At Orrell RUFC, the safety and welfare of our young players are paramount. Ensuring that every player is correctly registered and eligible to play is an important part of our responsibilities as a club.

All players in our Mini & Junior Section must complete the relevant RFU registration requirements. Parents, guardians, coaches and team managers all have a role to play in ensuring that player information is accurate and kept up to date.

RFU Player Registration

Under RFU Age Grade regulations, clubs must ensure that their young players are registered in accordance with the applicable RFU requirements and timescales.

Parents and guardians should ensure that their child's registration is completed promptly when joining Orrell RUFC and that all relevant personal, contact and medical information is accurate.

Our team managers and age-group leads can provide guidance if you need assistance with the registration process.

Player Eligibility & Representative Rugby

Eligibility to represent a Constituent Body or take part in representative rugby is governed by the applicable RFU regulations and competition rules.

Eligibility may depend on factors such as a player's school, place of residence, place of birth, registered club membership or previous representative appearances.

Membership of a Developing Player Programme (DPP), Elite Player Development Group (EPDG) or rugby academy does not, in itself, automatically establish eligibility to represent a particular Constituent Body.

In certain circumstances, exceptions may be permitted under the applicable regulations. These must be considered and approved by the appropriate authority.

For advice on representative eligibility, please consult the current RFU regulations or speak to the relevant club official.

Photo ID Cards & Player Identification

Photo identification may be required to verify a player's identity and age for certain matches, festivals, competitions or representative activities.

The RFU's guidance and the requirements of the relevant competition or event should always be followed.

As young players grow and their appearance changes, photographs should be reviewed periodically to ensure that identification remains reliable.

Orrell RUFC's existing club policy is to operate its Photo ID Card process for players from U13 upwards. Team managers should ensure that any required identification is available for inspection when requested.

Where a competition or event requires registration cards, photographic identification or evidence of a dispensation, the relevant documents must be available in accordance with its rules.

Playing Out of Age Grade

Playing outside a player's normal age grade is subject to specific RFU regulations and safeguards.

Any proposed arrangement must be assessed in accordance with the current regulations, including the relevant eligibility criteria, player welfare considerations and approval requirements.

Parents should not assume that a player can automatically play in a different age group. Please speak to your age-group lead or the club's Safeguarding Officer for guidance before any arrangements are made.

RFU Guidance & Regulations

For the latest information on Age Grade rugby, player eligibility and safeguarding, please consult the official RFU resources:

England Rugby: englandrugby.com
RFU Codes of Practice www.englandrugby.com/codesofpractice
RFU Safeguarding: www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding

Alternatively, you can find all Orrell RUFC Safeguarding information here on our website: Orrell RUFC Safeguarding

Please note that RFU regulations and guidance may be updated. The current published regulations and any applicable competition rules take precedence over general guidance on this page.

Player Records & Data Protection

Player registration information and identification documents must be handled securely and in accordance with the club's data protection procedures and applicable data protection legislation.

Access should be restricted to authorised individuals who need the information to carry out their club responsibilities.

Player records must be retained and disposed of in accordance with the club's retention policy and any applicable RFU requirements. Records should not be destroyed solely because a player leaves the club without first checking the relevant retention requirements.

Need Further Advice?

If you have questions about player registration, eligibility, identification requirements or playing out of age grade, please speak to your Team Coach, age-group lead or the Orrell RUFC Safeguarding Officer.

We want every young player to enjoy their rugby in a safe, supportive and properly managed environment.

#PlayToEnjoy — Keeping the Future Black and Amber