Youth

The East Penn Rugby Union’s non-contact, co-ed, U-15 rugby programs operate in June, July and early August. This time period was selected to fill the void between the end of Little League baseball and the beginning of Pop Warner football. The U-15 season culminates with a full-scale tournament involving all teams, and a family picnic.

The EPRU’s U-15 rugby program is based on the "non-contact" or two-hand-touch version of rugby developed and promoted by both USA Rugby and the International Rugby Board. The laws of the game are very simple, and are specially designed with player safety in mind. Seven to ten players per team on a 40 meter by 60 meter pitch. Scrums and lineouts are uncontested. No rucks. No tackling. Players have two steps (or two seconds) to pass the ball after being tagged. The referee is granted special discretion to increase the two-second rule for younger or less skilled players. In this way, players of different ages, sizes and skill levels can compete safely and successfully on the same field, at the same time.

Most teams in our region practice two afternoons or evenings per week, and schedule matches on Sunday afternoons.

Team entries in our 2003 program included: Ambler Dragons, Hatfield Hurricanes, Lansdale Lightning, Warrington Wolves and also an extremely successful U-15 organization in Wilmington, DE. In total, about 200 children participated in U-15 rugby during summer 2003.

Additional U-15 teams are planned for 2004. We are always looking for volunteers to help with starting new teams. A special start-up kit, including a very informative videotape, is available from USA Rugby. The start-up process is not difficult or overly time-consuming, and there is nothing more rewarding than providing kids with a terrific summer of rugby.

If you are interested in getting involved with U-15 rugby, please contact USA Rugby Youth Development Officer Jim Hall at (215) 641-2525 or halljamesr@yahoo.com