Overview
 
The format of Age Grade (AG) Rugby ensures that young players play the right rugby at the right time. These formats are supported by the regulations of the AG game and have been developed by scientific research and studies on player development in sport.

The principle behind the Rules of Play is to provide a playing format with building blocks to the 15-a-side game that allows players time to get to grips with the basics of running and catching the ball before contact and specialism is gradually introduced – which positively impacts on player safety.

AG Rugby is fast, muddy, inclusive and enormously good fun to play. It's a real team game where new players are quickly incorporated and where fun is more important than winning.

Many people watching rugby on TV find its tactics and rules complicated and difficult to understand. AG Rugby is a much simpler, safer and shorter game. As players develop over the years more components are added to this basic game.

Teamwork is an integral part of rugby and understanding its laws and tactics is a big part of the game. For some children this adds to the challenge and interest of the sport. Rugby is not just a physical sport, thinking and support play are as much a part of the game as running and ball carrying.
 

Age
 
AG Rugby age groups are based on the same principle as school years. As a guide, a child in Y2 at school will play in the U7 age group (school year plus five).

While AG Rugby is officially recognised by the RFU as starting at U7 and finishing at U18, we include U5 and U6 age groups to enable the game to be open to as wide a group of children as possible. According to the RFU, U7 to U12 is classed as ‘Mini Rugby’. Once children progress from the U12 age group, they move into the first year of junior rugby: U13, which sees them through to U18.

Children in U7 & U8 play "Tag Rugby' (non-contact) which emphasises fun, fitness and the fundamentals of movement as much as rugby. From U9 upwards, contact is introduced, along with other aspects of the 15-a-side game, such as scrummaging, kicking, rucking and mauling being added at each new age group stage.
 

Who can play rugby?
 
Many people believe all rugby players are huge men, which is not the case. AG Rugby has a place for everyone, be they tall, short, slight, solid, boy or girl. Whatever their build there is a position in rugby for them. By the nature of the game, rugby asks players to take on specialist roles within the team and from U13 upwards there is a gradual increase in position-specific focus.
 

Can girls play?
 
They most certainly can! Girls and boys play AG Rugby as equals in mixed teams, up to U11 (from U11 and upwards, RFU rules dictate that boys and girls are split into separate, same-sex teams).

Girls have proved they are valuable members of the team and are more than capable of competing with boys on equal terms. While a game of rugby may not be every girl’s idea of fun, some love it.

Whether playing for or against Locks Heath Pumas RFC, girls are respected and valued in Mini Rugby by both coaches and players.
 
Please note that unfortunately there are no separate male and female toilet facilities at Hook-with-Warsash School.
 

Coaching
 
We have a dedicated team of coaches whose purpose is to make rugby fun for everyone. They all undertake enhanced "Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, a safeguarding course and receive training to at least RFU ‘Rugby Ready’ level.

All our coaches are volunteers, many are parents or carers, and we are always looking for new coaches and assistants.