Masters rugby league is open to anyone aged 35+ and is the perfect way to keep yourself involved with the team spirit and social aspects of playing rugby.

Our masters players play adhoc games and tournaments and often train with the first or reserve team players.

Masters Rugby League

All players must be over 35 and retired from competitive rugby league.

Competitive Rugby League is hard and physical and with the vast majority of club registered players aged under 30, it is fair to say it is a young person's sport. Or maybe not...

Masters Rugby League started in New Zealand in 1992 and progressed to Australia, enjoying great success and is currently engaging thousands of players.

Masters Rugby League can only be played by persons aged 35 or over, is strictly a social version of the sport and the rules are slightly modified to cater for the older player. There are no winners, no champions and no cup finals.

It is all in the spirit of the game rather than proving a point or settling a score.

The most important rule is

“Everyone has to buy a drink for their opposite number”.

Masters is all about Fun, Participation and Friendship

That said, Masters is still 13-a-side and is still a contact sport, in part, with some rule modifications such as:

5m rule instead of 10m
Different coloured shorts for different age groups and the rules, plus players awareness during the game, are adapted accordingly.

Tackles are modified according to age:
- White and Black short players tend to tackle each other normally
- Red short players must be physically stopped and held.
-On defence, red short players must make a definite 2 handed hold on the attacker
- Gold Short Players to tackle or be tackled need to just touch i.e. no tackling
No more than 2 players allowed in any tackle and no fending/hand-offs.
Once progress has stopped, players are preferred to succumb.
Rough and over vigorous play is not condoned; safety (to old bones) is paramount.
Passive scrums happen after nearly all infringements and turnovers.
1 marker and dummy half/acting half back must pass.
Kicks only allowed on the last tackle.
25 minutes each way with unlimited interchange.
Fixtures will be played from May-August.
For information about playing Masters Rugby League please contact:
Adie Smith (League 4 All Officer)
E: mail@adiesmith.com
M: +44 (0)7783959044