Pathway Laws

COACH’S ROLE:

• Develop a love of the game in children
• Develop evasion skills with ball in two hands and standing pass to 
standing receiver

AIMS – RATIONALE:

Invasion by evasion, that is scoring tries by evasive running and introduce accurate stationary passing.

GENERAL:

• Age: Under seven as on the first of September at the start of the season

• Team Size: Five a side with unlimited substitutions. The WRU requires that both teams shall field the same number of players throughout the game

• Periods of Play: Two halves each of up to 10 minutes playing time -
maximum 20 minutes of play

• Playing Area: 50m (Length) x 40m (W idth) maximum. 40m (Length) x 30m (Width) minimum

• Ball Size: Size three

• Kicking: None

• Lineout: No lineouts,  free pass from five metres in from the touch line

• Scrummage: No scrums. When there is an offense where a scrum is normally awarded, a TAP and PASS is the mandatory action to restart. Teams must be given time to retire 10m

• Coach Qualification: WRU Tag Leaders Award

• Referee Qualification: WRU Tag Leaders Award

TAG RUGBY RULES:

• Game to start with a free pass
• Team conceding try to restart
• Six tags, ball is turned over to opposition
• Tagged player must play the ball (pass) within three seconds of being tagged
• Tackler must hand back the tag to the attacking player before continuing to play, persistent infringement will result in the awarding of a penalty
• Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline
• They must remove two tags and hand them over to substitute entering the field to place upon belt before replacement can effect
• Substitutes must wear tag belts but with no tags
• A player must have two tags before scoring a try, however if a tag is removed whilst scoring a try the try is awarded
• If a player crosses the line with one tag, he/she is brought back out five metres from the try line with the tag count continuing
• Players must stay on feet to score a try
• Spinning out of contact away from the tackler is allowed
• No hand-off allowed
• Carrying the ball in two hands is encouraged but not a tag rugby rule.
• Free pass for all penalties
• No Under U7 players should play contact rugby (i.e. 2 years above)
• The length of a TAG should be no less than 37.5cm (15″) and no more than 40cm (16″)
• Rolling substitutions is permitted and recommended

COACH’S ROLE:

• Develop self-esteem in all children
• Develop evasion skills, plus progression to moving receiver

AIMS RATIONALE:

Invasion by evasion, introduce accurate passing to a moving receiver.

GENERAL:

• Age: Under eight as on the first of September at the start of the season

• Team Size: Seven a side with unlimited substitutions.
The WRU requires that both teams shall field the same number of players throughout the game

• Periods of Play: Two halves each of up to 10 minutes playing time – maximum 20 minutes of play

• Playing Area: 50m (Length) x 40m (Width) maximum. 40m (Length) x 30m (Width) minimum

• Ball Size: Size three

• Kicking: None

• Lineout: No, free pass from five metres in from the touch line

• Scrummage: No scrums. When there is an offense where a scrum is normally awarded, a TAP and PASS is the mandatory action to restart. Teams must be given time to retire 10m

• Coach Qualification: WRU Tag Leaders Award

• Referee Qualification: WRU Tag Leaders Award

TAG RUGBY RULES:

• Game to start with a free pass
• Team conceding try to restart
• Six tags, ball is turned over to opposition
• Tagged player must play the ball (pass) within three seconds of being tagged
• Tackler must hand back the tag to the attacking player before continuing to play, 
persistent infringement will result in the awarding of a penalty
• Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline
• They must remove two tags and hand them over to substitute entering the field to 
place upon belt before replacement can effect
• Substitutes must wear tag belts but with no tags
• A player must have two tags before scoring a try, however if a tag is removed whilst 
scoring a try the try is awarded
• If a player crosses the line with one tag, he/she is brought back out five metres from 
the try line with the tag count continuing
• Players must stay on feet to score a try
• Spinning out of contact away from the tackler is allowed
• No hand-off allowed
• Under 8 players cannot play contact rugby (i.e. 1 year above)
• Free pass for all penalties
• Carrying the ball in two hands is encouraged but not a tag rugby rule
• Tag can continue to be played beyond U8 if both teams agree
• The length of a TAG should be no less than 37.5cm (15″) and no more than 40cm (16″)
• Rolling substitutions is permitted

COACH’S ROLE:

• Develop the player through the introduction to contact
• Safety points in tackling and being tackled, develop the skills of offload, placement of the ball and the pass off ground

AIMS RATIONALE:

Encourage the offload in contact and the correct placement of the ball and introduce tackling around the legs

GENERAL:

Please be advised that the laws on this page are WRU Pathway Laws which are variations of some of the World Rugby Laws. If a Law is not outlined on this page please refer to the full World Rugby Laws

Age : Under nine as of the first of September at the start of the season

Team Size:

• 10 a side with unlimited substitutions
• Five forwards and five backs
• The WRU requires that both teams shall field the same number of players throughout the game

Periods of Play: Two halves each of up to 10 minutes playing time, maximum 20 minutes of play

Playing Area: Half pitch

Ball Size: Size three

Re-start: A free pass to the non scoring side on halfway

Lineout: No, free pass from five metres in from the touch line

Scrummage:

• Five person non-contested scrum, the team putting the ball in must win it
• Neither team is permitted to push
• Acting scrum half must pass from the base of the scrum
• the opposition scrum half to stay at the tunnel
• All scrums must follow World Rugby process of crouch, bind, set

Kicking: None.

Coach Qualification: WRU Coaching Early Contact.

Referee Qualification: WRU Coaching Early Contact

NB: At all levels the “Cavalry Charge” is not allowed.

Definition of a Cavalry Charge: When the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick either a single player stands some distance behind the kicker or attacking players form a line across the field some distance from the kicker. At a signal from the kicker they charge forward. When they get near the kicker tap kicks the ball and passes to a player who had started some distance behind the kicker.

Early Contact Rugby Laws:

• For all free passes a player must place the ball on the floor and tap it forward with the foot
• If a free pass is taken incorrectly it must be taken again
• Defenders must retreat 5m when a free pass is awarded
• Defenders can only advance when the ball has been passed
• Waist high tackle or lower (the waist is the line of the shorts) only one tackler allowed
• After the 6th tackle the opposition receive the ball
• 
If the tackle is high then a free pass is awarded to the non offending team
• If a player is held in the tackle then the player must pass or place the ball after 3 seconds
• The defence can only tackle they are not allowed to contest for the ball
• Acting scrum half must pass the ball without delay (no pick and go) you cannot tackle this player
• 
No mauling allowed, if a maul is formed a free pass is given to the non offending team
• If a player is sent off then the player will be replaced by an appropriate substitute. If there is no substitute available then that team will be disadvantaged. The non-offending team does not lose a player
• The offside line is 1m back from the rear most part of the body at the tackle area
• Defenders are not permitted to rip the ball from the ball carrier
• If a hand off occurs the referee will award a free pass to the non offending team
• Rolling replacements
• Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline
• A player may only play one year up
• At a free pass restart any first receivers can start their run a maximum of 2 metres from the player performing the free pass. Any greater distance and the “Calvary Charge” will be called resulting in a penalty at the place of infringement to the non offending team.
• Rolling substitutions are permitted

Clothing

• Players are allowed to wear approved leggings

COACH’S ROLE:

• Help children cope with the demands of the tackle area
• Effective contest for ball after tackle including support for ball carrier and tackler

AIMS RATIONALE:

Introduce the contest for possession after the tackle Introduce decision-making at the “breakdown”.

GENERAL:

Please be advised that the laws on this page are WRU Pathway Laws which are variations of some of the World Rugby Laws. If a Law is not outlined on this page please refer to the full World Rugby Laws

Age: Under 10 as on the first of September at the start of the season

Team Size:

• 10 a side with unlimited substitutions
• Five forwards and five backs
• The WRU requires that both teams shall field the same number of players throughout the game

Periods of Play: 15 mins each way, maximum 30 minutes of play. No extra time

Playing Area: Half pitch

Ball Size: Size three

Coach Qualification: WRU Coaching Early Contact

REFEREE QUALIFICATION: WRU Coaching Early Contact

EARLY CONTACT RUGBY LAWS:

World Rugby under 19 Laws apply apart from:

• For all free passes and free kicks a player must place the ball on the floor and tap it forward with the foot. If a free pass is taken incorrectly it must be taken again

• Defenders must retreat 5m when a free pass is awarded

• Defenders can only advance when the ball has been passed or the attacking player chooses to run

• Waist high tackle or lower (the waist is the line of the shorts) there can be more than 1 tackler

• 1st player to the breakdown can pick and go before the ruck has formed

• After the tackle one player from each team can contest for the ball, this can be any player involved in the tackle or another arriving player

• Acting scrum half must pass the ball after a ruck has been formed you cannot tackle this player

• The off side line are 1m back from the rear most part of the body at the tackle area
• Defenders are not permitted to rip the ball from the ball carrier

• No mauling allowed, if a maul is formed a free pass is given to the non offending team

• Rolling replacements allowed

• Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline

• If a player is sent off then that player will be replaced by an appropriate substitute. If there is no substitute available then that team will be disadvantaged. The non-offending team does not lose a player

• At a free pass restart any first receivers can start their run a maximum of 2 metres from the player performing the free pass. Any greater disctance and the “Calvary Charge” will be called resulting in a penalty at the place of infringement to the non offending team

• A player may only play up one year

• Rolling substitutions is permitted

NB: 
At all levels the “Cavalry Charge” is not allowed

Definition of a Cavalry Charge: When the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick either a single player stands some distance behind the kicker or attacking players form a line across the field some distance from the kicker. At a signal from the kicker they charge forward. When they get near the kicker tap kicks the ball and passes to a player who had started some distance behind the kicker. 
Sanction: 
Penalty at the place of infringement

COACH’S ROLE:

• Develop the player’s skills at the breakdown
• Develop the decision making of the players at the breakdown area, in attack and defence

AIMS RATIONALE:

Introduction of the contest for possession, and decision making at the breakdown.

General

Please be advised that the laws on this page are WRU Pathway Laws which are variations of some of the World Rugby Laws. If a Law is not outlined on this page please refer to the full World Rugby Laws

AGE: Under 11 as on the first of September at the start of the season.

TEAM SIZE:

• Up to 12 players
• Five forwards maximum, seven backs maximum
• The WRU requires that both teams shall field the same number of players throughout the game

PERIODS OF PLAY: 20 minutes each way, maximum 40 minutes of play.

PLAYING AREA: Between 22 metre lines and five metres in from the touchline.

BALL SIZE: Size three

COACH QUALIFICATION: WRU Coaching Early Contact

REFEREE QUALIFICATION: WRU Level one Award or completion of Coaching Early Contact course.

NB: At all levels the “Cavalry Charge” is not allowed

Definition of a Cavalry Charge:

When the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick either a single player stands some distance behind the kicker or attacking players form a line across the field some distance from the kicker. At a signal from the kicker they charge forward. When they get near the kicker tap kicks the ball and passes to a player who had started some distance behind the kicker.

Cavalry Charge Laws:

At a free pass restart any first receivers can start their run a maximum of 2 metres from the player performing the free pass. Any greater distance and the “Cavalry Charge” will be called resulting in a penalty at the place of infringement to the non offending team.

Sanction:

Penalty at the place of infringement.

U11’s RUGBY LAWS:

World Rugby Under 19 Laws apply apart from:

• For all free passes, free kicks and penalties a player must place the ball on the floor and tap it forward with the foot. If free pass is taken incorrectly it must be taken again

• Defending team must retreat 5m when a free pass is awarded

• Waist high tackle or lower (the waist is the line of the shorts) there can be more than one tackler

• 1st player to the breakdown can pick and go before the ruck has formed

• After the tackle one player from each team can contest for the ball, this can be any player 
involved in the tackle or another arriving player

• Acting scrum half must pass the ball after a ruck has been formed, the defence cannot tackle this player, a ruck is formed according to World Rugby Law

• The offside line are 1m back from the rear most part of the body at the tackle area
• Defenders are not permitted to rip the ball from the ball carrier

• No mauling allowed, if a maul is formed a free pass is given to the non offending team

• Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline

• It is recommended for development and participation purposes that all players play at least one half every game

• A player may only play up one year

• Rolling substitutions is permitted

SCRUMS:

• All scrums must follow the World Rugby process of crouch, bind and set

• Static (no pushing or wheeling), both hookers may strike for the ball

• Five forwards (maximum) 3:2 formation

• A player who is a member of a scrum cannot pick up the ball

• Scrum Half must pass the ball from the back of the scrum

• Penalty: penalty kick to the non offending team

• Four person uncontested
• No catch and drive permitted
• The line out will consist of the thrower plus four in the line
• No lifting allowed
• The ball must enter the line out above head height
• If the throwing in team knock on the throw is taken again
• Participants in the lineout are not allowed to peel
• Off side lines remain until the scrum half passes or runs with the ball.

KICKING: Only in your own half. 
Team scoring to drop kick to opposition to restart game.

HAND OFF / FEND OFF:

Definition: A hand off/fend off is: ” Any movement of the hand or arm to ward off an opponent.”

A player must not hand off/fend off an opponent in any way. Penalty: free kick to the non offending team.

PENALTY: All penalties are free kicks.

METHOD OF SCORING:

Tries and conversions only

Notes:–

(i) if goal posts are available on the mini-pitch, conversions are to be taken as normal.

(ii) if goal posts are available only on the full size pitch, conversions are to be taken in front of the goal post.

If team persists in offending at the breakdown close to the defensive team try line, then the referee may award a penalty try.

If a player is sent off then the player will be replaced by an appropriate substitute. If there is no substitute available then that team will be disadvantaged. The non-offending team does not lose a player.

In Goal/Dead Ball Area Restarts:

• If a defending team, carry or put the ball back into their in goal area, where the ball is then lost forward, grounded, or made dead by a defending player, play then restarts with an attacking scrum, five metres from the goal line, in line where the ball was made dead, but no closer than 5 metres to the touch line.
• If the attacking team, carry the ball into their opponents in goal area, where they fail to ground the ball, or the ball becomes unplayable for any reason, play restarts with a goal line drop out. This includes a knock on attempting to score.

GENERAL:

Please be advised that the laws on this page are WRU Pathway Laws which are variations of some of the World Rugby Laws. If a Law is not outlined on this page please refer to the full World Rugby Laws

Age: Under 12 as on the 1st September at the start of the season. A player may only play up one year.

Ball Size: Size four.

Coach Qualification: WRU Level one

Referee Qualification: WRU Level one Award

Pitch: Full pitch

Periods of Play:

• Two halves of up to 25 minutes playing time, maximum 50 minutes – no extra time.

Scrum:

• All scrums must follow the World Rugby process of crouch, bind and set
• Eight person contested scrummage with 0.5m maximum push, no wheeling
• Both hookers may strike for the ball
• Both scrummages must be 3-4-1 formation
• The number eight can pick up the ball from the scrum

Lineouts:

• Full lineout, uncontested, no catch and drive
• No lifting
• Penalty: Penalty kick to the non offending team
• The ball must enter the lineout above head height
• The ball must be passed from the lineout
• No shortened lineouts
• The lineout ends according to World Rugby laws

• When the ball is playable referees will immediately shout “Use it” and the attacking team will have 5 seconds to move the ball away from the contact area

Penalties:

• Players may tap and run if a PK is awarded
• A hand off to the chest is permitted however, hand off to the face is not permitted

Tackle

• As of July 2023 we are now playing under the new World Rugby Tackle Height directives

GENERAL:

Please be advised that the laws on this page are WRU Pathway Laws which are variations of some of the World Rugby Laws. If a Law is not outlined on this page please refer to the full World Rugby Laws

Age: Under 13 as on the first of September at the start of the season. A player may only play up one year.

Ball Size: Size four.

Coach Qualification: WRU Level one

Referee Qualification: WRU Level one Award

Pitch: Full pitch.

Periods of Play:

• Two halves of up to 25 minutes playing time, maximum 50 minutes – no extra time

Scrum:

• All scrums must follow the World Rugby process of crouch, bind and set
• Eight person contested scrummage with 0.5m maximum push, no wheeling
• Both hookers may strike for the ball
• Both scrummages must be 3-4-1 formation
• The number eight can pick up the ball from the scrum

Lineouts:

• Full uncontested with lifting.
• Only ten metre catch and drive allowed. Players are allowed to “ sack” the jumper in the lineout once that lineout jumper has landed on the ground and no maul has formed. This must be done immediately
• The lineout ends when the ball is thrown, knocked or kicked out of the lineout, the lineout ends.
• When the ball or a player carrying the ball moves into the area between the 5-metre line and the touchline, the lineout ends.
• When a lineout player hands the ball to a player who is peeling off, the lineout ends.
• When the ball is thrown beyond the 15-metre line, or when a player takes or puts it beyond that line, the lineout ends.
• When a ruck or maul develops in a lineout, and all the feet of all the players in the ruck or maul move beyond the line of touch, the lineout ends.
• If a maul formed at the lineout becomes unplayable, the game is restarted a scrum

Ruck:

• When the ball is playable referees will immediately shout “Use it” and the attacking team will have 5 seconds to move the ball away from the contact area

Penalties:

• Players may tap and run if a PK is awarded

• A hand off to the chest is permitted. There will be no hand off to the face.

Tackle

• As of July 2023 we are now playing under the new World Rugby Tackle Height directives

GENERAL:

Please be advised that the laws on this page are WRU Pathway Laws which are variations of some of the World Rugby Laws. If a Law is not outlined on this page please refer to the full World Rugby Laws

Age: Under 14 as on the first of September at the start of the season. A player may only play up one year.

Ball Size: Size four.

Coach Qualification: WRU Level Two

Referee Qualification: WRU Level one Award

Pitch: Full pitch

Period of Play: 

Two halves each of up to 30 minutes playing time – no extra time.

Scrum:

In an eight person scrum the formation must be 3-4-1, with the single player (normally the Number eight) shoving on the two locks. The locks must pack with their heads on either side of the hooker.

Exception: A team must have fewer than eight players in its scrum when either the team cannot field a complete team, or a player is sent off for Foul Play, or a player leaves the field because of injury. Even allowing for this exception, each team must always have at least five players in a scrum.

If a team is incomplete, the scrum formation must be as follows:

• If a team is without one player, then both teams must use a 3-4 formation (i.e. no No.eight).
• If a team is without two players, then both teams must use a 3-2-1 formation (i.e. no flankers).
• If a team is without three players, then both teams must use a 3-2 formation (i.e. only front rows and locks).
• When a normal scrum takes place, the players in the three front row positions and the two lock positions must have been suitably trained for these positions.

If a team cannot field such suitably trained players because:

• Either they are not available, or a player in one of those five positions is injured or has been sent off for Foul Play and no suitably trained replacement is available, then the referee must order uncontested scrums.
• All games can start with non contested scrums and the teams can maintain their full compliment of substitutes.
• In an uncontested scrum, the teams do not compete for the ball. The team putting in the ball must win it. Neither team is allowed to push the other team away from the mark.

Front rows coming together:

Each prop touches the opponent’s upper arm and then pauses before the front rows meet. The sequence should be: crouch, bind, set.

Scrum Laws:

• No wheeling. A team must not intentionally wheel a scrum. Penalty: free kick
• If a wheel reaches 45 degrees, the referee must stop play. If the wheel is unintentional, the referee orders another scrum at the place where the scrum is stopped
• WRU ruling, the ball is put in by the team that previously put it in
• Maximum 1.5 metres push. A team in the scrum must not push the scrum more than 1.5 metres towards their opponents’ goal line. Penalty: free kick
• Ball must be released from scrum. A player must not intentionally keep the ball in the scrum once the player’s team has heeled the ball and controls it at the base of the scrum. Penalty: free kick
• All scrums must follow the World Rugby process of crouch, bind and set
• Both hookers may strike for the ball
• Both scrummages must be 3-4-1 formation
• The number eight can pick up the ball from the scrum

Tackle

• As of July 2023 we are now playing under the new World Rugby Tackle Height directives

GENERAL:

Age: Under 15 as on the first of September at the start of the season. A player may only play up one year.

Ball Size: Size five.

Coach Qualification: WRU Level Two

Referee Qualification: WRU Level one Award

Pitch: Full pitch

Periods of Play:

• Two halves each of up to 30 minutes playing time – no extra time.

Scrum:

In an eight person scrum the formation must be 3-4-1, with the single player (normally the Number eight) shoving on the two locks. The locks must pack with their heads on either side of the hooker.

Exception: A team must have fewer than eight players in its scrum when either the team cannot field a complete team, or a player is sent off for Foul Play, or a player leaves the field because of injury. Even allowing for this exception, each team must always have at least five players in a scrum.

If a team is incomplete, the scrum formation must be as follows:

• If a team is without one player, then both teams must use a 3-4 formation (i.e. no No.eight).
• If a team is without two players, then both teams must use a 3-2-1 formation (i.e. no flankers).
• If a team is without three players, then both teams must use a 3-2 formation (i.e. only front rows and locks).
• When a normal scrum takes place, the players in the three front row positions and the two lock positions must have been suitably trained for these positions.

If a team cannot field such suitably trained players because:

• Either they are not available, or a player in one of those five positions is injured or has been sent off for Foul Play and no suitably trained replacement is available, then the referee must order uncontested scrums.
• All games can start with non contested scrums and the teams can maintain their full compliment of substitutes.
• In an uncontested scrum, the teams do not compete for the ball. The team putting in the ball must win it. Neither team is allowed to push the other team away from the mark.

Front rows coming together:

Each prop touches the opponent’s upper arm and then pauses before the front rows meet. The sequence should be: crouch, bind, set.

Scrum Laws:

• No wheeling. A team must not intentionally wheel a scrum. Penalty: free kick
• If a wheel reaches 45 degrees, the referee must stop play. If the wheel is unintentional, the referee orders another scrum at the place where the scrum is stopped
• WRU ruling, the ball is put in by the team that previously put it in
• Maximum 1.5 metres push. A team in the scrum must not push the scrum more than 1.5 metres towards their opponents’ goal line. Penalty: free kick
• Ball must be released from scrum. A player must not intentionally keep the ball in the scrum once the player’s team has heeled the ball and controls it at the base of the scrum. Penalty: free kick
• All scrums must follow the World Rugby process of crouch, bind and set
• Both hookers may strike for the ball
• Both scrummages must be 3-4-1 formation
• The number eight can pick up the ball from the scrum

Tackle

• As of July 2023 we are now playing under the new World Rugby Tackle Height directive