Parent's Guide to RFL Junior Rugby League Under 6-Under 16 2026

Yes. Every player must be registered on the RFL's GameDay system before taking part in any training, festival, match or club activity. Registration covers safeguarding, insurance and welfare, and only registered players may take part. Clubs must record accurate details, including date of birth, school year and emergency contacts.

ID cards (Under 9 to Under 11): a player's ID card is their GameDay profile with a photograph, and it must be available on request at festivals and fixtures. ID cards aren't needed at Under 6 to Under 8, but those players must still be registered.

Moving clubs: a maximum of three incoming transfers per age group is allowed in a season, although the league's Management Group can approve more to support player welfare and team viability.

Under 6 to Under 11 play Primary Rugby League, a modified game under the Safe Play Code with a size 3 ball, no scrums and no ball stealing. Team sizes are flexible so every child gets a game.

How the game develops:

• Under 6 to Under 8: each team always gets a full set of six plays, even after an error or a try, so children can practise without fear of failing.
• Under 9 and Under 10: a team hands over the ball after its second error in a set of six. Kicking (grubber at Under 9; grubber, chip or cross-field at Under 10) is allowed on the last tackle only.
• Under 11: a team hands over after one error, there is one marker at the play-the-ball, and kicking out of hand is allowed.
• Fly-kicking and secondary kicks are not allowed at Under 9 to Under 11.

Coaches may be on the pitch at younger ages to guide players.

Under 6 to Under 8: tag only. Tag is mandatory. Each player wears a belt with two tags on the hips, and a "tackle" is pulling off one tag. Ball carriers can run and dodge but must not fend off defenders or guard their tags.

Under 9: tackling starts. Tackle is the recommended format from Under 9.

The Safe Play Code (Under 6 to Under 11) treats these as infringements:

• contact above the armpits when tackling an upright ball carrier
• tripping or using the legs in a tackle
• a crotch hold, vertical lifting, or lifting and driving the ball carrier for two or more steps
• shoulder charges
• dropping, diving or falling on a player who is already on the ground
• slinging a player down by their arm or shirt
• a hand-off or fend above the shoulder
• obscene, threatening, discriminatory or abusive language

When foul play happens, the coach stops the game and explains the offence to all the players, then play continues. There are no sin bins, though coaches are encouraged to give a player a timeout. Adults must never hold a tackle shield for a child to tackle (they may hold the top of a tackle bag).

Under 12 and above: any tackle contact above the armpit is penalised.

Under 6 to Under 9: every child plays all the time, with no substitutes. The only time a child should be off the pitch is if they are injured or choose to sit out. No child should play more than 30 minutes in a day; the recommended format is three 10-minute games.

Under 10 and Under 11: as many children as possible should play all the time, so coaches should split into smaller-sided games rather than leave players on the bench (for example, two 8-a-side games instead of one 9-a-side game with 7 substitutes). No child should play more than 40 minutes in a day; the recommended format is two 20-minute games.

Day-long summer festivals: players may exceed the usual age-group time only with much longer rest between games, and no child should play more than one hour in total across the day. Children must have access to drinking water at all times.

Under 12 and above: matches run from 40 minutes (Under 12) to 70 minutes (Under 17 and Under 18), with unlimited substitutions. In girls' Under 12s, every player must play at least half the game.

No. Primary Rugby League (Under 6 to Under 11) is a non-competitive, development-focused programme:

• Results must not be recorded, published or used to rank teams.
• There are no leagues, league tables or competition points.
• Festivals can recognise values such as teamwork, effort and sportsmanship, but not competitive outcomes.

How fixtures are organised:

• Under 6 to Under 8: tag rugby in local multi-team sessions, usually three 10-minute games, with clubs grouped by area and hosting shared.
• Under 9: short, rotated games against clubs from a wider area, still with no league tables.
• Under 10 and Under 11: home and away fixtures set by the league, played in a non-competitive way.

Children register with the club and age group, not a team, and coaches can move them between teams in the same age group, but not to create "A" and "B" teams. Youth and Junior competitions start at Under 12.

Yes. Mixed rugby league is permitted up to and including Under 11s. From Under 12, boys and girls play in separate competitions.

Girls in school Years 6 and 7 can play girls' Under 12s, which uses the RFL's Under 12s modified rules:

• 11 players a side, with as many substitutes as needed, and every player must play at least half the game
• two halves of up to 20 minutes, with a 5-minute half-time
• size 4 ball and the six-tackle rule
• passive scrums of up to 5 players, with no pushing
• no ball stealing and no fly-kicking

Older girls play 13-a-side in age groups up to Under 19, then open age.

These are the Primary Rugby League rules (Under 6 to Under 11).

Playing down: not permitted under any circumstances, except through the RFL's formal player dispensation process.

Playing up (Under 9 to Under 11): a child may play up one age group if all of these apply:

• they fall within the permitted extra age range (for example, a Year 4 child can play Under 10s, and a Year 5 child can play Under 11s)
• parents or carers agree
• the clubs and coaches agree
• it supports the child's development and wellbeing

Under 6 to Under 8 (tag): Under 6s may join Under 7s, and Under 7s may join Under 8s, where it helps inclusion, team numbers or festival delivery. The RFL's strong preference is that children play in their true age group, and this should be used sparingly, never for selection or competitive advantage. It does not let a child move early into contact: an Under 7 who plays with Under 8s must return to their true age group the next season and cannot move into Under 9s.

Under 12 and above: the RFL age range table also lists an extra age range covering children one school year below each age group from Under 12 to Under 18.

From Under 12, children move into Youth and Junior competitions played under the International Laws of the Game, with RFL variations for the community game:

• 13-a-side, with unlimited substitutions.
• Tackle height: armpit. Any contact above the armpit is penalised. This applies at all levels of the community game.
• No 40/20 kick.
• Match length (two equal halves, with at least 5 minutes between halves):

Ball size:

• Boys: size 4 at Under 12 and Under 13, size 5 from Under 14.
• Girls: size 4 from Under 12 to Under 18, size 5 at Under 19.

Girls' Under 12s (girls in school Years 6 and 7) play the RFL's Under 12s modified rules: 11-a-side, halves of up to 20 minutes, size 4 ball, passive scrums of up to 5 players with no pushing, no ball stealing, and every player must play at least half the game.

If in doubt, sit them out. There is no Head Injury Assessment in the community game. Any player with possible signs or symptoms of concussion must be removed from training or a match immediately and must not return that day, even if they feel better or a parent disagrees.

Straight away:

• Get your child assessed by a healthcare professional, for example by calling NHS 111, within 24 hours, even if symptoms have gone.
• Go to A&E (by 999 ambulance if needed) for red flags such as loss of consciousness, increasing drowsiness, repeated vomiting, a seizure, severe or worsening headache, severe neck pain, confusion or unusual behaviour.
• Supervise them for 24 to 48 hours and don't leave them alone for the first 24 hours. Encourage rest and sleep and limit screens for the first 24 to 48 hours.
• Tell their school and any other sports clubs.

Graduated Return to Activity and Sport (GRAS): the timelines are minimums, apply to all ages, and progress depends on symptoms. The day of injury is day 0.

Return to school comes first. Call 111 if symptoms worsen or haven't improved by 14 days, and see a GP if they last beyond 28 days. In Primary Rugby League, a child with suspected concussion must not return until medically cleared.

The RFL's RESPECT code of conduct applies to everyone in the game, at matches, at training and on social media. Parents, guardians and spectators should:

• Respect the match official's decisions and not complain or argue about them during or after a game.
• Never ridicule or scorn a player for a mistake, and cheer positively for all players rather than jeering opponents, their supporters or officials.
• Not force an unwilling child to take part; children play for their own enjoyment, not the adults'.
• Condemn violent or illegal acts by anyone, and challenge behaviour that breaks the code.
• Avoid unsporting or discriminatory language, harassment or aggressive behaviour.
• Follow the directions of the ground manager and match day staff.
• Never arrive under the influence of alcohol or bring alcohol to a game, and only drink in a designated licensed area at the ground.
• As a role model around children: don't swear, abuse officials, encourage foul play, enter the field of play, or drink or smoke.
• Be respectful online, including not criticising players or match officials.

Any breach of the code is Off Field Misconduct. At Primary Rugby League festivals, the host may remove anyone whose behaviour breaches the code, and shouting instructions aggressively or disputing decisions is not acceptable.

In Primary Rugby League (Under 6 to Under 11), every team must be led by a Level 1 Licensed Coach, who must be present and responsible at all training, festivals and matches. A Level 1 Licensed Coach has:

• the RFL Level 1 Coaching Qualification
• a valid Enhanced DBS check
• the Safeguarding and Protecting Children (SPC) course
• the Primary Coach Confident online course

All coaches must be registered on GameDay.

Helpers: Volunteers and Game Coaches can help run games, but only under the supervision of a Level 1 Licensed Coach and never on their own. At Under 6 to Under 8, volunteers who have done the Introduction to Tag Rugby League course can assist.

DBS: Any adult in a coaching, team manager, first aider or regular volunteer role with children must hold a valid Enhanced DBS, and no adult may be involved until their DBS status is confirmed.

Ratios (minimum):

Welfare: Every club must have at least one trained Club Welfare Officer, the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns. Coaches must not message children privately through personal messaging apps or social media.