Older Juniors
2005-02-19
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In order to stimulate junior participation at tour events (several of the events on the 2004 tour did not even have Junior classes) the IRF have now decided to increase the junior age limits of the 2005 tour by one year so that the Junior classes recorded for ranking purposes will now be Juniors 11, 16 and 21 (as opposed the earlier 10, 15, 20).

In conjuction with this decision it was also agreed to align around the following conventions regarding naming and class definition:

"Juniors, under 21" - Open to all players that turn 21 during the season (calendar year), and younger (i.e. it is enough for the condition "<21" to be fulfilled at some point during season).
"Veterans, over 45" - Open to all players that turn 45 during the season (calendar year), and older (i.e. it is enough for the condition ">45" to be fulfilled at some point during season).

Previously, the definitions have varied between different tournaments on the tour so that e.g. some tournaments required players to have turned 45 before season to take part in the "over 45" class - while others required them to have turned 45 before tournament or to turn 45 sometime during season.

Here is the official text on age classes in excerpt from the Requirement Specification for the 2005 tour:

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3) Age Classes

3.1) General

The age classes shall be named and defined according to the following conventions:
"Juniors, under 21", open to all players that turn 21 during the season (calendar year), and younger (i.e. it is enough for the condition "<21" to be fulfilled at some point during season).
"Veterans, over 45", open to all players that turn 45 during the season (calendar year), and older (i.e. it is enough for the condition ">45" to be fulfilled at some point during season).

The following age classes - and no others(!!) - will be recorded for ranking purposes
Juniors:
11, 16, 21
Veterans:
40, 45, 50, 55 and above in bands of 5 years.

3.2) Veterans

It is a requirement on tour events to offer a "Veterans 45" class.

If there is not enough demand for the 5-year bands above the IRF recommends tour event organisers to offer veterans classes according to the following 10-year bands:
45, 55, 65 etc..

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