A player’s age grade is determined by their age at midnight on 31 August at the beginning of each Season and to play for the Under 8's this season your child needs to be 7 on 31st August 2012.

Stage 1 Mini Tag Rugby (Under 7 and Under 8)

To play mini rugby the current school of thought by clubs affiliated to the the English RFU is based upon the school age groups and described in the RFU's Rugby Continuum. A continuum is a gradual transition from one condition, to a different condition, without any abrupt changes which is what the administrators of Rugby Union are trying to achieve.

Rugby Union is played at Under 8's and under 8's in the form of Mini Tag. This game is based upon the laws of the IRB (International Rugby Board) with modifications to suit the age of the children learning and playing the game. Full information for Mini Tag (Under 8 And Under 8) can be found on the rfu site. The children wear two velcro tags which are worn on a belt around the waist with the tags on the hips. A 'Tag' on the ball carrier consists of removal of one of these tags.

When the ball carrier is tagged the ball must be passed to a team mate within 3 seconds, this includes stopping time and is estimated to be within three strides by the ball carrier. There is no Kicking of any type allowed and the only contact allowed is the removal of a tag.

In Mini Tag Rugby, there is total emphasis on running with the ball, evasion, running in support of the ball carrier, passing and running to tag the ball carrier. In Mini Tag Rugby there is:

• no tackling;
• no scrummage;
• no line-out;
• no kicking;
• no hand off;
• no going to ground;
• no ripping of the ball.