UpdatedJanuary11,2014.
PLAYERSCOMPETINGABOVETHEIRAGEGROUP
RugbyCanada’sPoliciesforProvincialUnions:
RugbyCanadaremainsadamantthatplayersafetyisparamount.Therefore,thefollowingshouldserve
asaguidelineonagegraderugby:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
3.1
anysuchregional/provincialpolicyisdocumentedinmeetingminutes;
theminutesjustifythereasonsforthelocalpolicy;and,
theminutesidentifythesafetyissuesthatwereconsideredbeforeintroducingthepolicy.
AllminutesmustbeprovidedtoRugbyCanada.
ELIGIBILITY:
3.1.1
ForUnder20(Men&Women)competitions,allplayersmustbeundertwentyyearsofageand
atleasttheageofeighteenyears,asofJanuary1stintheyearofthecompetition.
3.1.2
ForUnder19(Men&Women)competitions,allplayersmustbeundernineteenyearsofageand
atleasttheageofseventeenyears,asofJanuary1stintheyearofthecompetition.
3.1.4
ForUnder18(Men&Women)competitions,allplayersmustbeundereighteenyearsofageand
atleasttheageofsixteenyears,asofJanuary1stintheyearofthecompetition.
ForUnder17(Men&Women)competitions,allplayersmustbeunderseventeenyearsofage
andatleasttheageoffifteenyears,asofJanuary1stintheyearofthecompetition.
3.1.5
3.1.6
3.1.7
3.1.8
ForUnder16(Me&Women)competitions,allplayersmustbeundersixteenyearsofageandat
leasttheageoffourteenyears,asofJanuary1stintheyearofthecompetition.
For Senior Women Championships, all players must have reached the age of eighteen years of
ageasofJanuary1stintheyearofthecompetition.
Inordertosubstantiatetheaboveagelimitations,allparticipatingteamsaretocomplywiththe
registrationproceduresasestablishedfromtimetotimebytheRugbyCanadaBoard;including
the provision of Rugby Canada pro forma waivers, duly executed by the athlete’s parent or
guardianandprovisionofacopyoftheathletes’birthcertificatesand/orvalidpassport.Failure
tocomplywiththeestablishedregistrationprocesswillresultinthatplayerbeingineligiblefor
competitionuntilsuchtimeastheregistrationprocesshasbeencompeted.
UpdatedJanuary11,2014.
3.2
MINIMUMAGEEXEMPTIONPROCEDURES:
Exemptionstoallowanathletewhoisundertheminimumagerequirementofacompetition,as
specifiedin3.1.1to3.1.8,maybemadeprovidingtheprocedureslistedbelowarefollowed.The
launching of such an application is the responsibility of the Member Unions on behalf of their
players.AllplayersplayingoutsideoftheiragecategoriesmustbeidentifiedtoRugbyCanada
directlytothememberservicesdepartment.
3.2.1
Rugby Canada recommends that a three-person committee be established for each case,
consistingofamemberoftheProvincialUnionoradesignatedalternate,aregisteredmedical
practitionerwhohasknowledgeofrugbyandamemberoftheplayer’sclubthatisnotdirectly
associated with the team in question. This Committee shall hear the application requiring
evidence it deems necessary to render a decision, beyond provisions of 3.2.2 if desired. An
appealcanbemadeinwritingtoRugbyCanadaifitisdesired.
NOTE: NO PLAYER IS PERMITTED TO PLAY AGAINST PLAYERS YEARS ABOVE THEIR DESINATED AGE
BRACKET.FOREXAMPLE,APLAYER14YEARSOFAGECANAPPLYTOPLAYUPINU16RUGBY
BUT,A13YEAROLDCANNOTPLAYUPIN16RUGBY.
3.2.2
GiventhepotentiallogisticalrequirementsofformingsuchaCommittee,applicationswillonly
be considered if the provincial union office receives applications at least 14 days prior to the
eventinquestion.Applicationsshallinclude,asaminimum:
3.2.2.1Aletterfromtheplayer'scoach(onlylettersfromcoachescertifiedunderNCCPwillbe
accepted) attesting that the player is capable: physically, emotionally and socially, to
participateinthecompetitioninquestion.
3.2.2.2A letter from a qualified Sports Medical practitioner or, if not practical, the player's
Family Physician, confirming that an examination (done within one month of the
competition) has indicated that the player is physically capable of participating at the
levelunderapplicationanddeclaringaclearunderstanding,bythemedicalpractitioner,
ofthephysicalandcompetitiveenvironmentthatshouldbeexpectedforthatathlete.
3.2.2.3A letter from the player's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) outlining the player's maturity
level in social development and declaring a clear understanding, of the physical and
competitiveenvironmentthatshouldbeexpectedforthatplayerinquestionplayingup
anagegrade.
3.2.2.4 Requestsforexemptionfromanyoftheaboveprovisionsshouldbemadeinwritingto
the Provincial Union not less than 14 days prior to the start of the competition in
question.