JUNIOR RUGBY

Junior players are assigned to teams based on age and weight. New 2024 Auckland Rugby criteria has changed to align with school years i.e if your child is in Year 1 at school they will play in a Year 1 rugby team.

For the 2024 season the grades available are:

School YearContact TypeGradeGrade InfoTeam SizeField Size
Year 1RippaU6Boys & Girls7 a-sideQuarter field
Year 2RippaU7Boys & Girls7 a-sideQuarter field
Year 3TackleU8Open10 a-side40m field
Year 3TackleU8 restrictedUnder 31kg10 a-side40m field
Year 4TackleU9Open10 a-sideHalf field
Year 4TackleU9 restrictedUnder 35kg10 a-sideHalf field
Year 3 or 4RippaU9 Girls
7 a-side

Half field

Year 3 or 4Rippa U9 Mixed
7 a-sideHalf field
Year 5TackleU10Open10 a-sideHalf field
Year 5TackleU10 restrictedUnder 40kg10 a-sideHalf field
Year 6 TackleU11Open10 a-side3/4 field
Year 6TackleU11 restrictedUnder 46kg10 a-side3/4 field
Year 5 or 6RippaU11 Girls
7 a-sideHalf field
Year 5 or 6RippaU11 Mixed
7 a-sideHalf field
Year 7TackleU12 Open15 a-sideFull field
Year 7TackleU12 restrictedUnder 55kg15 a-sideFull field
Year 8TackleU13 Open15 a-sideFull field
Year 8TackleU13 restrictedUnder 60kg15 a-sideFull field
Year 7 or 8RippaU13 Boys
7 a-sideHalf field
Year 7 or 8RippaU13 Girls
7 a-sideHalf field
Year 8TackleU13 GirlsOpen10 a-side3/4 field



For the 2024 season we will try and best fit our teams in one of the available grades. It does not mean that we will be able to field a team in every available grade as it will depend on how many players we have for a particular grade.

  • Max weights are end of season weights, i.e. maintained throughout the season

RIPPA RUGBY allows children to play non-tackle rugby using tags that can be pulled (ripped) off to show the tackle instead of contact. It encourages juniors to share possession between them in a very safe game as kicking is not allowed. New grades for 2024 have been introduced to allow mixed teams of boys and girls ages 8-12, playing on a Saturday. 

JUNIOR TACKLE RUGBY is really fun and simple to pick up, it helps you with your ball handling and possession skills which contribute greatly to your overall rugby skills!