Should giant held-back-a-year child be allowed to play rugby out of year group?

[Onthetrain75]

There is a child in my son’s year 7 who would technically be a year 8 but has been held back for academic reasons. He’s a sturdy big child, I would say around 5ft 6 and 10 stone.

He’s a keen rugby player and is playing down a year to be with his class mates. But I’ve heard rumblings from other schools that parents aren’t happy he is playing under 12s when he should be under 13. Mostly I think they are concerned about safety of the other kids though I think they probably would also prefer the scores if he didn’t play.

I don’t know whether to say anything to his mum about the bad feeling that I know this is causing. What do you think?

YANBU - let him play with his mates
YABU - given his size and age he should be playing under 13s.

How old is he?

Is this the school team?

I dont know about school rugby but in out of school rugby and football (only sports I know about) you can't play down a year you can play your age group or one year above only. Is it a private school? Are these internal.school games only?

Im sure his mum has heard the rumblings it's probably another thing she has heard about her son! I would leave it up to the team coach and let them sort any "rumblings"

sorry see that it is. I would have thought should play with age group.

Say nothing! How did you hear these ‘rumblings’? And how would parents from other schools know he has out of year? Did you tell them?

YABU to call him a giant child, but yes, he should play his age group.

He should be playing in his year or up a year. His club should be facilitating that.

If you’re concerned about the safely of your child speak to the coach. Otherwise say nothing. And definitely not to the mother!

I wouldn’t talk to his mum, but if people are really concerned they could talk to the school pe dept.
It’s hard though as at that age they are all over the place with height and size, depending on when puberty has kicked in. You get huge disparities in the same age bracket. What are the inter school tournament rules? Feels like it would be fairer for him to play with the older age group but not sure what their rules say.

Kids have growth spurts and go through puberty at different times so if he isn't huge and fast I would let it go.

Absolutely nothing to do with you, unless you are the PE teacher or run the rugby club. Don’t get involved !

He should be playing with his age group. TBH, I'm surprised he's allowed to play down a year.

That said, I do know a boy who played down a year but he was very small. IIRC, he had a "medical exception" or similar as it would not have been safe to play with his age group.

Why would you think it would/should be your place to say something OP?

Do you work in the school? Or are you close to the mum?

Don’t they usually play non-contact rugby in yr 7?

Don’t they usually play non-contact rugby in yr 7?

No. It's contact.

Im assuming this is school not a union affiliated team.

Is the school rugby teacher familiar with the RFU/WRU/Scottish rugby rules and is the school insured ?
I’m not too sure about school rugby but for a registered team this would definitely not be allowed for safety reasons. Age grade rugby is based on birthdate in the academic year not school year group. Older children aren’t allowed to “play down” but younger children can “ play up” as long as parents agree.
I’ve seen huge variations in size and build in same age group players particularly from 13 to 17 when they all grow at different rates but to knowingly put a older (physically bigger) boy to play is negligent and a risk to the other boys.
It’s a huge safety issue I’ve seen concussions and broken bones on the rugby field with same age players.

It’s a shame for him but he should be playing with players his age and his happiness shouldn’t trump other boys safety.

Weekend team his age
School team his year group.
My son has year 7s over 6ft in his year group.

I wouldn’t get involved but he should be playing with his age group. We had a similar situation at school, but with a swimmer so not a physical danger etc, but he was very good so by Year 5 he had to join his actual year group (year 6) as it was very unfair competitively.

'Held back for academic reasons' is unusual in the state system, unless he is an August born and was permitted to defer back in Reception.

My kids play rugby at a club and we had a child want to play U9's as that was his school year. He was actually a year older and held back for reasons I don't know. He was very firmly told he had to play U10's, there is no playing down allowed under RFU juniors rules as far as I'm aware.

@Rogue1001

Why would you think it would/should be your place to say something OP?

Do you work in the school? Or are you close to the mum?

Don’t they usually play non-contact rugby in yr 7?

My daughter is U9's (Y4) and they start contact this year.

@ittakes2

Weekend team his age School team his year group. My son has year 7s over 6ft in his year group.

Why do you think a weekend team should be different to a school team? They are both playing matches agains other boys.

Ds2 (year 8) plays football for local team and also school. Some boys are just enormous, some are tiny. What are you supposed to do?

God this is so none of your business. If you have safety concerns and are directly involved raise them with a teacher or person running the club.

I though sports were age based rather than school year based?

Anyhow I’d let the school deal with and wouldn’t mention it to the parent.

When you say the child is a year lower than he would normally be, are you talking by a lot or a little. If he’s born in August he’ll only be a couple of weeks older than the oldest in the year.

My ds was this height in year 7 . I don't know how much he weighed, but I reckon he was probably 9 stone - he was well into puberty. It's a difficult time from this point of view, as some kids shoot up before others.