Which age group will my child play in, and when does the season run?
Rule- England
- RFU
- Age grade rugby
- Regulation 15
- Under 7-Under 12
- 2026/27
- Parents
In England, age grades follow school years (RFU Regulation 15). A child's age grade is fixed by their age at the start of the season and stays the same all season.
| School year | Age grade |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Under 6 |
| Year 2 | Under 7 |
| Year 3 | Under 8 |
| Year 4 | Under 9 |
| Year 5 | Under 10 |
| Year 6 | Under 11 |
| Year 7 | Under 12 |
Players move up to their new age grade from 1 July, ready for the next season. Under 6s can't play matches, tournaments or festivals with any older age grade.
2026/27 season: Saturday 5 September 2026 to Monday 3 May 2027. Contact matches and competitions happen within the season; outside it, activity is limited to what the RFU Summer Activity Framework allows. Non-contact rugby can be played all year.
Every age grade player, including those who only play non-contact, must be registered on the RFU's Game Management System (GMS) each season: new players within 45 days of joining the club, existing players within 45 days of the season starting.
Added 21 Oct 2026