Skip to content

Dispensation

SJRU Process for Dispensations

Please ensure that you read and follow:
1. Read – all the information below that applies to your situation (ask your Club President for assistance)
2. Parent to complete the Age Grade Dispensation Form or relevant Consent form (as below)
3. Parent to email Club &  dispensations@sjru.rugby (keeping the Club in the loop)
4. Reply email will list Schedule of Assessment Clinics to book into.
5. Player is assessed at Clinic by Independent Qualified Assessors
6. Assessor returns assessment to dispensations@sjru.rugby
7. Decision is made taking into account many conditions including player assessment and Club & current team configuration.
8. Parent and Club are notified of outcome.

Player Dispensation – extract from Rugby Australia Web Site

The safety of all participants must be the primary consideration in all participation decisions, overriding all other considerations.
Rugby should be safe, inclusive and fair. Every effort must be made for Rugby participants with broadly compatible physical development in conjunction with ability and/or experience to play with and against each other. The safety of all participants must be the primary consideration in all participation decisions, overriding all other considerations.
The Participation Policy (and the associated dispensation procedures) cover age grade, senior rugby, mixed gender, gender identity and disability.

Age Grade Dispensation

Whilst the starting policy position is that a player may play in the age group he/she is turning in the relevant calendar year and in the age group one year above, the Size for Age Guidelines and Age Grade Dispensation Procedure allow players to play in the most suitable competition
All of the relevant information for Size for Age and Age Grade Dispensation can be found here:

Mixed Gender Dispensation

Rugby Australia supports boys and girls playing rugby together up to and including the year in which they turn 12 years of age. Rugby Australia is constantly seeking to grow the number of girls’ competitions throughout Australia so that both boys and girls have access to regular rugby. However, where that opportunity for regular rugby is not available, Rugby Australia wishes to ensure that these girls are afforded the opportunity to continue their participation in our game, so long as it is safe for them to do so, through the Mixed Gender Dispensation Procedure.
More information on Mixed Gender Dispensation can be found here:

U7s Playing U8s Procedure

Rugby Australia’s starting position is that players turning 7 in that calendar year should play in the Under 7 Age Grade, however there are rare occasions where individual players may apply to participate in the Under 8 Age Grade by undertaking the Under 7s Playing U8s Procedure.

Disability Dispensation

Rugby Australia would like to provide the opportunity for players with a physical and/or intellectual disability to play in an age grade that is appropriate to their physical development, ability and experience so long as it is safe for them and others to do so through the Disability Dispensation Procedure.
Important documents for Disability Dispensation can be found here:

Gender Identity Dispensation

Rugby Australia is committed to supporting a player’s participation in the gender with which they identify, provided that it is safe for them and other participants. In order to ensure safe participation the Gender Identity Dispensation Procedure must be followed.
Important documents for Gender Identity Dispensation can be found here:

Common Documentation on Dispensation

The following documents are used in multiple dispensation procedures.

Assessing Coach Program

As player dispensations are based on an assessment of the players physical development and skill, safety and experience it is important that the Assessing Coach is appropriately trained and has access to the required information and resources for conducting the assessment.
Coaches can enrol in the Assessing Coach Program via the Rugby Learning Centre.
Key information on Assessing Coach Programs can be found here:

*May assist you calculating the participants peak height velocity if you are not using the online version of the Assessor Coach Report.