News & Features

LEG SKINS REGULATION

 In recent weeks the RFU has received a number of enquiries from concerned parents about their children playing rugby in cold weather, and asking if it is acceptable for children to wear tights/skins in such conditions.  The IRB Regulation which governs this is unclear and in need of some clarification.  The various affected staff members have discussed the issue and decided that the only commonsense position is to allow young players to wear such items in the interests of child welfare.  The iRB were invited to consider the arguments in favour of this decision, and have ruled that the RFU may allow players to wear such RFU-approved items in age grade rugby, subject to the match referee’s assessment of the items as safe and the item’s conformity with iRB Regulation 12, in the following terms:

 “A player must not wear any item of which any part is thicker than 0.5 cm when uncompressed or is denser than 45 kilograms per cubic metre unless specified within this Regulation 12/Law 4. Where this overall thickness consists of padded material covered by fabric, 0.5 cm is the maximum measured thickness for the combination of the uncompressed padding and the fabric. The fabric can contribute up to a maximum measured thickness of 1 mm on each side of the padding”.

 The RFU intends to cascade the information down so that it reaches all necessary stakeholders and is applied uniformly throughout the country.

Following enquiries from coaches and parents, the RFU can confirm that it is permissible under RFU Regulations for young players, up to Under 18s, to wear base layer stockings or tights in cold weather, in accordance with IRB Regulation 12.  This regulation states particular thickness.  However, parents can assume that most common brands will comply, although players are permitted to wear them subject to the assessment of the match referee that the items are safe and pose no risk of injury to the wearer or other participants”

Please note that U18 year olds playing in the adult game may not wear base layer stockings/tights.