How is my child's age eligibility checked at a Youth Week?

Question

Accepted Answer

All players must comply with SA Rugby's School Rugby Age-Banding Regulations (January 2026). The age group is set by the age a player turns during the calendar year: for example, U13 players turn 12 or 13 that year, U16 players turn 15 or 16, and U18 players turn 17 or 18. A younger player selected above the normal two-year band needs an approved age-banding exemption. For U16 and U18, this is Schedule A, plus Schedule B (and Schedule C where it applies) for front-row players. Primary school (U13) has no exemptions. Before the tournament, the team manager must give the tournament's medical and safety officer certified copies of the signed exemption, or a clearance certificate from the provincial union's BokSmart system (PRUBIS). Without this paperwork, the player is not allowed to take part. The officer can check exemptions with BokSmart's Age-banding Checker app.