Everything that you need to know for the U13 & U15 10-a-side season
Fixtures & Standings updated each week!
As an official affiliate Sub-Union with Rugby Alberta (RA) the Edmonton Rugby Union (ERU) is responsible for the governance, administration, and organisation of all official member clubs and their registered members wishing to participate in local ERU competitions.
At the writing of this document, the 2022 Rugby Alberta Rules & Regulations (RA R&R) is the most current available documentation governing “all Clubs and registered players residing within or visiting the province of Alberta and playing Rugby under the jurisdiction of Rugby Alberta or one of its Sub-Unions” (p.4). The intent of these Edmonton Rugby Union Rules and Regulations (ERU R&R) is to provide regional-specific rulings and law clarification for ERU U13 & U15 rugby competitions.
The ERU R&R align with the RA R&R, RUgby Canada Age Grade Law Variations, and the World Rugby Laws of the Game (WR Laws). Where necessary and when deemed appropriate, the ERU R&R will refer and/or defer to the RA R&R and all rulings within are to be “interpreted in a manner consistent with the principles of fair play, sportsmanship and of allowing for maximum participation” (p.02)
It is the responsibility of all individuals to review and be familiar with the RA R&R – more information and access to the appropriate documents may be found at https://www.rugbyalberta.com/policy/
This document is designed to uphold the principles and values of the ERU Strategic Plan, specifically “Advancing Rugby Culture and Building Community” and “Ensuring Safety and Welfare”.
Please refer to RA R&R Section 13: Protests and Section 14: Interpretations for information.
For ERU divisions all communication shall first be made with the ERU board prior to escalation to the RA Rules and Regulations Committee.
Please refer to RA R&R Section 15: Sanctioned Tournaments for complete information.
Online event sanctioning applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance of the event. Additional information may be found on this RA website: https://www.rugbyalberta.com/sanctioning/
Teams outside of Alberta wishing to attend ERU events must do the following:
Confirm with the ERU Junior Director that the ERU has submitted a sanction request for all the dates they will be participating a minimum of fourteen (14) days before each event. Failure to do so may incur a $50 fee
Submit their team rosters to their Provincial Sport Organization three (3) business days prior to each event.
Please refer to the ERU Field Use Agreement for the responsibilities of the Field Provider (Host Club) and Field User (Visiting Club).
Facility Maintenance
The playing surface (pitch) and ball, and players clothing are to follow the requirements as defined by WR Laws: Law 1, 2, 3. Pitch size for U13 & U15 10-a-side is provided on the appropriate Game Cards in Documentation
Technical zone
The Host Club is responsible to clearly identify two (2) technical zones (home and away bench) per pitch, ideally on the OPPOSITE side of spectators. These zones must be marked with cones and/or turf paint to clearly identify where replacement players, water carriers, and coaches must remain until required.
Spectator Control
The behaviour of spectators remains the responsibility of the host Club. The ERU reserves the right and the responsibility to sanction offending individuals and/or the Club to whom they are affiliated.
Spectators who, in the discretion of the match official, are acting in an offensive or unruly manner shall be removed to no less than one hundred metres from the playing enclosure.
Noncompliance of a spectator ordered to leave a match will result in the game being called and the team to whom the spectator is affiliated to be found in default and sanctioned in accordance with RA R&R, Section 09: Defaults.
Offensive or abusive conduct towards ERU or RA Executives, Match Officials, Touch Judges, Assistant Referees, players and other spectators or other participants in the Game of Rugby at any event held under the jurisdiction of either the ERU or RA may result in sanctions being imposed against the offending party and/or the Club to whom they affiliate.
Disciplinary procedures for offensive and/or abusive behaviour will be administered by the ERU’s VP of Discipline and will be escalated to Rugby Alberta when deemed appropriate.
Such disciplinary procedures will be initiated by an incident report being submitted by an interested party in writing (letter, e-mail or fax), within 72 hours of the incident occurrence. The submission of an incident report after 72 hours shall not automatically preclude the ERU or RA from acting.
Please refer to RA R&R Section 04: Match Official(s) Responsibilities for additional information regarding Discipline Reporting, Match Official(s) (MO) no-show/replacements, etc. Documentation and FAQs are also be found at https://www.edmontonrugbyreferees.com/
Review the playing surface, weather and air quality conditions to ensure it is safe to play;
Meet with a representative from each team and confirm the following:
Rosters are complete and accurate according to the Roster Requirements outlined in Team Responsibilities.
Rosters are to be complete online wherever possible
Ensure each team supplies a "knowledgeable" touch judge where necessary (i.e. If no accredited Assistant Referees are allocated to the match as per Section 6.5.e Additional Match Requirements)
Officiate the match to the best of their ability according to the ERU Age Grade Law Variations and World Rugby Laws of the Games - 10s Variations
Retain discretion over safety, with the option to refuse to continue play should the playing environment be deemed unsafe.
Meet with a representative from each team to confirm the score is accurate and correct.
Enter the final score and number of tries scored by each team to the online MO form within 60 minutes after conclusion of the match(es).
Complete match incident reporting as required within 24 hours, preferably within 60 minutes after conclusion of the match (es).
All member clubs must be in good standing with RA and the ERU in order to enter a team into all leagues and competitions.
Team declarations provided after the first preseason week shall be deemed permanent for the season such that festival schedules will be created for the entirity of the season. Teams wishing to withdraw from a festival without penalty most provide written notice no less than 48 hours in advance.
Please refer to RA R&R Section 2.7: Player Eligibility for additional information.
All players taking part in ERU U13 & U15 competitions must be registered and listed on an official team sheet prior to taking the field.
Both Online and Paper Rosters are required for all Festivals
Paper Rosters
Teams are to provide complete paper rosters during the coaches meeting to the Festival Commissioner. All paper rosters will be reviewed against the digital rosters.
Digital Rosters
Online team sheets will be available for each club on Sportlomo. Clubs on combined teams are to list their players on their appropriate club teamsheet. More information about digital team sheets process will be provided to Junior Directors.
Rosters must be complete prior to kickoff, such that:
All players are wearing the appropriate jersey number;
Front row players are indicated with “FR”;
Dual membership players are indicated with “G”;
Foreign players are indicated with “I”
Any substitutions or revisions to the digital team sheet must be done online within 24 hours of the game’s completion.
Failure to complete or revise a team sheet within the 24-hour limit will result in a defaulted game for the offending team. No change in the team sheet or addition to the team sheet shall be permitted after the commencement of the game except:
Where a player is late and their name has been included on the team sheet prior to the game, they will be permitted to participate;
When a player has been inadvertently omitted from the team sheet, the respective club has 24 hours after the conclusion of the match to make the necessary addition.
Failure to correctly complete all details of the team sheet may result in such player being ineligible for further play and the team being subject to sanctioning.
Please refer to RA R&R Section 2.0: Club Responsibilities & Definitions and the RA Website: Registration for additional information.
Full season registration is REQUIRED for all players participating in U13 & U15 rugby. Memberships are valid from 01 May to 30 April of the next calendar year.
Domestic Transfers. A player wishing to transfer from one Club to another must submit their request for transfer through the online registration system five (5) business days prior to the match they wish to participate in.
International Transfers. In accordance with World Rugby Regulation 4, when moving to another country all players (both youth & adults) are required to obtain international clearance from their current Union in order to play rugby for a club in another Union.
Please visit https://rugbycanada.sportlomo.com/outbound/ for information from Rugby Canada regarding International player transfers.
The Rugby Alberta Application for Dispensation form must be completed and submitted to the Rugby Alberta Office seven (7) days before the player wishes to participate in any rugby-related activities in the requested different age category.
Please refer to RA R&R Section 16: Dispensation Policy for complete information, to review the RA Age Dispensation Policy, and to access Dispensation documentation.
The first weekend of May shall be the Preseason such that all matches follow the ERU Graded Intro to Contact Protocol and no festival points shall be awarded.
Click here for U13 Tackle & Ruck Procedure Game Cards
Click here for U15 Tackle & Ruck Procedure Game Cards
Match 1, Full Game - Tackle Level 2 Ruck Level 2.
Match 2, Full Game - Tackle Level 3, Ruck level 3
After 1 week of preseason teams will be declared for the season and the full season schedule will be developed bases on these declarations/
Festival fixtures will be released the Friday evening prior to each Sunday Festival.
Changes to the festival schedule due to the withdrawal of teams shall occur Sunday morning prior to the first kick off(s).
U13 Festival Playing Window: 10am - 2pm
Mandatory coaches meeting & paper roster submission at 9:30am
U15 Festival Playing Window: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Mandatory coaches meeting & paper roster submission at 1:00pm
The ERU maintains the right to schedule make-up festivals and/or games at times and venues that it may designate. Friday and Sunday are the preferred days for make-up games but are subject to Match Official and facility availability.
A festival may be postponed and played at a later date, in its entirety, in the following circumstances:
Where weather conditions make the proper and safe play of the game impossible. This will first be governed by any ERU and Rugby Alberta weather policies and then be governed by the discretion of the Match Official.
Where a game that has commenced cannot be completed due to circumstances beyond the control of either team.
Once a festival has commenced teams are obligated to fulfil fixtures and may NOT postpone nor cancel games.
Teams may withdraw from a festival without penalty by providing written notice no less than 48 hours in advance.
The World Rugby Concussion Protocol will be in effect during the festivals so please ensure you are familiar with it. If in doubt - sit them out!
All players MUST BE REGISTERED before stepping on the pitch.
There will be a certified First-Aider provided by the ERU available for emergencies at each field. These individuals are for Medical situations only NOT taping and strapping.
All 10s festivals will have pools with two (2), three (3) or four (4) teams in each. The winners and/or runners-up of each pool will progress through to the Grand Final and/or Semi-Final to decide the Tournament Champion. All teams are guaranteed three (3) games and will play no more than four (4) games per festival.
The following points system will be used during the pool matches
Win: 3
Draw: 2
Loss: 1
Forfeit: 0
Should teams be equal on points at the end of the Pool rounds the following will apply:
The team with the best points differential will progress. (this is calculated by total points scored for (F) subtracted by the points scored Against (A). e.g. 150 points for - 60 points Against = +90)
Then, if equal the team with the best percentages (total points scored for divided by total points scored against)
Then, most victorious team from the pool game (if applicable)
Then, most tries
Then, toss of a coin
If a Semi Final (or bracket) match is drawn:
The team that scored the first try wins.
If no tries are scored, the team that scored the first points wins.
If no points, 3 players from each team shall kick drop goals, in the middle of the pitch 10m from the points, directly in front *drop kicks are to occur on an empty pitch
If no successful drop goals, the winner shall be decided by a 100m (full pitch) foot race between 1 player nominated by their own team *foot race is to occur on an empty pitch
If a Grand Final is drawn:
In the event of a draw during the Grand Final, Golden Point extra time shall be played but is not to exceed five (5) minutes each way. Before extra-time starts, the referee organises a toss in the same way as before the match. The first point scorer during extra time shall be declared the winner.
Should scores still be equal following the completion of extra time, the following will apply:
The team that scored the first try wins
If no tries are scored, the team that score the first points wins
If no points are scored, the team that receives the first penalty wins
If no penalties, the winner shall be decided by a foot race between 1 player nominated by their own team
1. Serious injury or inclement weather abandonments
The score at the time that the game was finished shall be recorded as the final score.
2. Foul play abandonments
Competition points will not be awarded to either side if evidence from the referee or Festival Commissioner proves (following Conduct Review Process) that both teams participated in foul play which led to the match being abandoned.
Penalties for games abandoned due to foul play will be at the discretion of the Festival Commissioner.
Max of twenty (20) players per team roster
10 players per team on field - 5x forwards & 5x backs
Each game will consist of two x ten minute halves with a 2 minute interval (2 x 10min halves + 2 min half time)
There will be NO TIME OFF in any match except for injury in the second half of the Grand Final
U13 - 80 minutes
U15 - 90 minutes
Rolling substitutions - made only when the ball is dead and only with the permission of the referee
All matches will follow ERU Age Grade Law Variations in alignment with World Rugby 10s law variations
Click here to view U13 10s Law Variations
Click here to view U15 10s Law Variations
A team shall be considered to have defaulted a match in the following circumstances:
Failure to fulfil an approved fixture of Rugby Alberta and/or the ERU;
Failure to have a minimum of seven (7) players on the field by scheduled kick-off time
Failure to fulfil ‘Game On’ as outlined below
Playing an ineligible or unregistered player as defined by the RA R&R
Failure on the part of the home team, after a second warning pursuant, to provide adequate field markings and equipment in accordance to these rules and regulation and in the World Rugby laws of the game, where in the Referees discretion a fixture cannot be played. In this event the home team will default the game;
Failure to complete the online team sheet within 24 hours of the completion of the match.
First Default. The team shall be deducted ten (10) points from the league standings.
Second Default. The team shall be deducted fifteen (15) points from the standings and they will NOT be permitted to participate in the playoffs.
Third Default. If a team defaults for a third (3rd) time in a season, that team will be suspended from league play for the remainder of the competition and will be fined $250.00
The score of a defaulted game shall be 20-0 in favour of the non-defaulting team.
Teams unable to field a full 10-a-side team may agree to play 7-a-side (2x 7min halves).
If a team is unable to play 7s the game is deemed a default,
Teams may elect to share players to ensure the match goes ahead as normal
In the event there is a problem with similar colour uniforms, the HOME team shall wear uniforms of contrasting colours.
The home team must provide the game ball.
The match score is to be reviewed with the Match Official by both teams.
If no accredited Match Official (MO) has been appointed or if a MO fails to show for a game, the two teams may agree upon and appoint a registered and certified MO. If they cannot agree, the home team appoints the registered and certified match official. This is in accordance with World Rugby Law (6.A.1). If no certified Match Official is available the game will not be played and the fixture will be postponed and rescheduled
If no accredited Assistant Referees are allocated to the match, each team must supply a "knowledgeable" touch judge.
Teams will be awarded points based on their finishing positions in each regular season festival.
Teams are not required to participate in all festivals but must compete in at least ONE regular season festival to be eligible for the Championship Tournament
The total accumulated festival points will aid in determining appropriate seeding for the end-of-season Championship tournament
The Championship tournament will determine the ERU Junior 10s Champion
Festival Standing Points Allocation
1st - 10pts
2nd - 8pts
3rd - 6pts
4th - 5pts
5th - 4pts
6th - 3pts
7th - 2pts
8th - 1pt
Preseason
Sun 04 May 2025 @ LA Crude Sports Club – 4205 48 Ave, Leduc, AB T9E 5T3
Regular Season
Sun 11 May 2025 @ Nor’Westers Athletic Association: Ivor Dent Sports Park – 711 50 St SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 1A4
Sun 18 May 2025 - Long weekend – no matches
Sun 25 May 2025 @ Leprechaun Tigers RFC – John Fry Sport Park: 3004 92 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6N 1G8
Sun 01 Jun 2025 @ St Albert RFC – 51 Riel Dr, St. Albert, AB T8N 5B4
Sun 08 Jun 2025 @ Pirates RFC – 1904 167 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6L7
Sun 15 Jun 2025 @ Strathcona Druids RFC – Lynn Davies Park: 23360 Twp Rd 524A, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4S7
Championship Tournament