Veterans/Over 35/Golden Oldies Rugby matches are played according to IRB laws adding some variations to allow any person of any age to play rugby.
Rugby for veterans, for people over 35 years of age, has been adapted in terms of rules to deal with the limitations that age imposes on us. The elimination of the scrum contest and other restrictions in the rules make rugby suitable for everyone.
Rugby for Veterans is gaining more and more weight and there is a increasing number of teams both in Madrid, in Spain and throughout Europe. There are hundreds of friendy matches, championships, beach sevens with veteran category...
At Fuencarral Rugby you have your place to play rugby again with veterans, whether you have experience or not. To give you an idea, these are the differences with the normal IRB rules:
In English on the page of the European Veteran Rugby Association here.
- The number of substitutions is usually unlimited.
- 3 x 20 minutes, with 5 minutes pauses between.
- Kicking is generally allowed only inside own "22 meters area".
- No player is allowed to run with the ball more than 20 meters at one time.
- It's also often applied that a player cannot enter the opponent's 22 zone and try himself, but must pass to a teammate for him to try.
- There must be no pressure scrummaging, or movement of the scrum.
- kKick at goal after a try must not be taken.
- Players can wear pants depending on their age (this applies especially in championships) and there is a a restriction to tackle them, especially for those over 65 who will wear gold pants and cannot be tackled (only stopped) and those over 70 with purple pants that cannot be tackled or stopped.
- Generally no rucking is allowed, ie once the ruck is formed no pushing to win the ruck is allowed.
- Lineout: All eight forwards must take part, all lineouts shall be set (no quick "throw in") and lifting in lineout is not permitted.
However, any of these special veteran rules can be agreed before the match and use those that apply to any Rugby Union match.