The Kent Youth Committee promotes the efficient and effective development of youth rugby through the organisation of appropriate, formally approved and organised county events from U12 to U18 age levels. They liaise with clubs and disseminate relevant RFU information and guidance to key personnel in club youth sections.
Reminder of Age Grade rugby changes & Global Law Trials
We continue to highlight the changes to Age Grade rugby for the new season, designed to prioritise player retention and safety after important stepping stones were missed in the last two seasons. The details are outlined in the Age Grade Changes document on the Return to Rugby page. This document includes the details of regulation changes to summer activity, 17-year-olds moving to the adult game, players moving up to the next set of age group rules and to combining of age grade teams. Please ensure that you are familiar with the details especially those that require approval from Kent Rugby as time is needed to fully process these approvals.
As previously detailed in the CGU, the Age Grade tackle height law has changed. The maximum tackle height at ALL age grades playing contact is now consistent at the imagined line between the armpits.
The aim of the law change is to further reduce any community game high risk tackle events by taking two heads out of the same “air space”.
There are a number of programmes, courses and resources to support schools, clubs and participants at all levels of the game including the Rugby Safe programme, Don’t be a HEADCASE concussion guidance and the Activate injury prevention programme.
The Global Law Trials (GLTs) are also introduced to the Under 15 laws. Therefore, the Under 15 age group will play to them from 1st January 2022 and Under 16 and above, from now onwards. Full details can be found HERE
The structured season calendar has now been published on the website and the committee have decided not to run a countywide competition for youth teams before Christmas other than the 1 day Colts Turbo 10’s in order that clubs can welcome their players back to rugby and the teams whilst building up fitness and general skills again.
There is a waterfall / league competition planned for after Christmas and further details will be announced later in the year.
Please contact our Kent County RFU Youth Chair for more specific help or alternatively refer to the Return to Rugby pages on the RFU website by clicking Here
