USA RUGBY - HIGH SCHOOL RUGBY COMPETITION RULES AND ELIGIBILITY

USA Rugby reclassified all rugby played by High School student athletes to ‘High School Rugby’. There is no longer an ‘Under 19’ classification of rugby in the USA. The ‘Under 19’ age bracket and classification is now ‘High School Rugby’ and played by the eligibility and competition rules in this document.

HIGH SCHOOL – SINGLE SCHOOL RUGBY

1.1. Team Eligibility.

  • a) Team must be based on a state or nationally-accredited school that issues High School Graduation Diplomas.

  • b) Team must be represented by a Roster that is limited to: players that are registered students at the High School upon which the team is based including home schooled students eligible for that school’s athletic activities.

  • c) Teams may carry an unlimited number of players on its Roster.

  • d) High School rugby teams, High School All Star teams and rugby teams made up of high school students or predominantly ‘Under 18’ players are not permitted to play contact rugby against College or Adult teams. This includes contact rugby games, contact practices or scrimmages in sevens, fifteens, or any other denomination of rugby. This is for the safety of the players and is not allowed under any circumstances.

  • e) All contact rugby matches played between high school teams must have proper medical coverage in place before the match is allowed to begin. Referees will not begin a match without confirming medical coverage is in place for that match. Contact State Rugby Organization for local requirements of medical coverage.

  • f) All league and friendly matches utilizing an assigned referee must be played using Technical Zones. These Technical Zones are in effect for every league and friendly match that utilizes an assigned referee.

1.2. Player Eligibility.

  • a) Players are eligible if they have not reached their 19th birthday by the September 1st that occurs at the start of the school year containing the competitive season, including the summer following that school year.

  • b) Players, except those that have graduated, must be attending class full time, as defined by the High School registrar.

  • c) Players must have certified US High School transcripts either for two consecutive semesters including the semester that falls during the Competition Season, or, for players that have graduated, the final semester prior to graduation during the current academic year, excluding freshmen entering high school for their first semester.

  • d) If the competition season extends beyond the end of the school year, the players may continue to participate in the competition provided that the players were otherwise eligible at the end of the school year.

  • e) Players must be within four (4) years of the moment the player first enrolled in ninth grade, regardless of when that player started playing rugby or had the ability to start playing rugby.

  • f) Players must not play in a Qualifying Match for any other club in a rugby match, including the High School team or club, College Club, or Senior Club competitions, while those players’ High School Qualifying Match season is in progress.

  • g) Players must be at least 15 years old to participate in High School Rugby. Players that are 14 and enrolled in high school must complete the ‘Under 15 Waiver’ to participate in High School Rugby. 14 year old players must not participate in the front row of fifteens or 10s contact high school rugby matches.

  • h) Players must meet and remain in compliance with all applicable amateur standards

1.3 State and Other Championship Eligibility.

USA Rugby has neither the compelling interest, nor the practical ability, in enforcing eligibility regulations at State High School Championship events. The regulations are more properly determined by the organizer of the State event, be that a State Rugby Organization (SRO), a Local Area Union, or a Geographical Union. However, USA Rugby recommends that, in determining the requirements, the organizers first consider the model used by the High School Athletic Governing Organization within the state; then consider the model that USA Rugby has established. State Rugby Organizations must follow the USA Rugby eligibility regulations as a minimum but are able to make more restrictive rules and policies for their leagues as needed.

Section 2. HIGH SCHOOL – “TRAVEL”, “CLUB” RUGBY

2.1. Club Eligibility

  • a) Clubs can be represented by players that meet the requirements of 1.2 provided there is not more than five (5) non-resident players on their Roster for any match.

  • b) Club may carry an unlimited number of players on its Roster.

  • c) All contact rugby matches played between high school teams must have proper medical coverage in place before the match is allowed to begin. Referees will not begin a match without confirming medical coverage is in place for that match. Contact State Rugby Organization for local requirements of medical coverage. e) All league and friendly matches utilizing an assigned referee must be played using Technical Zones. These Technical Zones are in effect for every league and friendly match that utilizes an assigned referee.

2.2. Player Eligibility

  • a) Players are eligible if they have not reached their 19th birthday by the September 1st that occurs at the start of the school year containing the competitive season, including the summer following that school year.

  • b) Players, except those that have graduated, must be attending class full time, as defined by the High School registrar.

  • c) Players must have certified US High School transcripts either for two consecutive semesters including the semester that falls during the Competition Season, or, for players that have graduated, the final semester prior to graduation during the current academic year, excluding freshmen entering high school for their first semester.

  • d) If the competition season extends beyond the end of the school year, then the players may continue to participate in the competition provided that the players were otherwise eligible at the end of the school year.

  • e) Players must be within four (4) years of the moment the player first enrolled in ninth grade, regardless of when that player started playing rugby or had the ability to start playing rugby.

  • f) Players must not play in a Qualifying Match for any other club in a rugby match, including the High School team or club, College Club, or Senior Club competitions, while those players’ High School Qualifying Match season is in progress.

  • g) Players must be at least 15 years old to participate in High School Rugby. Players that are 14 and enrolled in high school must complete the ‘Under 15 Waiver’ to participate in High School Rugby. 14 year old players must not participate in the front row of fifteens or 10s contact high school rugby matches.

  • h) Players must meet and remain in compliance with all applicable amateur standards.

HIGH SCHOOL ALL STAR EVENTS INCLUDING REGIONAL CUP TOURNAMENTS, ACADEMY TEAMS or ALL STATE TEAMS

3.1. Team Eligibility.

  • a) Each team may carry an unlimited number of players on its roster, but will be bound to a roster of 23 for each match.

  • b) ‘Varsity’ Tier – The varsity tier is comprised of high school Juniors and Seniors ONLY that satisfy section 1.2. Players must have been a Junior or Senior in the preceding school year and are considered a Junior or Senior during that school year and the summer following the school year.

  • c) ‘Junior Varsity’ Tier – The junior varsity tier is comprised of high school Freshmen and Sophomores ONLY that satisfy section 1.2. Players must have been a Freshman or Sophomore in the preceding school year and are considered a Junior or Senior during that school year and the summer following the school year.

  • d) Freshmen and Sophomores are not permitted to play on the Varsity Tier teams, and Juniors and Seniors are not permitted to play on the Junior Varsity Tier teams.

  • d) All contact rugby matches played between high school teams must have proper medical coverage in place before the match is allowed to begin. Referees will not begin a match without confirming medical coverage is in place for that match. Contact State Rugby Organization for local requirements of medical coverage.

  • e) All league and friendly matches utilizing an assigned referee must be played using Technical Zones. These Technical Zones are in effect for every league and friendly match that utilizes an assigned referee.

3.2. Player Eligibility.

  • a) Players are eligible if they meet all of the criteria outlined in the Sections 1.2. However, a player is eligible for the High School All Star Events if that player meets all other requirements of a high school eligible player, even if that player does not play rugby for his/her High School Team or Club.