Can girls and boys play together, and until what age?
Rule- England
- RFU
- Age grade rugby
- Regulation 15
- Under 7-Under 12
- 2026/27
- Parents
Under RFU Regulation 15 for 2026/27:
- Under 11 and below: girls can play mixed rugby with boys, girls-only rugby, or both.
- From Under 12: mixed contact rugby is no longer permitted. Boys play in single age grades; girls play in two-year age bands.
- New for 2026/27: a girls' Under 12/Under 11 dual age band (Year 7 and Year 6), so Under 11 girls can choose girls-only rugby with Under 12 girls. Mixed Under 11 rugby still exists alongside it.
- Girls playing in the Under 12/Under 11 band can't play with boys (for example, Under 12 girls can't play with Under 11 boys).
The girls' bands then continue as Under 14/13, Under 16/15 and Under 18/17.
Non-contact rugby (such as T1 Rugby and tag) is different: players of all ages, both sexes and all genders may train and play non-contact together, provided the organiser has risk-assessed the activity.
Added 21 Oct 2026