Masters rugby league was first created in Australia to provide a less arduous version for older players. Ever since the introduction of the ten metre rule, the league has faced a problem. Full time professionals are capable of the level of fitness necessary but amateur and older players will always struggle. Masters solves this problem helping to keep players involved and playing rugby league much longer.
Now this version of the sport has spread to the United Kingdom and this article gives a basic rundown of the rules, spirit and state of play with Masters rugby league.
The Rules of Masters Rugby League
Fundamentally masters is recognisably rugby league and is played with 13 players per side but with some small but key modifications. The first and most important of these is the halving of the distance defensive players have to retreat after a tackle is completed. The rest are as follows:
- 25 minutes each way with unlimited interchange
- No more than two players allowed in any tackle and no fending/hand offs
- Kicks only allowed on the last tackle
Master is a social version of the sport and therefore the emphasis is on fun rather than too rough or over competitive play. Because players are over 35 but also much older this game has a coloured shorts system to reflect that. This is as follows:
- White or black shorts - 35-39 and 40 - 49 - tackle normally
- Red Shorts - 50-59 - Players must be physically stopped and held. On defence, red short players must make a definite two handed hold on the attacker
- Gold Shorts - 60+ - Players to tackle or be tackled need to just touch, i.e. No tackling
Masters Rugby League in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom rugby league is concentrated in and around the M62 corridor, from Hull to St Helens roughly speaking. Much expansion has taken place over the last ten years but this is still fundamentally true. Therefore the first stirrings of masters rugby league has occurred in that area. Anyone interested in playing masters rugby league is therefore best off contacting any of the many amateur clubs in that area. Rugby Football League Club Finder
Elsewhere in the country things are a little less developed. However masters rugby league is seen in some circles as the perfect solution to develop more fully the social side of the sport as a whole. Rugby Union has always had the great advantage of a longer playing career for amateur players, keeping people imbedded in the sport.
In Wales for example which now has a superleague team in Wrexham, a semi-professional side in Neath and many amateur sides across south Wales things are happening. All 14 superleague sides will be playing in the Millennium Stadium during February and the Welsh Rugby League is organising a Masters rugby league tournament to take place in Caerphilly at the same time. Mark Jones, the National Development Officer of the WRL, is the point of contact for this and can be contacted at mark.jones@walesrugbyleague.co.uk
It is early days but all the signs indicate that this Australian version of the sport will take root in the country which first created the sport of rugby league way back in 1895.
Source:
Rugby Football League Masters Website
Jeffrey Baxter - My name is Jeffrey Baxter. I live in Cardiff the capital city of Wales which is part of the United Kingdom (for the time being at least). ...
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