Rules and Regulations: Rugby League (Schools)

Download a PDF here – LYG24_RFL_9’s_Info_Rules

RFL 1 The event will run in accordance with the Rugby League 9’s rules.

RFL 1.1 Should any rules listed below contradict those outlined by Rugby League, these rules will supersede those.

RFL 1.2 It will be at the sole discretion of the Competition Director as to the application of these rules, and any subsequent decision made as a result will be final.

RFL 1.3 The Tournament Organisers reserve the rights to alter or amend the playing schedule if necessary and make decisions on any matters arising during the tournament, including any matters not covered by the tournament regulations.

RFL 1.4 The Competition Director reserves the right to suspend/cancel the event where required by weather/unsafe conditions.

RFL 2 Age Category

RFL 2.1 The following age groups and respective maximum and minimum date of births will apply to the School Games Rugby League 9’s Competition:

RFL 2.2 Competitors are not permitted to enter this competition if they are ineligible. No exceptions will be made.

RFL 2.3 It is the responsibility of competitors/teachers/School Games Organisers staff to ensure all competitors details are entered correctly at the time of submission.

RFL 2.3.1 In the instance a competitor is found to be ineligible, they will be disqualified from the competition entirely.

RFL 3 Eligibility

RFL 3.1 Competition Tier: Higher

RFL 3.2 Competition Intent: Highly competitive environment where winning is the measure of success and level challenge is high, in order to further the development of young athletes. Local qualifying events are encouraged, with the winning school progressing to the county final.

RFL 3.3 Player Eligibility: Aimed at children and young people who enjoy competition and may regularly access training and coaching outside of the school environment. Participants are used to competing in sport inside and outside of school have a higher skill ability and understand tactics and strategies in competitive game play situations.

RFL 4 Squad Size Schools are permitted to bring a minimum of 9 competitors and a maximum of 16 competitors per gender.

RFL 4.1 Schools are permitted to bring all 16 competitors entered in the event on the day.

RFL 5 Kit & Equipment

RFL 5.1 Studded footwear is permitted.

RFL 5.2 Gumshields are recommended for all players.

RFL 5.3 Playing pitch size: 60 metres x 40 metres (half-size pitch).

RFL 5.4 Size 4 balls will be used throughout the event.

RFL 6 Competition and Draw Format

RFL 6.1 Rugby League 9’s is a modified version of Rugby League that focuses on the social aspects of the team sport. This simplified version creates an environment that allows each player the opportunity to get their hands on the ball and have a positive experience.

RFL 6. 2 Matches will be 10 minutes with no half time

RFL 6.3 First session will be pool games with all teams progressing to the second session.

RFL 6.4 Draw format to be confirmed after entries have closed.

RFL 7 Competition Rules

RFL 7.1 Maximum of 9 players from each team on the pitch at one time.

RFL 7.2 During games, unlimited substitutions can be made, these must be made during stoppages in the game e.g., turnovers etc.

RFL 7.3 The normal 6 tackle rule applies.

RFL 7.4 A try is scored in the normal way by placing or touching the ball down on or over the opponents try line. A normal try is worth 4 points, a try in the ‘Bonus Box’ is worth 6 points. There are no conversions after tries.

RFL 7.5 Bonus Box The area between each try lines posts and dead in goal line. If there are no posts, two coloured cones can be placed on the try line where the posts would normally be (10 metre area in the middle of the try line) to represent the area. Tries that are scored within this area will be worth 6 points.

RFL 7.6 All defending players must be back 5 metres from the play the ball except for a single marker who must be square to the play the ball without interfering. Any defending player including the marker is not allowed to move up (move forward to make a tackle) until the ball is picked up by the attacking dummy half.

RFL 7.7 Any tackled player should restart the game by way of a play the ball. The ball must be played backwards in the correct manner and where the tackle occurred.

RFL 7.8 Kicking from the hands i.e. bomb, punt, chip, grubber is allowed in open play. This can be on any tackle throughout the game.

RFL 7.9 The game will commence with a play the ball from the centre line at the beginning of each half with one marker in place.

RFL 7.10 There will be no scrums during games. See below points for further instructions around errors or infringements:

1. A player knock-on or forward pass: this will result in a handover at the point of the infringement to the non-offending team with a new six tackles. Play will restart with a play the ball and one marker in place.
2. A player runs out into touch with the ball, this will result in hand over 5 metres in from touch to the non-offending team with a new six tackles. Play will restart with a play the ball and one marker in place.

RFL 7.11 Any errors or infringement in the in-goal area will result in play restarting 5 metres from the goal line with a ‘play the ball’ in a central position to the non-offending side.

RFL 7.12 No ball stealing allowed by any player at any time.

RFL 7.13 Any act of foul play will result in a handover at the point of the infringement to the non-offending team with a new six tackles. Play will restart with a play the ball and one marker in place.

RFL 8 Overall Scoring Points will be awarded for each game to give a schools round robin standing.

RFL 8.1 The following points will be awarded:

• 3 points for a win
• 2 points for a draw
• 1 point for a loss

RFL 8.1.1 Tied teams in groups are decided on:

• Match points
• Try differences
• Tries for
• Tries against

RFL 9 Medals & Trophies Team medals awarded to the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd placed teams and a salver awarded to the winner of the competition.

Download a PDF here – LYG24_RFL_Y56_Info_Rules

TRFL 1 The event will run in accordance with the Rugby Football League Tag rules.

TRFL 1.1 Should any rules listed below contradict those outlined by Rugby Football League, these rules will supersede those.

TRFL 1.2 It will be at the sole discretion of the Competition Director as to the application of these rules, and any subsequent decision made as a result will be final.

TRFL 1.3 The Tournament Organisers reserve the rights to alter or amend the playing schedule if necessary and make decisions on any matters arising during the tournament, including any matters not covered by the tournament regulations.

TRFL 1.4 The Competition Director reserves the right to suspend/cancel the event where required by weather/unsafe conditions.

TRFL 2 Age Category

TRFL 2.1 The following age groups and respective maximum and minimum date of births will apply to the School Games RFL Tag Competition:

TRFL 2.2 Competitors are not permitted to enter this competition if they are ineligible. No exceptions will be made.

TRFL 2.3 It is the responsibility of competitors/teachers/School Games Organisers to ensure all competitors details are entered correctly at the time of submission.

TRFL 2.3.1 In the instance a competitor is found to be ineligible, they will be disqualified from the competition entirely.

TRFL 3 Eligibility

TRFL 3.1 Competition Tier: Higher

TRFL 3.2 Competition Intent: Highly competitive environment where winning is the measure of success and level of challenge is high, in order to further the development of young athletes. Local qualifying events are encouraged, with the winning school progressing to the county final.

TRFL 3.3 Player Eligibility: Aimed at children and young people who enjoy competition and may regularly access training and coaching outside of the school environment. Participants are used to competing in sport inside and outside of school, have a higher skill ability and understand tactics and strategies in competitive game play situations.

TRFL 4 Squad Size Schools are permitted to bring a minimum of 7 competitors and a maximum of 12 competitors.

TRFL 4.1 Schools are permitted to bring all 12 competitors entered in the event on the day, however only 7 players will be on the pitch per team.

TRFL 4.1.1 Teams must have a minimum of 3 girls on the pitch at all times and therefore squad composition should reflect this.

TRFL 5 Kit & Equipment

TRFL 5.1 Trainers or studded footwear is permitted.

TRFL 5.2 All players must wear a ‘tag belt’ that has two ribbons (tags) attached to Velcro. The belt must be worn around the waist with all loose clothing tucked in. The tags are positioned on either side of the hips.

TRFL 5.3 Pitch size will be approx. 60 metres x 30 metres.

TRFL 5.3.1 These measurements are maximum size and is dependent on facility space.

TRFL 5.4 Size 4 balls will be used throughout the event.

TRFL 6 Competition and Draw Format

TRFL 6.1 Matches will be 7 minutes one way.

TRFL 6.2 This is not a knockout tournament with all teams having the same amount of playing time. All teams will be reseeded and regrouped after each round so they play teams more evenly matched as the competition progresses.

TRFL 6.3 The format will be round robin groups throughout the tournament and consist of 2 or 3 rounds of play, depending on entries.

TRFL 6.2.1 3 Group size and group number will depend on entry numbers.

TRFL 7 Competition Rules

TRFL 7.1 The maximum amount of playing time for an individual is 50 minutes and no player is permitted to play beyond this time. Substitutes/replacements should be encouraged with all involved children playing at least half of a game.

TRFL 7.2 Ball carriers can run or dodge potential taggers but cannot fend off, guard or shield their tags.

TRFL 7.3 Players are permitted to spin away from a defender but are NOT permitted to continuously spin or dive to avoid being tagged.

TRFL 7.4 The game will commence with a play-the-ball, centre field;

  TRFL 7.4.1 The ball carrier must return to the spot where the tag occurred.

TRFL 7.4.2 Facing the direction they are playing the player places the ball on the ground and rolls the ball back with their foot in a controlled manner to a teammate.

TRFL 7.5.3 The teammate who gathers the ball from this position (called the Dummy Half) must pass the ball from the play-the-ball and should not run forwards. They can take steps laterally to assist with passing. You cannot score from a Dummy Half.

TRFL 7.5.4 NB – Any player can be the Dummy Half and the player at the Dummy Half could change at every play-the-ball.

TRFL 7.5 Defence must maintain a distance of 5 metres until the Dummy Half passes the ball and must retreat 5 metres after each tag. The Dummy Half should not deliberately delay the pass and repetitively delaying the pass intentionally may be penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct.

TRFL 7.6 If a defender does not retreat 5 metres, they will be deemed to be offside. If a tag is made from an offside position, the attacker should play the ball as normal, but the tag will not add to the tag count. Repeated or deliberate offside offences will be penalised as unsporting behaviour and the tag count reset to zero.

TRFL 7.7 The team in possession has the ball for a total of six tags regardless of errors. If a player makes any error (forward pass, knock on, steps off the pitch, or if the opposition picks up a loose ball or catches an intercept pass), it counts as a tag and that player should play-the-ball at the point the error occurred. Their team will continue with possession for the remainder of their six plays.

TRFL 7.8 If a try has not been scored after 6 tags, possession turns over to the defending team at the point of the last tag.

TRFL 7.9 Any acts of unsporting behaviour will result in a handover to the non-offending team at the place where the incident occurred and play restarts with a play-the-ball.

TRFL 7.10 Tagging

TRFL 7.10.1 Only the player in the possession of the ball can be tagged.

TRFL 7.10.2 A tag is simply the removal by a defender of one or two of the ribbons from the ball carrier.

TRFL 7.10.3 When a defender has removed the tag, they place the tag on the floor where the tag was made and retreat onside with the other defenders. Players must not throw the tag away but place the tag on the floor (if it is too windy to leave tags on the floor, the defender should wait for the attacker to return to the spot and hand over the tag).

TRFL 7.10.4 The ball carrier returns to where the defender placed the tag and restarts the game by ‘playing-the-ball’ backwards and in the correct manner. The tagged player can play-the-ball before replacing the tag but can take no further part in the game without replacing their tag(s).

TRFL 7.11 Scoring a Try:

TRFL 7.11.1 A try is scored in the normal way by placing or touching the ball down on or over an opponents’ try line.

TRFL 7.11.2 If tagged in the act of scoring the try will stand.

TRFL 7.11.3 After a try has been scored the non-scoring team will restart with a play-the-ball, centre field on the halfway line. All other starts and restarts will also be played with a play-the-ball whatever the situation.

TRFL 7.12 There will be no kicking allowed.

TRFL 8 Overall Scoring Points will be awarded for each game to give a school’s final round robin standing.

TRFL 8.1 The following points will be awarded:

• 5 points for a win
• 3 points for a draw
• 1 point for a loss

TRFL 8.1.1 Groups are decided on:

• Match points
• Try differences
• Tries for
• Tries against

TRFL 9 Medals & Trophies The teams that place in the top 3 of the highest-ranking group will receive respective 1^st , 2^nd, 3^rd medals.  A salver will be awarded to the team that finished top of the highest-ranking group.