What is rugby? 

  • Rugby is a worldwide team sport that involves passing, running, and scoring tries to win. For more information, check out our What is Rugby page. 

What types of rugby are there? 

  • Rugby is an inclusive game with a variety of different versions, including sevens, fifteens, T1, and Mixed Ability. Click here to find out more about each rugby variation.  

What is Rugby Ontario currently doing to grow the game? 

  • Rugby Ontario has a variety of different development projects ongoing to help build the sport of rugby in Ontario. Some of these projects include the Build Belonging Project, the Technical Game Leader Program, and the Youth Development Network. To learn more about these and other ongoing projects, visit our Development Projects page. 

What is the rugby Code of Conduct?

How do I get involved? 

  • There are many ways to get involved in the rugby community. If you are interested in playing rugby, learn about your local clubs and leagues. If you are looking for other professional development opportunities, visit our volunteer, coaching, match officials, or careers pages for more information.  

How do I get my rugby photos or stories featured on the Rugby Ontario social media? 

  • If you have a compelling story or images that you would like to share with us, DM us on Instagram or email marcomm@rugbyontario.com. 

What grants and funding are available to clubs? 

What are Rugby Development Consultants (RDCs)? How can they help me? 

  • RDCs are a Rugby Ontario resource to support clubs with governance, strategic planning, volunteer organization, and project management. Our two RDCs have off-season bi-weekly office hours and are available by email to answer questions and provide support. More information on our RDC program and office hour registration can be found here.  

What club development opportunities does Rugby Ontario Provide? 

  • Rugby Ontario has a variety of club development opportunities, including the annual Club Development Conference and the Club Development Series. Recordings of past series can be found on the Rugby Ontario YouTube channel, or you can read more about these initiatives here. 

I want to start a rugby club; how can I do this? 

  • Starting a rugby club is an exciting yet large undertaking! Check out our Becoming a Club resources to see if club management is the path for you and how to get started. 

How do I become a coach? 

  • Coaching is a great way to make a meaningful impact on the growth of rugby in your community. For information on how to become a coach, visit our How to Become a Coach resources. 

Does Rugby Ontario provide any coach resources or courses? 

  • Yes, Rugby Ontario administers all coaching courses within the province. Information about the National Coaching Certification Program and World Rugby courses can be found here and more coach development resources can be found here. 

What is the rugby Code of Conduct?

What is the Technical Game Leaders Program? 

  • The Technical Game Leaders (TGL) Program is a pilot program designed to build coach and game manager capacity at the local level for minor and other non-contact rugby. TGLs are identified within a community and onboarded to provide Game Leader training to new coaches. The program aims to support a foundation of rugby educators, informed coaches, and thriving programs. Learn more here! 

One of my players got injured, what do I have to do? 

  • If a player gets injured before, during, or after a match, ensuring the player is okay and receives proper medical attention, if required, is the first step. Depending on the severity of the injury, different incident reporting forms or witness forms may be filed. Learn more about Reporting Forms here. 

What do I do if I suspect a player has been concussed? 

  • Enhancing player safety and game welfare is a primary concern and responsibility of Rugby Ontario. If you suspect a player has been concussed during a game, the Blue Card process should be initiated by a coach, player, or match official. Learn more about Blue Cards and Concussion Protocol here. 

Do my players need to wear mouthguards for our matches? 

  • Following the new 2026 regulations that Rugby Ontario has implemented to help limit concussion and jaw-related injuries, mouthguards are now mandatory for all contact play, including matches, tournaments, and practices. Prior to starting a game or practice, coaches must ensure that all players have proper mouthguards. Learn more about the implementation of this new policy here. 

Can my athlete play in a different age category (play up/down)?  

  • To play in a different age category than assigned, certain criteria must be met, and procedures followed to obtain approval. To learn if you can play up, visit our policy here.  

Can my athlete play in a different gender category? 

  • Playing in a different gender category in contact rugby is possible at the youth level (U12 and U14), but certain criteria must be met, and procedures followed in order to obtain approval. To learn more, visit our policy here.  

 My game does not have a referee assigned to it yet, what do I do? 

  • Referee assigners are working hard to get you a match official before your game. If your game does not have a referee assigned to it within 48 hours of the match starting, you can seek a registered match official yourself for the game and let us know if you’ve found one available to be assigned. 

How do I become a match official? 

  • Rugby match officials must complete a series of modules and courses before officiating. More information on the process can be found here.  

What is the rugby Code of Conduct?

What do I do if a player gets injured?  

  • If a player gets injured during a match and you have removed them from the game, it is important to follow the proper procedures and ensure proper documentation is made. Depending on the severity of the play or injury, different incident reporting forms may be filed. Learn more about these forms and access them here. 

What do I do if I suspect a player has been concussed? 

  • Enhancing player safety and game welfare is a primary concern and responsibility of Rugby Ontario. If you suspect a player has been concussed during a game, the Blue Card process should be initiated by a coach, player, or match official. Learn more about Blue Cards and Concussion Protocol here. 

Do players need to wear mouthguards for our matches? 

  • Following the new 2026 regulations that Rugby Ontario has implemented, to help avoid concussion and jaw-related injuries, mouthguards are now mandatory for all contact play, including matches, tournaments, and practices. Prior to starting a game, match officials must check that all players have proper mouthguards. Learn more about the implementation of this new regulation here. 

A game does not have a referee assigned to it yet and I’m available, what do I do? 

  • Referee assigners are working hard to get all matches an official before the game. If a game does not have a referee assigned to it within 48 hours of the match starting, teams can seek a registered match official for themselves, or match officials can come forward with their interest. Then, let us know that you’ve found an available Match Official to be assigned. 

I’ve never played rugby before; can I still join a club? 

  • Yes! There are many different types of rugby and clubs to match individual skillsets and ability levels. Check out our What is Rugby page to learn more about the different types of rugby and find the best fit for you.  

Do I need to join a club? 

  • Yes! Other than school teams, to play rugby in Ontario, athletes must register and join a club. Check out our Club Information page to learn more about the various rugby clubs across Ontario.  

How do I know what club, league, and age grades to enroll in? 

  • Based on your location, age, and ability level, you can select the appropriate club, league, and age grade for you. Check out our Age Grade Matrix and Club Information page to determine the best fit.  

How do I register to play rugby with a club? 

  • To register to play, visit our registration page and go through the step to enroll as a new or returning member.  

What is the rugby Code of Conduct?

Do I need to wear a mouthguard for my matches? 

  • Following the new 2026 regulations that Rugby Ontario has implemented, to help reduce concussion and jaw-related injuries, mouthguards are now mandatory for all contact play, including matches, tournaments, and practices. Learn more about the benefits of this new regulation here. 

I/my player got injured, what do I have to do? 

  • If a player gets injured before, during, or after a match, ensuring the player is okay and receives proper medical attention, if required, is the first step. Depending on the severity of the injury, different incident reporting forms or witness forms may be filed. Learn more about these forms and access them here. 

What do I do if I suspect a player has been concussed? 

  • Enhancing player safety and game welfare is a primary concern and responsibility of Rugby Ontario. If you suspect a player has been concussed during a game, the Blue Card process should be initiated by a coach, player, or match official. Learn more about Blue Cards and Concussion Protocol here. 

Can I/my child play in a different age category (play up/down)?  

  • To play in a different age category than assigned, certain criteria must be met, and procedures followed to obtain approval. To learn if you can play up, visit our policy linked here.  

Can I/my child play in a different gender category? 

  • Playing in a different gender category in contact rugby is possible at the youth level (U12 and U14), but certain criteria must be met, and procedures followed in order to obtain approval. To learn more, visit our policy here. 

What are the differences between age grades? 

  • There are a variety of law variations in rugby for different age grades and game types. Click here to learn more about these law variations.