Are scores, leagues and cup competitions allowed at these ages?
Rule- England
- RFU
- Age grade rugby
- Regulation 15
- Under 7-Under 12
- 2026/27
- Parents
The RFU's Competitive Menu (Regulation 15) sets which formats each age may play:
| Format | Under 7-Under 11 | Under 12 boys | Under 12 girls (U12/U11 band) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly fixture | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Triangular (3 teams) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Festival (round robin, equal games) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waterfall competition | No | Yes | Yes |
| Knockout cup | No | No | No |
| League | No | No | No |
- Leagues and league tables are only allowed from Under 15 (boys) and the Under 16 and Under 18 girls' bands. Waterfall pool results can be recorded from Under 12 but must not be published as a league table.
- Knockout competitions start at Under 14.
- Mercy rule: from Under 7 to Under 13, a match must be stopped if one team leads by more than . The coaches can then agree to carry on in a fairer format, but those results and minutes aren't recorded.
Added 21 Oct 2026