Integrity
Integrity is central to the fabric of the game and is generated through honesty and fair play.
Rules and Regulations
home / Rules and Regulations
Rugby is for everyone
No prior experience necessary! There is a team for everybody!
The Edmonton Rugby Union (ERU) is responsible for the administration and organization of club rugby in Edmonton and Northern Alberta. There are fifteen rugby clubs with a total of over 50 teams entered in various leagues throughout Alberta.
Traditionally, club rugby in Alberta is played from the first week of May and until mid-late September. Most clubs begin outdoor training in April and many clubs train Indoors starting in January. Indoor training is a great way to learn the game if you are new!
Rugby is played and enjoyed by people of all ages, ability and skill levels. Whether you want to play competitively here in Alberta, have aspirations to play professionally or internationally, want to play for fun, or are new to the game – there is an opportunity for you to get involved!
The ERU proudly upholds the World Rugby Playing Charter and World Rugby values of Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline, and Respect. We stand by these core values and live them daily. These values enable all participants to immediately understand the character of the games and what makes rugby so distinctive as a sport that is played by people of all shapes and sizes.
Learn & review the rules today! The World Rugby Playing Charter is incorporated within the World Rugby laws of the game and can be read in a number of languages by going to world.rugby/laws
Rules & Regulations
We adhere to the Rugby Alberta Rules and Regulations as well as the ERU Bylaws. Unless otherwise specified all games follow World Rugby laws.
It is the responsibility of all clubs within the jurisdiction of Rugby Alberta to make themselves familiar with the Rugby AB Rules & Regulations. Amendments are made each spring as necessary so a refresher is recommended.
Player Substitutions for Divisions E3 and EW2
An ERU regional ruling allows unlimited substitution and unlimited roster numbers for the lowest division in the ERU of each gender (E3 and EW2) during regular season matches only. Unlimited meaning a player may return to the game after being subbed out unless he/she was removed for injury.
Substitutions are to take place only at approved breaks in the play as per the Match Official. Rolling substitutions (hockey-style on and off at will) are NOT permitted!
Teams may decide to play quarters due to a large (or low) number of players, weather, to help new players learn etc. This must confirmed and agreed to by both captains with the Match Official prior to kick off. If at the commencement of the game the teams choose not to play quarters, then subs shall be in accordance with the World Rugby Laws of the Game.
Discipline, Sanctions, & Red Cards
Who to contact regarding Discipline / Sanctions resulting from a red card or other removal from game or playing enclosure (players and non-players).
Discipline reports for AWP and AC divisions are to be emailed to info@rugbyalberta.com (CC ERU Director of Disciplined and Director of Program management). This email will be forwarded to the Rugby Alberta Rules and Regulations Committee (RRC).
Discipline reports for all Senior and Junior competitions within the ERU are to be sent to the ERU Director of Discipline (cc Director of Program Management)
Dispensation
Junior players seeking to play outside of their age grade may be be dispensated up or down a single age grade (e.g. a 16 year old may play in U18 or U15 but not U14 or seniors). Please review the the Rugby Alberta Dispensation Policy, the process outlined below MUST be adhered to. Failure to adhere to this process makes the player and team in-eligible to play.
Email the completed Rugby Alberta Application for Dispensation form to memberservice@rugbyalberta.com (cc erujuniorrugby@gmail.com and eruprograms@gmail.com)
The dispensation form must be submitted to the Rugby Alberta Office at least 7 days before the player wishes to participate in any rugby-related activities in the requested different age category.
High School Player Eligibility
During the rugby season the policy states that a student must not ‘play’ for a non-school team from March 15th through to the conclusion of the teams involvement in the ASAA provincial finals. There is no policy that states a player cannot ‘practice’ with a non-school team during this time.
According to ASAA (Alberta School’s Athletic Association) policy, the high school rugby season finishes after the provincial finals take place. After this point all players are eligible to ‘play’ for a club.
Touring & Tournaments
Click to learn about important considerations for travelling teams.
Touring & Tournaments
Sanctioning is the means by which Rugby Canada’s accident and general liability insurance coverage is extended to rugby events outside of league play. The practices and league matches of registered clubs are the only competitions considered sanctioned and insured by default when all athletes, team management and staff and all participants (volunteers, organizing committee / board of directors) are registered within the current membership year. Any other event may seek sanctioning by an authorized representative of a member organization and thus Rugby Canada Insurance can be
extended by following the relevant application instructions.
Outbound Team Tours (Tours travelling outside Canada)
All tours travelling outside of Canada must be sanctioned by your Provincial Union and Rugby Canada.
International Unions and World Rugby require that all teams must have National Union Sanctioning prior to the departure date.
Rugby Canada will only sanction those teams that are member organizations and therefore schools or third party organizations traveling would have to become full members of their provincial union (and thus Rugby Canada) and pay all applicable membership fees.
The list of approved member organizations of the ERU
- Antediluvians
- Clansmen
- Cold Lake Penguins
- Drayton Valley Riggers
- Strathcona Druids
- Edson Axmen
- Fort McMurray Knights
- Grande Prairie Centaurs & Sirens
- Leduc Crude
- Leprechaun Tigers
- Lloydminster Reapers
- Nor’Wester Athletic Club
- Parkland Sharks
- Edmonton Pirates
- EdmontonRockers
- St. Albert Rugby Club
- ERU programs such as Edmonton Gold Juniors and Seniors
Any organization NOT listed above, cannot have their tour sanctioned by RC nor RA. Should a tournament organizing committee in another provinces or the USA enter without their sanction approved by Rugby Alberta and Rugby Canada, the participants are not provided coverage under the Rugby Canada National Insurance Program.
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