Minis U5-U9 Yrs
WELCOME TO THE MINIS
Our aim for this age group is to ensure that all the kids get involved, have a lot of fun and learn the game in a safe and positive environment.
Dads and mums help with the coaching and managing of the teams and the atmosphere on and off the ground is one of great sportsmanship and community.
At Minis level, the rules are built around ball in hand, maximum game time and fun first. Each age group plays a format designed for their stage — from non-contact skill sessions at U5, to modified Tri Tag at U6 and U7, to a careful introduction of tackle at U8 and U9.
AGE GROUPS AT A GLANCE
| U5 | U6 | U7 | U8 | U9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Mighty 5s — sessions only | Tri Tag | Tri Tag (+ supervised tackle introduction in final rounds) | Modified tackle Pilot | Modified tackle + 5-a-side scrum Pilot |
| Players on field | — | 5, or more* | 6, or more* | 7, or more* | 10 |
| Ball size | Size 3 | Size 3 | Size 3 | Size 3 | Size 3 |
| Playing area | Half-field, rotating stations | ¼ field | ¼ field | ¼ field | ½ field |
| Game duration | — | 2 × 15 min halves | 2 × 15 min halves | 2 × 15 min halves | 2 × 20 min halves |
| Score kept? | — | No | No | Yes — tries only | Yes — tries only |
| Tackling | None | None — Tri Tag | None for most of the season; supervised tackle in final rounds | Below the sternum · no sling, no squeeze ball | Below the sternum · no sling, no squeeze ball |
| Scrums | — | None | None | None — tap-and-pass restart | 5 a side, uncontested (crutch or waist bind) |
| Lineouts | — | None — tap-and-pass restart 1m in from the sideline | None — tap-and-pass restart 1m in from the sideline | None — tap-and-pass restart 1m in from the sideline | Quick throw — ball passed minimum 2m infield, no lifting |
| Kicking (general play) | None | None | None | None | None |
| Game / half starts | — | Kick | Kick | Kick | Kick — drop kick (punt allowed if needed) |
| Restarts (after try) | — | Tap | Tap | Tap by non-try-scoring team | Drop kick by try-scoring team (punt allowed if needed) |
| Coaches on field | Yes — Game Activators | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Training | Thursday 5:00pm | Thursday 5:00pm | Thursday 5:00pm | Thursday 5:30pm | Thursday 5:30pm |
| Game day | Activities on home game days | Sunday | Sunday | Sunday | Sunday |
* See A note on team size at LCJRU below. Pilot = part of the 2026 Junior Law Pilot — Sydney Juniors is one of nine national pilot locations at U8 and U9.
BY AGE GROUP
U5 — Mighty 5s · ages 4–5
The first taste of rugby. Non-contact stations focused on fundamental movement and core skills — catch and pass, evasion and kicking. Run as 45–60-minute Thursday evening sessions with extra activities running alongside home game days. Qualified volunteers (Game Activators) lead each station. No score, no pressure — just smiles.
U6 — Tri Tag · age 6
5-a-side modified Tri Tag Rugby on a quarter-field — tags on a belt instead of tackles. Two 15-minute halves, Size 3 ball, no score kept. Coaches stay on the field guiding play. No scrums or lineouts: a quick tap-and-pass restarts play when the ball goes out. Kicking only at game and half starts; in-game restarts after tries are taps. Where the opposition has more on the day, we’ll match them up so everyone gets a proper run.
U7 — Tri Tag · age 7
6-a-side Tri Tag, same format and timing as U6. Contact-readiness drills are added to training to start building safe body positions and ground skills. In the closing rounds of the season we introduce supervised tackle with dedicated coach and player preparation first — a soft handover into U8.
U8 — Tackle, first year of contact · age 82026 Pilot
7-a-side modified tackle on a quarter-field, two 15-minute halves, Size 3 ball, tries only. All tackles below the sternum, no sling tackle, no squeeze ball. A maximum of two players per team in any post-tackle contest. Under the 2026 Junior Law Pilot (which Sydney Juniors is running this season) there are no scrums or lineouts at U8 — play restarts with a quick tap-and-pass. Kicking only at game and half starts; in-game restarts are taps by the non-try-scoring team. Coaches stay on the field supporting players and the match official.
U9 — Tackle, small scrum introduced · age 92026 Pilot
10-a-side modified tackle on a half-field, two 20-minute halves, Size 3 ball, tries only. Same tackle principles as U8. Under the 2026 Pilot, a 5-a-side uncontested scrum is introduced (2 props, 1 hooker, 2 second rowers; crutch or waist bind; feeding team wins). Lineouts haven’t arrived yet — touch is restarted with a quick throw into the field of play. Kicks at game and half starts use a drop kick (punt allowed if needed). Coaches stay on the field.
All coaches and assistant coaches are SMART Rugby Qualified. Practically, this means they know the rules, the safety drills and have great knowledge to pass on to the kids.
A NOTE ON TEAM SIZE AT LCJRU
Rugby AU and SJRU set the recommended on-field numbers — 5 at U6, 6 at U7, 7 at U8, 10 at U9. At LCJRU we focus on maximising game time: at U6 and U7 we encourage matching the opposition’s count on the day, and at U8 we’ll occasionally play up to +2 over the recommended number where squads allow. If one team is short or carrying a big bench, we’ll lend or borrow players between sides so everyone gets a proper run. Both are club guidance from your Minis coordinators — not Rugby AU or SJRU rules.
TRAINING
U5–U7 train Thursdays from 5:00pm. U8 and U9 train Thursdays from 5:30pm. Full details on: Training Times.
GAMES
The Minis play on Sundays. Home games are played at Tantallon Oval, Lane Cove North. Away games are played at a variety of ovals nearby on Sydney’s North Shore. There is also an awesome end-of-season tour for U6–U9s in Bathurst.