As a result, the WRU Community Rugby department recommended the lowering of the age at which mixed rugby can be played to the end of the U11 season.
This recommendation has now been unanimously adopted by the Community Game Board and will come into effect from the 23/24 Season.
The recommendation was made after taking on board all the evidence and to help meet the WRU’s objective of engaging 10,000 women and girls in regular rugby activities by 2026, while enhancing the opportunities for girls within the pathway across all ages,
The Community Rugby department will engage with clubs across Wales to ensure the smooth transition of players into their local WRU Female Hub. A mapping exercise has been completed by the community team and will support teams ahead of the 23/24 season.
The review looked at a range of areas to further support the growth of the female game in Wales.
These areas included season and competition structure, formats of the game and measures that could be put in place to help Welsh rugby structures to adapt to improve the female player pathway and support player development.
The WRU launched the review last spring after recording a rise of more than 40% in participation following the easing of Covid restrictions. By the end of the last season, that increase had risen to 52% since returning from lockdown.
The review has also included a consultation process involving more than 1700 players, coaches, parents, stakeholders and collaborated with experts in varying fields including medical, physiological sport development, and other sectors.
The key recommendations of the review unanimously approved by the WRU’s Community Game Board are as follows:
• To review and amend the current female playing pathway to ensure it clearly develops in line with the desire of those within the female community game to develop the 15-a-side game
• The WRU will further develop the player pathway and competition structures alongside the community-based female hubs to support player and game development.
For example:
– Skill development centres will be enhanced around Wales to support the work of the Female Hubs
Ebbw Vale Jesters Girls Rugby Training
– a key objective of the 104 Hub Officers based in schools, colleges and universities around Wales is to generate greater female rugby opportunities and to support the Female Hubs across Wales. Since September, Hub Officers have actively supported 200 girls teams within their school or college with meaningful playing opportunities via fixtures, festivals or tournaments.
• Based on insight from within the game, female age bandings will be amended to U8s, U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s and U18s
• The maximum age of mixed rugby will be reduced from U13s to U11s following the conclusion of the current season (see further explanation below)
The season structure will be amended dependant on age :
– U8s and U10s March – July (mixed rugby will be available to all players in this age group during the traditional season and players can be dual registered with a female hub and a mixed rugby team);
– U12s & U14s – September to July with a winter break December to February;
– U16s, 18s and adult rugby – traditional season (September to May)
• WRU community to look at further opportunities for alternative playing formats such as sevens and touch rugby to further engage and recruit new players.
• The localised competition structure and effectiveness of the Premiership and Championship will be reviewed. There is agreement to support the top level of domestic female rugby in Wales, while developing other layers of the performance game.
• Governance. Each region will form a ‘Regional Female Advisory Group’ made up of representatives from Female Hubs, senior clubs, education establishments and external members. The aim will be to reach a minimum of 80% female representation in these groups and they will lead to the formation of a ‘National Female Advisory group’ made up of the Rugby officers – Female game and a representative from the Regional advisory groups. The national group will report into the Community Game Board’s sub committees and include representation from Community Game Board members.
Mixed age review:
Girls Festival at Principality Stadium
Factors taken into consideration during additional consultation period (April – September 2022)
• Drop-out from girls in mixed rugby after starting secondary school alongside change in attitude from both boys and girls towards mixed rugby.
• Opinions expressed in survey and in forums on the subject
• The growth of female provision at WRU female hubs in U12 and U14 age groups (previously there was limited female provision in these age groups)
• Player welfare concerns due to various factors including biological differences following the onset of puberty, and attitudes towards females in the game at this level
