.
• A held player must pass or place the ball within 3 seconds.
• Defenders can only tackle. They can't contest for the ball.
• After the 6th tackle the ball goes to the opposition.
• Hand-offs aren't allowed (free pass to the opposition).

U10 and U11 (the contest is introduced):

• More than one tackler is allowed.
• After a tackle, one player from each team can contest for the ball. This can be anyone involved in the tackle or an arriving player.
• The first player to the breakdown can pick and go before a ruck forms.
• Once a ruck has formed, the acting scrum half must pass and can't be tackled.
• No hand-offs or fends of any kind (free kick).

From U12, matches are played on a full pitch. World Rugby Laws apply except where the WRU Pathway Laws say otherwise. At these ages a player may only play up one year.

Other points:

• No extra time at any of these ages.
• Both hookers may strike, and the No. 8 can pick up from the scrum.
• U12 lineout: full and uncontested, with no lifting, no catch and drive and no shortened lineouts. The ball must be thrown in above head height and passed from the lineout.
• U13 lineout: a catch and drive of up to 10 metres is allowed.
• Hand-offs at U12 and U13: to the chest only, never to the face.
• At U12 and U13, players may tap and run from a penalty. Once the ball is playable at a ruck the referee calls "Use it", and the team has 5 seconds to move it.

U14 to U16 scrums:

• No intentional wheeling (free kick). A scrum that wheels to 45 degrees must be stopped.
• Front rows and locks must be suitably trained. If a team can't field them, the referee must order uncontested scrums.
• Any game can start with uncontested scrums, and teams keep their full complement of substitutes.

Half a Game (rule): every club and girls' hub must pledge at least half a game of rugby to every mini and junior player every weekend. The aim is equal playing opportunities, with the focus on participating rather than on results. A squad extension application even has to show how the extra players will get enough game time.

Recommended playing time (guideline): following World Rugby recommendations, the WRU recommends for mini and junior players:

• no more than 1.5 games per week
• at least 24 hours' rest between games
• if a player has played 1.5 games a week for two weeks in a row, a rest week in week 3

Squad size: the recommended squad size is 25. A squad can grow to 30 by adding players who are new to the game, and needs a WRU squad extension to go beyond 30.

No. Under WRU regulations, all mini age groups (U7 to U11) must be titled and run as festivals only. Mini festivals must not have outright winners and must not keep scores. Participation medals are allowed but not required.

To host any festival, tournament or event, a club or girls' hub must apply for WRU permission and show that:

• referees are fully qualified
• all players are fully registered, with registration cards shown on the day
• first aiders are provided
• the Half a Game initiative is applied for mini age groups

Other fixture rules:

• Fixtures against teams outside Wales need the same permission as a tour.
• Tour applications must go in at least 14 days before the tour.
• Clubs and girls' hubs may not play against school teams at any age.

• Sent-off players and conduct reports: cases involving players who are sent off, or coaches, officers, supporters or spectators reported by the match referee, go to the WRU Disciplinary Department. All reports of indiscipline at matches must be referred there.
• U12 and below: disciplinary matters for age grade players at U12 or younger are dealt with by the player's own club, girls' hub or school.
• Citing: the WRU Age Grade Disciplinary Panel hears cases where a player is cited for foul play.
• Appeals: sanctioned clubs, hubs or individuals can appeal to the WRU. An individual's appeal must go through their club or hub.
• Send-offs in mini rugby (U9 to U11 Pathway Laws): a player who is sent off is replaced by a suitable substitute, so the non-offending team doesn't lose a player. If there's no substitute, the offending team plays a player short.

Clubs, hubs and schools are responsible for the behaviour of their players, coaches, officials and supporters during and after matches.

The WRU follows the UK Government's UK Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport (April 2023). Their rule is "If in doubt, sit them out."

• Anyone suspected of a concussion must be removed from play immediately, in a match or in training, and must take no further part even if their symptoms go away.
• They must not return to competition, training or PE within 24 hours.
• They should be assessed by an appropriate on-site healthcare professional, or by calling NHS 111, within 24 hours.
• If there are "red flags" or concerns about another significant injury, get urgent medical assessment on site or at A&E. Call 999 for an ambulance if necessary.
• They should rest for 24 to 48 hours. Easy daily activities and walking are fine, but not intense exercise or sport.
• They then follow a graduated return to education and sport. Return to education comes before return to sport.
• There must be no return to competition before 21 days from the injury.
• Anyone who still has symptoms after 28 days should see their GP.

Before the WRU will sanction any games for a new team:

• All players and volunteers must be registered online at https://my.wru.wales.
• The team needs at least 10 new or unregistered players for a mini team (U7 to U11), or 15 for a junior team (U12 to U16).
• In the mixed or male pathway, new players must all be in a single age band. In the girls' pathway they must be in the correct double age band.

Each team must have:

• an appropriately qualified, DBS-checked coach, at a ratio of 1 coach to 15 players
• a team manager
• a qualified first aider
• a qualified match official
• a safeguarding lead for the club or section
• a management group or committee

The club or hub must also show it has suitable facilities, then apply to its WRU area General Manager for sanctioning.

Once sanctioned, the team serves a three-month in-season probationary period with no transfers in. After that it follows the normal limit of 3 transfers per age group per season.