PLEASE NOTE - WE ARE NOW ONLY ACCEPTING TRIALISTS FOR 2023/24 SEASON (starting in Aug/Sept 2023).
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ANY NEW REGISTRATIONS FOR 2022/23 SEASON
So, you have decided to bring your son/daughter for a trial at our Club. You now have lots and lots of questions:
- How do you make sure your child goes to the right team / age group?
- First steps to joining
- When do we play?
- Where to go to?
- New Joiner Trial
- Club Membership Costs and Benefits
- What to wear and what to bring?
- Minis and Youth Sponsors
- Food and Drinks
The information on this page should hopefully help you along your journey:
How do you make sure your child goes to the right age group?
Age Grade Rugby is the framework for 6-18 year olds in clubs, schools and colleges. Its purpose is to prepare players for adult rugby in clubs through the game being player centred, development driven and completion supported.
Full details can be found at englandrugby.com/participation/coaching/age-grade-rugby and there is a useful flyer (as shown below) available here.
A player’s age grade is determined by their age at midnight on 31st August at the beginning of each Season and that age grade applies for the whole Season. This typically aligns with school years. For more details see the RFU regulation 15.1.2.
Ideally please work out which team your child will play in before you make contact.
Little Scrummers
- 18 months to 6 years old
Minis
Girls and boys play a fully integrated game up to and including the Under 12s age group.
- U7s (School Year 1 & 2)
- U8s (School Year 3)
- U9s (School Year 4)
- U10s (School Year 5)
- U11s (School Year 6)
- U12s (School Year 7)
Youth - Boys
- U13s (School Year 8)
U14s (School Year 9) - U15s (School Year 10)
- U16s (School Year 11)
- Colts (U18s/School Year 12 & 13)
Youth - Girls
- Rubies U12s (School Year 6 & 7)
- Rubies U14s (School Year 8 & 9)
- Rubies U16s (School Year 10 & 11)
- Rubies U18s (School Year 12 & 13)
First steps to joining
- For little scrummers please look at the Cambridge Little Scrummers page
- For Minis and Youth, in the first instance please complete our >>>>>>> trial form <<<<<<<. You will be asked for:
- Your child's name
- Sex
- Date of birth
- Current school
- Rugby experience level (none is ok!)
- Any medical issues we should be aware of
- Also please let us know if they have friends already at the club.
Our chair will put you in touch with the relevant age group head coach/team manager.
PLEASE NOTE - WE ARE NOW ONLY ACCEPTING TRIALISTS FOR 2023/24 SEASON (starting in Aug/Sept 2023).
WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ANY NEW REGISTRATIONS FOR 2022/23 SEASON
When do we play?
Training and matches take place on Sunday mornings. Some Youth Teams also train on a weekday evening. Ensure you have made contact before coming down for the first time, in case your age group in playing away. Game details are not shown on this web site - they are usually managed in an App called Spond.
Ensure you arrive in good time, so your child is ready at the correct location to start warm ups with the coaches on time. Ideally 15 minutes before the start time.
- Mini's train from 09:30 to 11:00
- Youth's train from 11:00 to 12:30
- Girls train from 11:00 to 12:30
Matches both home and away will advised by age group coaches.
Where to go to?
The club address along with a pitch map is found here.
Ensure you have made contact before coming down for the first time, for details on which pitch to go to.
Please make yourself known to the coaches as soon as possible.
New Joiner Trial
We allow 2 x sessions free of charge, before asking you to sign up as a member and pay the registration fees, and become a full member of the club.
Trialist are not allowed to play in tournaments or against other clubs due to insurance.
There is no obligation to sign up if you find that rugby (or CRUFC) is not for you or your child.
On signing up, you will liaise with the Lead Coach of your respective Age Group, making sure you can receive notifications for the future week’s training sessions and fixtures. This is normally done by an app called SPOND (the age groups manage this individually)
That’s it – then you enjoy all we have to offer at the Club.
Club Membership Costs and Benefits
Mini & Youth Membership
Main parent - choose from either the c. Parent Social membership (£100), or d. Parent Full membership (£200), second parent (optional) - choose e. Spouse membership (free),
For each player choose f. M&Y Player membership (£80) - after the 1st child all others will be charged at the reduced rate of £70 automatically.
Step-by-step instructions on how to join can be found here
What to wear and what to bring?
Initially you will need to wear:
- Training Top
- Additional Warm Top (like a hoody)
- Shorts
- Socks
- Football/Rugby Boots
- Water Bottle
Then weather dependant we recommend:
- Skins (Top and Bottom)
- Cap/Sun Hat
- Waterproof Top
- Towel
- Change of Clothes (for muddy days)
After your trial sessions, or when you are ready, you are able to purchase Club clothing at our shop which is inside the Clubhouse – open every Sunday morning, and also Saturdays before 1st team home games, so your rugby player can look the part. We like you purchase the following as a minimum:
- Cambridge Rugby Top
- Cambridge Rugby Shorts
- Cambridge Rugby Socks
Mouth Guards
The RFU strongly recommends that mouth guards (also referred to as gum shields) are worn for any contact rugby activity (both training and matches). The use of mouth guards can help protect the teeth and face. Read the RFU protective equipment guide for more information on mouth guards and head guards (scrum caps) here.
Please take time to reseach this topic so that you are are happy with what you buy. Some mouth guards can be fitted at home, some require special fitting. Ensure they are correct fitted/molded well before playing - don't unbox it on the day! Mouthguards are availble at traditonal retailers (included the club shop) or online. Popular brands include Titan, Opro and Shock Doctor.
Finally - DO NOT FORGET to bring it every time you play!
The Weather
Whilst we all enjoy playing around in the cold and wet weather, the children do not always have as much fun! Please do listen to your child and do not force them to take part if they do not wish to, especially when it is very cold or very wet.
The club will always inform the coaches if the pitches are unplayable and many clubs do update their websites when matches are called off due to inclement weather. It’s important to check your age group spond or email before leaving home. The biggest risk is frozen or flooded pitches
Ensure we always have your current email address/mobile, and include all relevant parents or guardians who might transport your children, so that you do not make a wasted trip.
Minis and Youth Sponsors
Thanks to our many sponsors for their support. Minis and Youth are sponsored by: Malco Freight
Food and Drinks
We have food and drink available every Sunday morning at the Club.
- Coffee for Mum and Dad to keep them warm and awake to watch the rugby action
- Hot Dogs and Burgers for our hungry players after their training session
Something for everyone!
