We currently have over 50 clubs with mini-sections within Kent County. This is a great achievement and we, at Kent County RFU, would like to thank all involved that make mini rugby an enjoyable and successful sport that so many children enjoy.
Mini Rugby and Age Grade Rugby are for players aged 6 – 11 and ensure that every player can play rugby in a safe environment whilst learning the core skills of the sport. It has also been proved through research that Rugby also helps to develop a player’s social and personal skills.
Many mini-rugby players become youth and senior players in their own clubs or even progress further afield. The smiles on the children’s faces show their enjoyment of the sport they play. KCRFU encourages the acceptance of Rugby Union values at every level. Minis rugby is widely recognised as the building blocks of the 15-a-side game and without these, the quality we see in our youth, senior and representative games would not be realised.
The Kent Mini Committee promotes the efficient and effective development of mini rugby through the organisation of appropriate, formally approved and organised county events from U7 to U11 age levels. They liaise with clubs and disseminate relevant RFU information and guidance to key personnel in club mini-sections.
Age Grade Rugby
Age Grade Rugby is based on the principles of player-centred, development driven and competition supported with the wants and needs of young people at its heart.
U6s are not permitted to play matches, competitions, tournaments or festivals with any older age grades. They are permitted to train with other U6 Teams but are not permitted to play formatted games. Please see RFU Regulation 15.5 for more information
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding of all Age Grade Players is extremely important to Kent RFU for more information please contact Kent Safeguarding at safeguarding@kent-rugby.org
Mini Festivals
If your club wishes to run a youth rugby festival or tournament, where four or more clubs come together at a single venue to play rugby, you must first seek permission from KCRFU Mini Chairperson on behalf of the consistent Body (CB) at least three months prior to the festival date. Regulation 15.9. You can access our online application form below. You will need to add attachments to the online form to include your event rules and format and your festival risk assessment for the day. Once a Club’s Mini Festival is approved it will appear on the Kent Website in our Diary events.
New Age Grade Banding for Girls Rugby and U11 Girls
Due to the age grade banding changes brought into action by the RFU this season U11 female players are able to continue to play mixed rugby, to play girls-only rugby or in exceptional circumstances, if individually assessed and CB approval is granted, in line with playing up regulations, to play with the U12s. If you wish to apply for such approval please use the form below.
Approval must be given before the player can move into the U12 Team completely, during the approval process time the player can only do non-contact training and cannot participate in any U12 Girls games or matches with U12 players. They can continue to train or play with U11 Mixed or Girls Teams.
Half Game Rule
In September 2019 the Half Game Rule was brought into action as it was recognised that players want nothing more than to play rugby. More information can be found using this link:-
Duration of Matches, Coaching and Training Sessions
15.11.1 All players, match officials, schools, colleges and clubs must ensure that no player plays more than 35 matches per Season and in respect of all matches and festivals, plays no more than the maximum playing times set out in the below table.
Please contact our Kent County RFU Mini Chair for more specific help.
