Which age group does a player belong in, and can they play up or down?

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.