What's new for the 2024 season?

There are a number of changes made by the WRFU to the grades for the 2022 season with more changes made for the 2024 season.

Weights and Grades

Grades have shifted from the "Under X" model using year of birth to grade players, to “Year X” using school years instead.  For example the Under 6 grade is now called the Year 0/1 grade, the Under 8 grade is now called the Year 3 grade. 

The weight limit for all grades has been removed entirely.

In 22/23 the former Under 12 and Under 13 grades were combined into a Year 7/ 8 grade.  This has been reverted back to two seperate grades. Should a club be unable to field a seperate Year 7 and Year 8 team, they can combine the players and they will be pooled based on ability.

Should you have any concerns about how the new grade structure affects your player, please get in touch: [email protected]

Small Blacks Changes 

Read about the NZ Rugby changes to Small Blacks Rugby here. 

Many of these changes were trialled by the WRFU in the 2021/2022/2023 season, and will be in place for the 2024 season and beyond.