1.   Girls' Rugby Development Programme 2011-12

The Girls' Rugby Development Programme for 2011-12 has been structured to increase participation opportunities for girls aged 12-18 years to take part in contact rugby.  The programme aims to support clubs and schools to develop their players and to build their player numbers by providing a mix of local and national events.  Some events are designed towards developing players, improving their skill level and giving them an opportunity to gain game time experience; others are to provide competitive opportunities for teams to develop at an appropriate level.

This season, youth player development will be primarily provided by 12 Girls' Rugby Development Coordinators (GRDC's), covering the following areas:

• Argyll & Bute (West) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Ayrshire (West) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Borders (East) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Central (Midlands) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Dumfries & Galloway (West) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• East Lothian (East) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Edinburgh & Midlothian (East) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Fife (Midlands) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Glasgow (West) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Grampian (North) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Highlands & Islands (North) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Tayside (Midlands) - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

* Each GRDC is responsible for running a calendar of Girls' Training Days and Festivals within their cluster area, targeting S1 - S6, aiming to develop teams at Under 18 and Under 15 age bands.  Some Cluster events will be open to girls in Primary 6 &  Primary 7, aiming to link these players into U12 Girls' Rugby.

* The dates and format of these days have been agreed locally, in order to ensure that they meet the needs of the local players, schools and clubs.

* Attendance at the Girls' Training Days and Festivals is FREE, however, all girls attending must be registered online with Scottish Rugby (registration is FREE).

* Scottish Rugby is also looking for committed and enthusiastic volunteers to assist with coaching and/or organisation of the Girls' Training Days and Festivals.  If you are interested in finding out what you can do to help, contact your local Girls' Rugby Development Coordinator or Scottish Rugby Development Manager - Women & Girls ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

2.   Girls' Rugby Competition Programme 2011-12

** Please note:  For all festivals and tournaments, including the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Girls' Cup, we welcome entries from all schools/clubs, irrespective of player numbers.  If a team is short of player numbers to make up a full team, we will combine your team with another school/club in a similar situation to enable all players the opportunity to participate in the event.  Likewise, any individual without a team wishing to participate should contact the event organiser, and we will ensure that they can participate.

2.1.   National Merit League

A Girls' National Merit League will be run to provide teams with an opportunity to take part in competitive matches with other schools / clubs.  Entry is open to all teams in Scotland and the league will run at U15 and U18 age bands.  Teams are responsible for organising their own fixtures and must submit a Match Day Team Sheet within 5 days of the match taking place for the result to count.  Teams are rewarded for participating in fixtures, with 3 points for a win, and 2 points for a draw OR a loss.

2.2.   Girls' Emerging Teams Festivals

The aim of these event is to give new groups of players an opportunity to participate in competition at an appropriate level.  The format of the event will be decided on the day and will depend on entries.  Games will be played at 7-a-side.  The first Emerging Teams Festival, at U12, U15 and U18 age-bands, will take place on Sunday 2nd October 2011, and will run at two separate venues, based on East & West / North & Midlands.  Entry to these events will be open to new teams/players based within the relevant areas.  On Sunday 6th November 2011, a National Emerging Teams Festival will take place in Stirling, with entry open to any new team/player within Scotland.  The format of the events will be decided on the day and will depend on entries.

 2.3.   Girls' National Tournaments

There are 2 dates set aside for tournaments pre-Christmas (Sunday 2nd October 2011 and Sunday 13th November 2011).  The first event will run at two separate venues, based on East & West / North & Midlands.  Entry to this these events will be open to teams based within the relevant areas.  The second event will run at a central venue, and entry is open to any team within Scotland.  The format of the events will be decided on the day and will depend on entries.

2.4.   Brewin Dolphin Scottish Girls' Cup Competition

This season, the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Girls' Cup Competition will again be sponsored by Brewin Dolphin and will run at U15 and U18 age bands.  The format of the Cup is a Qualifier Round, followed by seeded knockout.  Teams will move through the competition and will finish competing at an appropriate level.  Entries will be accepted from any affiliated school, club or composite team.  Clubs or schools that do not have enough players to enter a squad are welcome to register their players for the Qualifier round - composite teams will be made up on the day to ensure that as many players as possible have the opportunity to participate.

2.5.   National 7's Tournaments

Each area (East, Midlands, North and West) will host a National 7's Tournament at U15 and U18 age bands.  Entry to these tournaments is open to teams based within the relevant region.  The format of the event will be decided on the day and will depend on entries.

3.   Age Bands & Dispensations (Girls' Rugby) Policy 2011-12

Scottish Rugby's 'Are you Ready to Play Rugby?' campaign was launched in February 2009 following extensive consultation with all stakeholders.  Several new policies were drafted as a result of that campaign and came into effect from the start of the season 2009-10.  As part of this policy, Scottish Rugby will continue to review the policies for age bands and exceptions in girls' rugby on an ongoing basis, as the girls' game grows and develops, with the aim of reducing the size of girls' age bands.

The Age Bands & Dispensations (Girls' Rugby) 2011-12 Policy applies to all female players and all coaches, teachers and administrators involved in women's and girl's rugby in Scotland, in member clubs and affiliated schools of Scottish Rugby.  It applies to all rugby training, competitions and matches played in accordance with the Laws of the Game in Scotland.

Clubs and schools are encouraged to adopt the smallest age range of players possible when arranging training and matches.  The maximum age range for girls to participate in contact rugby together in Scotland is 3 years, whether training or playing a competitive or friendly match.

In exceptional cases, a player's physical development, skill level and / or experience may be such that she may be allowed to participate in contact rugby outwith their age band.  However, these players must have the appropriate dispensation approval from Scottish Rugby prior to participation.  Dispensation approval will be made by a Scottish Rugby Panel.  Please allow a minimum of 4 weeks for an application to be processed.  Please note that when a dispensaton is approved, the player will not be allowed to play in the front 5 of the scrum under any circumstances.

The exception policy is applied in order to:

* Protect the safety and welfare of players participating in women's and girls' rugby, by ensuring that participants playing outwith their age band have comparable physical development, skill levels and playing experience;

*Ensure that all involved in the decision to permit a player to participate in rugby outwith their age band understand that rugby is a contact sport, that players are exposed to the risk of injury and that this risk may be heightened where a player participates outwith their age band.

3.1.   Under 6 – Under 12 Rugby

* Girls are permitted to play mixed gender rugby before the age of 12.  To be eligible, girls must be Under 12 as of 1st September at the start of the season.

* To be eligible for U12 Girls' rugby, girls must be in Primary 6 or Primary 7.

* On turning 12 years old, girls may elect to participate in U15 rugby and/or remain within U12 rugby.

3.2.   Under 15 Girls' Rugby

* To be eligible, girls should be born in 1997, 1998 or 1999.

* On turning 15 years old, girls may elect to participate in U18 rugby and/or remain within U15 rugby. 

3.3.   Under 18 Girls' Rugby

* To be eligible, girls should be born in 1994, 1995 or 1996.

* On turning 18 years old, girls may elect to participate in Senior rugby and/or remain within U18 rugby.

* An 18 year old may apply for dispensation to remain in U18 rugby until their 19th birthday, on the grounds of inexperience.  The player must complete Dispensation Form 2, and be approved prior to participation.

3.4.   Senior Women's Rugby

* To be eligible, girls should be aged 18 years.

* A younger player, aged 17 years, wishing to play in Senior Women's Rugby must complete Dispensation Form 1 and be approved prior to participation.