1.   Girls' Rugby Development Programme 2010-11

The Girls' Rugby Development Programme for 2010-11 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)
• Ayrshire (West)
• Borders (East)
• Central (Midlands)
• Dumfries & Galloway (West)
• East Lothian (East)
• Edinburgh & Midlothian (East)
• Fife (Midlands)
• Glasgow (West)
• Grampian (North)
• Highlands & Islands (North)
• Tayside (Midlands)

* Each GRDC is responsible for running a calendar of Girls' Training Days and Festivals within their cluster area, targeting Primary 7 - S6, aiming to develop teams at Under 18 and Under 15 age bands.

* 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 2010-11

2.1.   National Merit League

Following on from last season, 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 Tournament

An Emerging Teams Tournament, at U15 and U18 age-bands, will take place on Sunday 3rd October 2010.  The aim of this 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-, 10- or 12-a-side, depending on team numbers.

 2.3.   Girls' National 10's Tournaments

 There are 2 dates set aside for 10's tournaments pre-Christmas (Sunday 3rd October 2010 and Sunday 7th November 2010).  The first event will run at a central venue, and entry is open to any team within Scotland.  The second 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 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 & Exceptions (Girls' Rugby) 2010-11

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 & Exceptions (Girls' Rugby) 2010-11 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 exception approval from Scottish Rugby prior to participation.  Exception 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 an exception 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.

3.2.   Under 15 Girls' Rugby
* To be eligible, girls should be born in 1996, 1997 or 1998.
* A younger player, born 1st January 1999 - 30th June 1999, wishing to play in the Under 15 age band must complete Exception Form 1 and be approved prior to participation.
* An older player, born 1st September 1995 - 31st December 1995, wishing to play in the Under 15 age band must complete Exception Form 2 and be approved prior to participation.

3.3.   Under 18 Girls' Rugby
* To be eligible, girls should be born in 1993, 1994 or 1995.
* A younger player, born 1st January 1996 - 30th June 1996, wishing to play in the Under 18 age band must complete Exception Form 3 and be approved prior to participation.
* An older player, born 1st September 1992 - 31st December 1992, wishing to play in the Under 18 age band must complete Exception Form 4 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 Exception Form 5 and be approved prior to participation.