T1 Rugby (non-contact format of rugby)
T1 Rugby can be played anywhere (you only need a ball to get started), can be mixed gender and is easy to introduce and deliver. There are lots of ways to play non-contact rugby: as a “pitch up and play” style event, internal festivals or games against other institutions.
Check with our network of college partners such as AoC Sport to see what’s available. This year, we will have localised inter-college competitions (March), Regional Festivals (April–May) and National Finals (May), with registration links to be added soon.
T1 Rugby is:
- Easy to adapt and suitable for any group of players.
- It looks and feels more like the game of rugby union, with the same tactical problems and rugby-specific skills.
- Suitable for all shapes and sizes – a key selling point of rugby union.
- A great way to introduce people to the contact game if they want, or a game in its own right.
T1 Rugby gets players active and is a great way to make friends, develop social skills and give opportunities to become a leader, or even referee. England Rugby has a suite of physical and online resources as well as access to playing opportunities such as our T1 Rugby Series, to help you get started. Find out more about delivering T1 Rugby.
T1 Rugby Series
T1 Rugby Series is a fun, inclusive national programme, open to every school and college in England, to provide opportunity for teams to play at Allianz Stadium.
T1 Rugby Series is the evolution from Touch to Twickenham which introduced new colleges to non-contact rugby.
It is player-centred, inclusive, and drives participation. It’s the same activity as before; just a slightly different game with slightly different rules.
This season we continue to evolve so every college, regardless of playing experience, can take part. If you are involved in college rugby, there is a programme of local and national activities.
What do I need to know?
- Open to teams at Year 12/13 (16s–18s).
- Parallel events for brand new teams and those with previous rugby experience.
- Eight-a-side teams with a minimum of four girls on the pitch at a time.
- Local and regional events, leading to a Finals Day in May at a central location.
- Playing to T1 Rugby rules, which will be adapted for brand new teams.
To find out more information on the T1 Rugby Series, please view our event manual.
AoC Sport Competitions
AoC Sport run and organise the various league and cup competitions. Please refer to the AoC Sport website AoC Sport Home | Association of Colleges for further details.
For specific information on:
Men’s Rugby contact
angela.eason@aoc.co.uk
Women’s Rugby contact
lia.gingell@aoc.co.uk
England Rugby Colleges 7’s Tournament
England Rugby Colleges hold a national 7’s programme each year. Competitions are run for performance and development teams for both Men and Women.
The competition is held at two venues on the same day with one being provided for the northern colleges and one for the southern colleges.
The next 7’s Tournament is on Wednesday 24th March with the tournaments being held at:
North: West Park Leeds RFC
South: Trowbridge RFC
