‘X7s’ is a development form of the game of rugby, created by the IRFU, and currently used in the provinces with Secondary School girls.

The game is played across the pitch, on one half of the pitch for Juniors, and for Seniors in a new development for 2022/23 season, the pitch is just slightly smaller than a full size rugby pitch with the game being played in the usual (towards the posts) direction. Full contact rugby, including tackles and contested rucks, as well as three player scrums and lineouts are included in the regulations.

Leinster use this form of the game as the step between schoolgirls in First Year of Secondary School learning to play Touch Rugby (non-contact), and our next stage of development which is 10-a-side rugby on a full pitch as per Leinster Schools Committee Competition.

During the season, Leinster Rugby run regular blitz events in all five areas of Leinster, to give schools the opportunity to bring girls out and begin to learn to play contact rugby. These events are all non-competitive, participation events and are run by our Community Rugby Department staff.

Historically, towards the end of the season the IRFU run an X7s National Competition Day in Dublin for Juniors and Seniors.  Qualification for this day for schools comes through schools participating in their regional Qualifying events, all of which are taking place during Leinster’s International Womens Week celebrations from 6-12 March 2023.

Up to ten schools per region will compete in the qualifying events in what is always an extremely hotly contested competition to see who will progress forward to Leinster’s provincial qualifying event which will be held on Wednesday 22, March this year in Cill Dara RFC and following that into the IRFU National Finals day on Wednesday 26, April 2023.

This season the following regional events will take place

  • Dundalk I.T. for North East schools, and Carlow RFC for South East Schools on Tuesday 7, March
  • Donnybrook for Metropolitan (Dublin region) schools on Wednesday 8, March
  • Portarlington RFC for North Midlands schools and Tullamore RFC for Midlands school on Thursday 9, March

All events are run in a blitz style format from 10.30am to 2pm.

Leinster’s Lead WDO Jennie Bagnall commented “the inclusion of these competitive x7S events in our calendar as a means for qualifying for the IRFU Finals day always bring much excitement for the schools involved. Leinster has an excellent history of winning the x7’s and given the extraordinary development in talent and skill level seen in the Regional and Leinster Youth girls teams this year we are hopeful that this will be the case for 2023.

Please contact your local Womens Development Officer for more information on playing X7s or schools rugby.