Middle School Rugby
Full contact rugby with some age-appropriate rules variations.
SELECT YOUR Middle SCHOOL RUGBY PROGRAM
Middle school rugby has flourished in Illinois since 2009 and continues to grow rapidly. For players in grades 5-8, middle school rugby is full contact rugby with some age-appropriate rules variations.
Middle school clubs play a competitive season in the spring with two age/grade-based divisions culminating in the state championships. There is also a fall developmental season of friendly matches and a summer Olympic sevens season.
Boys Seniors (U15, 6th-8th grade)
Girls Seniors (U15, 6th-8th grade)
Juniors (U13, 4th-6th grade)
Middle School Tornados
Past Champions
Junior Division (Co-Ed)
The Juniors division is a coed division for boys and girls who turn 12 on or after July 1 prior to the fall and spring seasons, primarily 5th and 6th grade players.
Senior Level (Boys & Girls)
The Seniors level is for boys and girls who turn 14 on or after July 1 prior to the fall and spring seasons, primarily 7th and 8th grade players but also older 6th grade players ineligible for the Juniors division. The fall season is coed. In the spring, there are separate divisions for boys and girls.
Junior Division Rugby
The U13 division is a coed division for boys and girls who turn 12 on or after July 1 prior to the fall and spring seasons, primarily 5th and 6th grade players.
Rules variations:
(see the coaches/parents handbook for details)
- Size 4 ball
- 70m x 50m pitch (or 1/2 full size)
- No lifting lineouts
- Uncontested scrums
- All conversion kicks from the center of the posts
- 25 minute halves
- One coach allowed on the pitch during play
Girls Senior Division Rugby
The Seniors Girls division is for girls who turn 14 on or after July 1 prior to the fall and spring seasons, primarily 7th and 8th grade players but also older 6th grade players ineligible for the U12 division. Younger girls in grades 5 and 6 are eligible to play up upon agreement of her parents and coaches.
Rules variations:
(see the coaches/parents handbook for details)
- Size 4 or 5 ball
- Lineouts non-lifting or optionally uncontested with lifting
- Contested scrums only if both teams agree and show proper training
Boys Senior Division Rugby
The Seniors Boys division is for boys who turn 14 on or after July 1 prior to the fall and spring seasons, primarily 7th and 8th grade players but also older 6th grade players ineligible for the U12 division.
Rules variations:
(see the coaches/parents handbook for details)
- Size 4 or 5 ball
- Lineouts non-lifting or optionally uncontested with lifting
- Contested scrums only if both teams agree and show proper training
Past Champions
Year | Place | Seniors (U15) | Juniors (U13) |
2022 | 1st | Huskies/N. Shore Rhinos/Chiefs | South Suburban Cobras |
2nd | Predators | N. Shore Rhinos/Crystal Lake | |
3rd | Elmhurst/Crystal Lake/Quad Cities | Naperville / Illinois Valley | |
2021 | Division 1 | ||
1st | Glen Ellyn Stingers Black | Fox Valley Predators | |
2nd | Predators / North Shore Rhinos | South Suburban Cobras | |
3rd | Naperville Crusaders | Crystal Lake/Arlington | |
Division 2 | |||
1st | Glen Ellyn Stingers Yellow | Naperville / Illinois Valley | |
2nd | West Suburban Barbarians | Jr. Friars / West Suburban | |
3rd | Jr. Friars / Elmhurst | Fox Valley Predators | |