How does rugby union work in England for girls from Under 11 (Year 6) to Under 18, and for women in adult rugby? Mixed and girls-only rugby, the girls' age bands, playing up, moving into women's rugby at 17, competitions, kit and the RFU Gender Participation Policy.
Under RFU Regulation 15 (2026/27):
This applies to contact rugby. In non-contact rugby, such as T1 Rugby and tag, players of all ages, both sexes and all genders can train and play together if the activity has been risk-assessed.
From Under 12, girls' contact rugby in England is played in two-year age bands (RFU Regulation 15, 2026/27), based on school year:
| Band | School years | Max per half | Max rugby per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 12/11 (new for 2026/27) | Year 7 and Year 6 | 20 min | 70 min |
| Under 14/13 | Year 9 and Year 8 | 25 min | 80 min |
| Under 16/15 | Year 11 and Year 10 | 35 min | 90 min |
| Under 18/17 | Year 13 and Year 12 | 35 min | 90 min |
Your age grade is set at the start of the season and stays the same all season; you move up from 1 July.
Under RFU Regulation 15 (2026/27), girls play in two-year age bands, and playing up is mostly built into the band itself:
| Band | Playing up | Playing down |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12/11 | Not allowed | Limited, exceptional circumstances |
| Under 14/13 | Not allowed | Limited, exceptional circumstances |
| Under 16/15 | Not allowed | Limited, exceptional circumstances |
| Under 18/17 | 17- and 18-year-olds can play adult rugby (Regulation 15.7) | Limited, exceptional circumstances |
How it's approved: a standard RFU risk assessment, the online playing out of age grade (POOAG) form, and sign-off from a parent and your club's Age Grade Chair and Constituent Body (or your headteacher or college principal). Allow up to 10 days, and the opposition must be told at least 24 hours before the match.
Under RFU Regulation 15.7, you can train and play contact rugby with adults from your 17th birthday, as long as:
Not open to Under 18 age grade players (except in exceptional circumstances with RFU approval): Premiership Women's Rugby and its cup, and Constituent Body women's representative rugby.
Under 19s are adult players. An Under 19 at school or college can only play down into Under 18 rugby in limited, exceptional circumstances (including being in at least their third year of study), and Premiership Women's Rugby and Girls Player Development Group players can't play down at all.
The RFU Competitive Menu (Regulation 15, 2026/27) for girls' age bands:
| Format | Under 12/11 | Under 14/13 | Under 16/15 | Under 18/17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly, triangular, festival | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waterfall competition | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Knockout competition | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| League (with published tables) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
RFU national girls' competitions (each with its own competition regulations):
RFU national competitions take priority if they clash with other fixtures.
Adult women's rugby: 17-year-olds approved to play adult rugby can play women's club rugby, but Under 18 age grade players can't play in Premiership Women's Rugby or its cup, or Constituent Body adult representative rugby, except in exceptional circumstances with RFU approval.
Kit in England must comply with World Rugby Law 4 and Regulation 12. The RFU's player welfare guidance confirms:
The referee can stop you playing until any item they consider dangerous is removed.
Under the RFU Gender Participation Policy (adopted July 2022, updated July 2025), which applies to anyone playing contact rugby in England:
The RFU based the policy on research showing that strength, stamina and physique advantages from male puberty are significant and are retained even after testosterone suppression, and concluded that inclusion in female contact rugby can't be balanced against safety and fairness.
On match day:
From the RFU Gender Participation Policy (updated July 2025) and its community game guidance:
| If you are | You can play contact rugby in |
|---|---|
| Trans man or boy (recorded female at birth) | Male or female rugby, as long as you haven't started testosterone. Once testosterone has started you can't play female contact rugby. |
| Non-binary or gender fluid, recorded female at birth | Male or female rugby, but not both in one season. If you choose male rugby, the trans men/boys process applies. |
| Non-binary or gender fluid, recorded male at birth | Male rugby only |
Playing in the male category if you were recorded female at birth:
If you don't want to tell your club or school about your gender identity, you can contact the RFU confidentially at genderparticipation@rfu.com about an alternative process.
Yes. Under RFU Regulation 15.9, players of all ages, both sexes and all genders may train and play non-contact rugby together, including adults with age grade players, provided:
Non-contact rugby can be played at any time of year.
The RFU Gender Participation Policy only restricts contact rugby, so non-contact formats are open to everyone regardless of sex recorded at birth or gender identity.