Player Eligibility
Red Mountain Youth Rugby plays teams in 6 different division: 4 in the Youth division and 2 in the High School division of USA Rugby. To be eligible to play for our High School teams, a boy/girl MUST be currently enrolled full time in a high school in the state of Arizona, have been at that school since the commencement of the fall semester and be under 19 years of age on the 1 September 2025. Our high school aged teams play the full 15 a-side version of the game.
Players in Junior High/Middle School can only play in the U14 division which is set up for 7th and 8th grade players who are under 14 years of age on 1 September 2025 and they play the regular season playing the 10s version of the game (10 starting players with 25 minute halves). In the 2016 season we formed a U12 boys tackle team covering boys in 5th and 6th grade and a U10 tackle team covering boys in 3rd and 4th grade. In 2023 we formed a U8 team for 1st and 2nd graders.
Weight Restrictions
There are weight restrictions in the U14 and lower divisions reflecting the fact that boys and girls can physically mature at quite different different ages and that in the early adolescent years there can be quite large weight variations. These restrictions are designed to protect players by making allowance for lighter/heavier than average players.
U19
If you are a Junior or a Senior and weigh 125lbs or less, you can play down in the U16 division with the Freshmen and Sophomores.
U16
If you were 16 after 1 September 2025 but weigh 100lbs or less, you can apply for a waiver to play down in the U14 division.
U14
If you were under 14 as of September 1, 2025 and weigh more than 200 lbs you will have play up to U16. Players over 165lbs must have a waiver to play in U14 and if they are aggressive and experienced for their age, they may be asked to play up on U16.
If you were 14 (or older) as of September 1, 2025 and weigh less than 80 lbs, and coaches think it is a safety issue to play in U14, then you can apply for a waiver to play in U12.
U12
If you were under 12 as of September 1, 2025 and weigh more than 135 lbs you will have to play up to U14.
If you were 12 (or older) as of September 1, 2025 and weigh less than 60 lbs, and coaches think it is a safety issue to play in U12, then you can apply for a waiver to play in U10.
U10
If you were under 10 as of September 1, 2025 and weigh more than 105 lbs you will have to play up to U12.
Club Territories
Because of the structure of AZ Youth Rugby, the High School rugby teams cover broad parts of the city and, whilst there are no distinct boundaries per se, but there is an understanding among the High School rugby coaches in the greater Phoenix area to not try and recruit players from schools located in the broad part of the city covered by that club. In the case of Red Mountain Youth Rugby, the following High Schools are designated as our core club zone: Mesa, Mountain View, Mesquite, Highland and Gilbert. Other clubs in the East Valley have the following core zones:
The following High Schools are designated as being in the designated zone for the East Valley Rugby Club: Skyline, Desert Ridge and Red Mountain. This club is not operating a Boys HS team so boys from these schools are free to play for any club.
For a complete list of designated high schools for the greater Phoenix area please consult the Rugby Arizona website www.rugbyarizona.com. All schools not designated to a club zone are considered ‘at-large’ and so students at such schools are free to play for any club. If a high school student has a connection to RMYR or the Red Mountain Men’s team via a family member such as a parent or older brother but attends a school in another club’s designated zone or they played for RMYR in Elementary and/or Junior High, they will be permitted to enroll with a RMYR team. All other exceptions can only be approved by the coach of the club in the designated zone. If this consent is not granted, the case can be taken for adjudication to Rugby Arizona, the AZ HS/Youth Rugby Union. Coaches tend to adopt the view to have a player play where they will be most comfortable rather than try to force the issue.
Registration
Pricing
See Pricing Page
Travel Costs: RMYR historically travels out of state for two tournaments. Whilst we take a good size group to St George (U19 and U16), any national tournament team is limited to 26 invited High School Varsity players:
* Utah High School Pre-Season Invitational – St George, UT: Fee included in the annual High School Dues
* We usually attend a national level tournament sometime in mid May.
We will advise when funds for each trip will be required to be paid.
Playing Gear
Rugby players need the following to play:
Cleats (called boots)
Each player is responsible for their own cleats. These can be existing football or soccer cleats. If you are buying new rugby boots please note that the traditional metal sprigged rugby boots sold on line are not suitable for Arizona playing conditions due to the hard surface of most fields in winter/spring. These traditional rugby boots are sold in countries like England and NZ where playing fields have soft richer grass coverage and where wet and muddy playing conditions are more common. It is better to buy the plastic shorter sprig style rugby boots or even soccer cleats as they are more suitable to the dry, hard, lifeless summer grass that is common on most playing fields in AZ in the winter. There are no helmets or pads worn in rugby although small skull caps can be worn.
Game Jerseys (provided by RMYR)
We have three High School playing strips (red and black striped, red and red and black block) and a black and red strip for the U14/U12/U10 grades and the Head Coach decides on what strip is worn at any particular game. The jerseys are held by the coaches and given out just before each game and based on who is chosen for a given game’s playing squad. It is the responsibility of each player to return the jersey given them to the coaches at the end of each game.
Players Equipment Kit – this will depend on the category of player as follows:
Returning players who may have grown out of, or lost/damaged, any kit items can purchase new items as a one off. Please note: please order a new practice jersey immediately when we start to practice as we usually only get an order 8 weeks later. An order made through the season may end up not coming until the end of the season or will be fulfilled if possible from stock on hand.