Junior Rugby

Junior Rugby is the home of the grades for our young players.

Junior Rugby in Canterbury

Junior Rugby includes all grades from Year 1 through to Year 8, with Rippa Rugby, Rip Rugby and Small Blacks versions of the game to ensure the needs of all our young players are met. But most importantly that all our little ones have FUN!

Girls’ Rugby

2024 is an exciting year for Girls’ Rugby, with tons of options for our young wahine to tackle the game this winter!

For more information on Girls’ Rugby, click the button below!

Mixed Junior Rugby

All our Junior grades across Canterbury are mixed (except the girls-only grades) with boys and girls playing together in the same team.

Rippa Rugby is played at Year 1 & 2 level, introducing our youngest players to our nation’s favourite game. From there, kids are able to graduate to either Tackle Rugby or Rip Rugby. Rip Rugby designed to encourage the non-contact part of our game and for those entering tackle, Canterbury Rugby runs a special ‘Tackle Clinic’ to ensure they can begin tackle rugby safely.

RIPPA RUGBY
Year 1, Year 2

RIP RUGBY
Years 3, 4 & 5, Years 6, 7 & 8

RUGBY
Years 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8

Age grades are based on the player’s age as at the 1st of January 2024. Eg, player’s whose age is 5 years old on the 1st of January this year would play in Under 6, while a 6 year old on the 1st January will play in the Under 7.

Register with a Club below, or for any enquiries, complete the form here.

Find your Club

Junior Rugby - Small Blacks Development Model

Small Blacks Rugby has been designed to help players develop their rugby skills as their physical ability develops, making the game as simple and safe as possible for all Kiwi kids, regardless of their age, shape or size. The Small Blacks Development Model ensures there is a consistency of play, coaching and player welfare at all levels and is a great way of getting kids involved in a team sport.

Small Blacks Rugby has been designed to help players develop their rugby skills as their physical ability develops, making the game as simple and safe as possible for all Kiwi kids, regardless of their age, shape or size. The Small Blacks Development Model ensures there is a consistency of play, coaching and player welfare at all levels and is a great way of getting kids involved in a team sport.

  • Rippa Rugby - Years 1 & 2
    Rugby - Year 3
    Quarter field = 40m x 27.5m maximum. Use small posts at ends if available.

    Rugby - Year 4 (Metro & North Canterbury)

    Use existing lines to create field of approximately 35m wide x 60m long.

    Rip Rugby - Years 3, 4 & 5
    Rugby - Year 5 & 6 (Ellesmere Year 4, 5 & 6)
    Goal to 10m (across the field)

    Rip Rugby - Years 6, 7 & 8

    The playing area will be the goal line to the halfway line (across the field)

    Rugby - Years 7 & 8
    Full field for 15 a-side

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    4 x 10 minutes maximum

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    Rugby - Year 3, 4, 5 & 6
    2 x 25 minutes maximum

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    2 x 30 minutes maximum

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    Size 2.5 or size 3 balls

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    Rugby - Year 3, 4 , 5 & 6
    Size 3

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    Size 4

  • Numbers are a maximum. If a team doesn’t have enough players to start a game, it should then be played with equal numbers.

    Rippa Rugby - Years 1 & 2
    Rip Rugby - Years 3-8
    Rugby - Year 3
    7 a-side

    Rugby Year 4 - Metro & North Canterbury

    8 a-side

    Rugby - Years 5 & 6 (Year 4 Ellesmere)
    10 a-side

    Rugby - Years 7 & 8
    15 a-side

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    Beginning coach.

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    Nominated Rip Rugby referee.

    Rugby - Year 3, 4, 5 & 6
    If no Learning Rugby referee, no tackling.

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    If no Playing Rugby referee, no tackling.

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    Free Pass

    Rip Rugby - Year 3, 4 & 5
    Rugby - Year 3
    Tap and pass. Kick offs to be rotated through all players.

    Rip Rugby - Year 6, 7 & 8
    Rugby - Year 4, 5 & 6
    Punt or drop kick by scoring side. Kick offs to be rotated through all players.

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    Regular kick offs.

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    When ‘rip’ is made, player passes the ball. Rippa flags should be 33cm x 5cm.

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    When ‘rip’ is made, player passes the ball. Rip flags should be 33cm x 5cm.

    Rugby - Year 3
    A ‘Tackle Clinic’ must be carried out by all Under 8 coaches before the season kicks off. “Tummy Tackles”. No fending.

    Rugby - Year 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8
    Tackles must be below the sternum. No fending to the head, face or neck regions.

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    No kicking in general play.

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    Rugby - Year 3, 4, 5 & 6
    Yes, but encourage running and passing.

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    Yes.

  • No lineout lifting in any Grade or Year.

    Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    No lineouts.

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    Always 3 in the lineout, these are to be uncontested.

    Rugby - Year 3 & 4

    No lineouts.

    Rugby - Year 5
    Always 5 in the lineout. Lineouts uncontested.

    Rugby - Year 6 Always 5 in the lineout. Lineouts can be contested.

    Rugby - Under 12, Under 13 (Year 7 & 8)
    Always 8 in the lineout. Lineouts can be contested.

  • Safety is paramount in Scrums.

    Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    No scrums.

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    Always 3 in a scrum. No contest and no pushing.

    Rugby - Year 3 & 4

    No scrums, restart with tap and pass.

    Rugby - Year 5 & 6
    Always 5 in a scrum. No contest and no pushing.

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    Always 8 in the scrum. Contest and pushing - the push is limited to half a metre maximum. A ‘Scrum Factory’ must be carried out by all U12 coaches.

  • If a score blow-out occurs (eg 35+ at halftme), both coaches MUST meet and come to an agreement as to how they can generate a more even contest.

    All Grades and Years
    Try = 5 points.

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    No conversions.

    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    No conversions.

    Rugby - Year 3, 4, 5 & 6
    Conversion taken from in front of posts either drop goal or punt. Points don’t count.

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    Conversions not to be taken further out than the 15m line.

  • Rippa Rugby - Year 1 & 2
    Rip Rugby - Year 3-8
    Rugby - Year 3, 4, 5, & 6
    Tap and pass.

    Rugby - Year 7 & 8
    Normal.

  • All Grades and Years

    All players must play a minimum of half a game (this is to include at least two full quarters).

    Rolling substitutions are not permitted.

    Substitutions may be made at half time or approximately half way through each half when the referee will allow and signal a Substitution Break.

Printable Posters and Pocket Guides for Junior Grades