Male U16 – U18 Rugby Age Banding
Medical research into boys' rugby strongly indicates that there is an increased risk of serious injury when U16 players play U18 rugby. It is Scottish Rugby's policy that the age at which male players are allowed to play U18 rugby is 16 years old.
An U16 player’s age grade is determined by whether they were born on or between 1 September – 31 August at the beginning of each season. That age grade applies for the whole season. National and Regional Representation cut-off dates are 1 January.
Application Procedures
The application form for 15-year-old players to apply to play U18 rugby can be found below:
Application form for U16 into U18 for season 23/24
Please note that the player’s SCRUMS ID number must be submitted with the form so that the player’s playing history can be reviewed when considering the application.
Applications must be sent complete with all supporting documentation, and received by the below deadlines. If an application falls beyond a window deadline, it will be reviewed at the following Panel review.
| APPLICATION DEADLINE | PANEL REVIEW DATE |
| Window 1 – 19 July | 2 August |
| Window 2 – 2 August | 16 August |
| Window 3 – 16 August | 30 August |
| Window 4 – 13 September | 27 September |
| Window 5 – 27 September | 11 October |
Physical Maturity Assessments
As part of the application, players must attend a physical maturity test at a designated appointment, arranged by Scottish Rugby (please see below dates). To book an assessment appointment, please specify this in the application email or contact [email protected].
| DATE | TIME | LOCATION |
| 19 July | 3:30-4:30pm | East – Meadowmill |
| 19 July | 4:00-5:00pm | Glasgow North- Ravenscraig |
| 25 July | 9:00-10:00am | Caledonia Midlands – Dundee RPC |
| 26 July | 12:00-4:00pm | East – Napier University |
| 26 July | 4:00-8:00pm | East – BTM |
| 2 August | 12:00-4:00pm | East – Napier University |
| 2 August | 3:30-4:30pm | East – Meadowmill |
| 2 August | 12:00-4:00pm | East – Napier University |
| 2 August | 4:00-5:00pm | Glasgow North – Ravenscraig |
| 4 August | 3:30-5:30pm | East – Gala |
| 17 August | 6:00-7:00pm | Glasgow North – Ravenscraig |
| 21 August | 5:00-6:00pm | East – Gala |
| 23 August | 4:00-8:00pm | East – BTM |
| 23 August | 12:00-4:00pm | East – Napier University |
| 13 September | 5:00-6:00pm | Glasgow North – Ravenscraig |
| 18 September | 5:00-6:00pm | East – Gala |
| 20 September | 12:00-4:00pm | East – Napier |
| 20 September | 4:00-8:00pm | East – BTM |
| 27 September | 5:00-6:00pm | Glasgow North – Ravenscraig |
| 2 October | 5:00-6:00pm | East – Gala |
| 11 October | 12:00-4:00pm | East – Edinburgh |
| 11 October | 4:00-8:00pm | East – BTM |
The below video summarises the application process:
Player Registration on SCRUMS
As part of the clearance process the player’s parents must register them on SCRUMS as this allows us to maintain details of the player and enables the club to add the player to a match team sheet. For younger players a parent or guardian’s input is required as part of the registration process.
Download guidance for parents on registering a youth player
Prerequisites
Players must be 15 years old to apply to play U18 rugby and have completed World Rugby’s online Rugby Ready course, submitted a completed application form and undergone a physical maturity test.
Front Row
15 year old Male players cannot play front row in U18 rugby until they turn 16 years old.
Please contact [email protected] should you have any questions.
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