With the latest Rugby Football Union (RFU) rules affecting ‘fair play’ within junior rugby, players could find themselves without game time as numbers at larger clubs increase.

The new legislation states that all match day selected players will play a minimum of half a match – so what does this mean and how will it affect junior players?

If clubs have 20-25 players signed up in an Under-15s age group, the chances of being selected regularly for matches decreases.

With coaches unlikely to be fielding in excess of 10 substitutes every week, and the more substitutes meaning more ‘half matches’, players are going to end up disappointed. Obviously, for those players who have just started playing or those needing to improve skills through ‘game time’, this is going to be difficult. For those who love the game and just want to play week in and week out, this may also be hard to achieve.

Honiton RFC U15s are currently looking to recruit more players to complete the current season (2018/19) guaranteeing full ‘game time’ and regular selection to new members.

This is also a chance to build numbers for next season. So, why travel miles for training each week to ‘not be selected’ or to get just half a match every other week when you could be benefiting from ‘full game time’ and modern coaching techniques in a progressive local club. For more details on joining, or attending for a ‘taster session’, please contact Tom Hattan on 07929 601974.