Play The Game @ Centaurs Rugby

Our Mini-rugby development pathway is called Play the Game @ Centaurs. The pathway is designed to introduce 5 to 12 year olds to the skills and technical aspects of Rugby Union in a controlled and graduated environment. Play the Game @ Centaurs ensures the childrens’ development and progression to the 15-a-side game (at U13s) is smooth and safe.

Before they begin developing their game we run an U5s squad, for 3 and 4 year olds. This group focuses on having fun, playing games with a rugby theme and developing motor skills.

Read more about the skills we teach at each level below, or check our age group categories.

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Under 5s

We provide a fun and safe environment for the young ones to play various games using rugby balls. We introduce the basics of catching, passing and running elements of rugby. The focus is on motor and social skills development. This allows for a much smoother transition to the more competitive Under 8s.

 

Under 8s

All children are taught according to the internationally recognised Laws of Mini-rugby. The programme includes passing, running, evasion and supporting skills. They will also be introduced to the 'tackle' although at this level it will be in the form of a '2-handed touch' on the hips. There will be no set scrums, lineouts or kicking in general play. Restarts will be in the form of a 'tap and pass'.

Contact at this level is not taught although occasionally accidental collisions and scuffling for loose balls is unavoidable.

The players are progressed from the U6s through U7s to the actual U8s.

 

Under 9s & 10s

At this level children are introduced to the tackle, the ruck & maul, the set scrum and the lineout.

However, the scrums and lineouts are non-contested, the team 'putting-in' win the ball.

Kicking in general play is not permitted.

A 'tap restart' when a penalty for foul play or offside has been awarded.

Under 11s & 12s

At this level there’s a natural progression to a more skill-honed adaptation of the game.

We introduce the players to more the competitive nature of contested scrums and lineouts. However, in Mini-rugby lifting in lineouts is not permitted. Kicking in general play is permitted but only out of the teams own 15 metre area.

The coaching and teaching emphasis is mainly on ball possession and sensible use.

Kicking is restricted so that we can maintain this focus and not have to deal with the issue of loss of possession.

 

Under 13s

This is the transition age group, moving out of 10-a-side Mini-rugby and into the full 15-a-side game. For most this will be their first introduction to the more physical game and although they may train with the U14s we think it is advantageous that this age group plays matches against the same aged players. The players are introduced to the specific roles of the positions and, in many cases, are expected to try out positions that are new to them. This is a very important age group and much is done to ensure that the players continue to enjoy the game as they began to learn more about its demands.

Under 14s

By this stage the players should have a solid understanding of the full 15-a-side game.

They will know all the positions and have developed the capacity for quick decision-making. We started this category in September 2003 to address a demand from the previous years U12s to continue playing rugby and progress into a Youth Development Programme.

Under 16s & 18s

A natural progression for the U14s and also to meet demand from older boys within Singapore.

Touch

Centaurs Touch is aimed at girls aged 6 -18 who are not interested in playing full contact rugby. We currently run 4 squads - U10s, U12s, U14s and U18s

Touch at Centaurs is played following the FIT (Federation of International Touch) Rules.

 

Our mission

  • to make mini and youth rugby accessible to every child in Singapore between
    the ages of 3 and 18 by increasing the general awareness of the sport's existence and supporting their participation
  • to constantly strive to improve the standard of mini and youth grade rugby in Singapore through the development of a competitive and vibrant rugby scene
  • to allow keen rugby players to play rugby all year round
  • to nurture character qualities in developing children through this ultimate team sport, those qualities include: teamwork, leadership, decision-taking, camaraderie, character enrichment and social skills development