PLAY RUGBY
COME PLAY With SoCal!
SoCal Rugby SEASONS
WINTER CLUB: U8 Flag, U10 Coed, U12 Coed, U14 Coed: January-February
HIGH SCHOOL: Boys 15s, Boys & Girls 7s: January-February
SPRING CLUB: GU15, GU18, BU16, BU18: Mid-March to Mid-May
SUMMER 7s: U10-U18: May-June
PLAYER REGISTRATION: Youth Club & High School
- Register annually (as of September 1) with USA Rugby via Rugby Xplorer.
- Note — This annual registration must transfer to each club or high school you play each season through the 2025-26 playing year (see your Club admin for assistance). This is your USA Rugby insurance coverage.
- Register seasonally with SoCal Youth Rugby in MatchFacts. All seasons are available now, if families would like to handle this just once (if your club has set this up). Choose your SoCal SEASON and then also choose your CLUB/HS.
- High School registration requirements:
- Clear, close headshot if a new player. If a returning player, a new headshot is NOT needed for 2026.
- Date of birth verification via birth certificate, passport, drivers’s license or Real ID.
- 2025-26 School ID
- Youth Club registration requirements:
- Clear, close headshot if a new player. If a returning player, a new headshot is NOT needed for 2026.
- Date of birth verification via birth certificate, passport, or Real ID.
- Boys U10 & U12 obtain a Certifed Weight. See Age/Weight/Division chart below for details.
- 2026 in-person WEIGH-IN:
- November 15, 9am-4pm: Santa Fe Christian High School, 838 Academy Dr, Solana Beach, CA 92075
- November 22, 9am-4pm: Oceanside High School, 1 Pirates Cove, Oceanside, CA 92054
- December 6, 9am-4pm: McMaster Park, McMaster Park 3624 Artesia Blvd, Torrance, CA 90504
- NEW LOCATION! December 13, 9am-2pm: JSerra High School, 26351 Junipero Serra Rd, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
- NEW DATE! December 15, 4:30-6pm: Pasadena. 3429 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
- NEW DATE! December 15, 7-8pm: McDermott Park, 7846 S Heritage Cir, Fontana, CA 92336
- NEW DATE! December 16, 5:30-7pm: Meadowbrook Middle School, 12320 Meadowbrook Ln, Poway, CA 92064
- NEW DATE! January 5, 2-4:30pm: Hidden Hills Park, 27802 Springwood, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
- 2026 in-person WEIGH-IN:
- High School registration requirements:
AGE/WEIGHT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
- Is weight required for all youth divisions? –No. Only boys in the U10 and U12 division. See Age/Weight Chart
2. Do girls need to weigh in? -No. Only boys in the U10 and U12 division.
3. Are there exceptions available if a player is a bit younger or lighter to play down a division? -No. There are no waivers, unless for a specific medical circumstance, which is reviewed by a Board Committee.
4. What if I can’t attend any of those dates to weigh in? -There are no other opportunities beyond the posted dates. Staff is on-site for several hours to accommodate varying schedules.
5. What happens if my player doesn’t fulfill the weight parameters for the division? -They will be moved up one division. For example, if they don’t make U10 weight, they will be moved to U12.
6. The player minimums deadline is Nov 30, but there are weigh-in dates in December. -Players sitting in MatchFacts unverified that are solely needing a weight, will be counted towards minimums.
7. Can we wear anything for the weigh-in? -No. Players are required to be in their shorts, jersey and cleats. No exceptions.
8. If my player doesn’t meet the weight when weighed in November, can they re-weigh at a December date? -No. Weights are taken once and set as the certified weight for all of 2026 play.
9. Can my player weigh-in with a Board member at practice instead? -No. Weights are taken by staff only for the specific dates posted. Players registering after December 13 will be notified of their options.
10. Does the player have to be registered to attend the weigh-in? -No. The weight can be collected and then added with the registration.
11. Will a new weight be needed later in the year? -No. This one-time weight is certified for all seasons of 2026 rugby.
12. What if we don’t attend one of the regional weigh-ins? -The player can’t be rostered and thus, can’t play rugby.
13. My club has several players sitting in unverified. Will they count towards minimums on Nov 30? -No. Only COMPLETE verified players will be counted towards minimums. The only exception are the U10 and U12 boys needing weight verification.
14. Can my 14 year old play U14? -Yes, if they are in middle school and upload a Middle School ID during MatchFacts registration. See Age/Weight Chart
The Game of Rugby
Rugby 15s
The traditional format of the game is played by two teams of fifteen players with eight forwards and seven backs taking the field at any one time. The game is suited to players of varying shapes and sizes with specialist positions suiting players of a specific athletic profile.
Every four years, the 15s game is celebrated at the world’s third largest sporting event, the Rugby World Cup – the peak international Rugby tournament governed by World Rugby.
Rugby 7s
Rugby 7s is played increasingly at the grass roots level and has seen great growth in the SCYR High School Gold Division. Rugby 7s debuted as an Olympic Games sport in 2016.
Because 7s is played on a full-sized rugby pitch, but with only seven players on each side, there is extra space to run which suits a different type of athlete. It is a fast and exciting variation of the game demanding huge levels of fitness.