Affiliation and Game Level
All teams that wish to play rugby union in the Army must affiliate to the ARU. The process is very simple and all the relevant information and paperwork to submit can be found on the Affiliation page.
As part of the affiliation process the team / unit must confirm that they have the following qualified people to train and facilitate a rugby union match:
a) A qualified coach. This must be a minimum level 2 coach (qualified to coach Adults) who has completed a NGB level two coaching qualification. The RFU link is here.
b) It should ideally also have an individual that has completed an NGB ‘pitch side first aid’ course.
c) The level of medical cover required at a rugby union match is dependent on the ‘level’ of the game. As a guide an RFU Premiership game is classified as level 1, Championship as level 2, National 1 as level 3 and National 2 as level 4. The ‘level’ number increases as the ‘level’ of game decreases. The NGB player safety and well being programme can be viewed here – RFU Welfare
d) Army Rugby Union matches are normally classified at the following levels:
Inter Services:
I. Senior Men – Level 2/3/4.
II. Senior Women – Level 5/6.
III. U23 – Level 5/6
IV. Masters – Level 6/7.
V. Sevens – dependent on competition – between level 2/5.
Other representative fixtures:
(dependent on fixtures) are generally levels below those for inter service unless playing a National team or other National service teams.
Corps Matches:
I. Merit 1 League. Level 5/6.
II. Merit 2 League. Level 7/8.
III. Women’s League – Level 8/9.
Inter Unit Matches:
I. Premiership. Level 6/7/8.
II. Championship. Level 9/10 and below.
III. Friendly fixture – Level 9 and below.
Any team that is unsure of what level of medical cover they should have as a minimum should contact the ARU Operations Officer on 94222 7080 or email
Prior to any ARU affiliated team playing a rugby union match they must complete a Risk Assessment.
An example of a ‘rugby risk assessment’ can be found here – ARU Generic Risk Assessment Example – this document is currently under review for update – 23/01/2025
This example risk assessment must be used as a basis for other RAs but does not replace it. There will be geographic, climatic and situational differences at events/matches which must be taken into account.
The signature authorising the RA must be trained on Safety Risk Management in order to be competent.
RAs are the start point and active, however a dynamic risk assessment must complement the existing RA on the day of activity.
Both RA documents (generic and dynamic) must be fully completed and passed to the individual responsible for endorsement of ‘unit’ risk assessments prior to and training or match being played.
Before a match is played the ‘unit rugby officer’ (or his / her deputy) should complete the pre match ground safety assessment found here. This should also confirm that a suitably qualified referee has been appointed to the game by either the Army Rugby Union Referee Society (ARURS) or the United Kingdom Armed Forces Rugby Union Referee Society (UKAFRURS).
