Weight and Age Guidelines

Players may apply for dispensation to participate in an age group one (1) year below that of their natural age (the age that they turn/become in the current calendar year). This will be approved for players who are judged to be within the required Weight Limit as listed below. 

Any participant who is granted dispensation to play down in a lower age group is NOT permitted to participate in their natural age group in the same season. 

The Community Rugby League Weight and Age Guidelines apply to tackle competitions only. 

Lower Weight limit based on approximately the 15th percentile of males in the general population.

• U6: N/A
• U7: players 21kg or under may play U6
• U8: players 23kg or under may play U7
• U9: players 26kg or under may play U8
• U10: players 29kg or under may play U9
• U11: players 33kg or under may play U10
• U12: players 37kg or under may play U11
• U13: players 42kg or under may play U12 (13s cannot play down in a mixed gender comp.)
• U14: players 48kg or under may play U13
• U15: players 53kg or under may play U14
• U16: players 55kg or under may play U15
• U17: players 58kg or under may play U16
• U18: players 60kg or under may play U17
• Players turning 19 in the current year and 62kg or under may play U18

Female Competitions

For female only dual-age competitions U14 – U18 the following Weight Dispensation limits will apply

• U14 – Players turning 13 in the current year and 38kg or under may play in U12 female only competitions
• U16 – Players turning 15 in the current year and 44kg or under may play U14
• U18 – Players turning 17 in the current year and 48kg or under may play U16
• Players turning 19 in the current year and 51kg or under may play U18

For female only dual-age competitions U13-U17 the following Weight Dispensation limits will apply:

• U15 – Players turning 14 in the current year and 42kg or under may play U13
• U17 – Players turning 16 in the current year and 47kg or under may play U15
• U18 – Players turning 18 in the current year and 49kg or under may play U17

These guidelines are approved for use within NSWRL affiliated competitions for the season in which the dispensation has been approved.  That is, any approval is for one season only.   Local League Administrators may use discretion when approving or denying dispensations based on participants previous playing record.

Players Wishing to Play Down an Age Group

These players must make application to the League to be considered for eligibility for the age group below. In this instance a NSWRL appointed official would weigh the players concerned and if eligible mark these players’ records as being eligible for the age group requested. Once weighed and verified, the player will not be required to be weighed for the remainder of the season.

Development and Junior Representative Players

Any participant that is considered a Junior Representative player as per the NSWRL Player Transfer Policy is ineligible to apply for dispensation under the Weight and Age guidelines.

Any participant that is considered a District / Regional Development player may be refused dispensation under the Weight and Age guidelines at the sole discretion of the local League Administrator. 

Final Approval  

All applications are subject to final approval by NSWRL and may be reviewed at any point during a competition season.  That is, a player approved to play down an age group may have their approval removed to protect the integrity of age-based competitions.

Community Rugby League Weight Restriction Guidelines

The NSWRL and affiliated Leagues may also offer competitions utilising a Weight Restriction within an Age Group. In addition to standard Age-based competitions, competitions may be conducted using the weight restrictions below. For example, there may be an U13 Div. 1, U13 Div. 2 and an U13 Weight Restricted competition. In this case, any player weighing above the weight restriction would be required to participate in Div 1 or Div 2 rather than the Weight Restricted Division. 

Upper Weight limit based on approximately the 90th percentile of males in the general population:

• U6 & U28kg 
• U7 & U31kg
• U8 & U36kg
• U9 & U41kg
• U10 & U48kg
• U11 & U55kg
• U12 & U62kg
• U13 & U68kg
• U14 & U75kg
• U15 & U81kg 
• U16 & U84kg

Note: A player may also play above their natural age in order to comply with the above guidelines if their club does not have a team in an appropriate Division. 

Player Eligibility for Weight Restricted Competitions

Any team who nominates for a Weight Restricted Competition will be required to make their team available for weighing prior to the commencement of the competition. A NSWRL/League nominated official will then weigh each member of the team prior to them being allocated to that team and allowed to participate. Similarly, any player wishing to join the team late or player up from a lower age group must be weighed prior to taking part.

Once weighed and deemed eligible a player will not be required to be weighed again during the season. Likewise, if weighed and deemed ineligible, a player will not be permitted to be weighed again at a later date in an attempt to become eligible through losing weight.