Somerset Junior League Regulations
DEFINITIONS:
Committee means the County Union’s Competitions Sub-Committee.
Competitions Administrator means the person to whom the Committee delegates the administration of a Competition.
County Union means the Somerset County Rugby Football Union Limited.
Home Club means the first named club to be drawn in respect of a fixture or as otherwise determined by the Committee.
RFU means the Rugby Football Union.
Society means the Somerset County Rugby Football Union Referees Society Limited.
World Rugby means the world governing body of the game which at the date of the adoption of these Rules is the International Rugby Board of which the Union is a member.
World Rugby Regulations means the Resolutions and Regulations relating to the game promulgated by World Rugby from time to time.
1. Description
1.1 The Competition shall be called the Somerset League Cup (league) and will be open to Youth Teams from each club in membership of the Somerset RFU plus any teams from other Counties at the discretion of the Organising Committee. All matches in the Competition shall be played under the of Laws of the Game of Rugby Union in effect and as published by the World Rugby from time to time with the Under-19 Variations as applicable to the age group in question and these regulations set out below (Regulation(s) with which every Club when entering a team in the Competition agrees to comply).
1.2 The Competition must fully comply with the following:
1.2.1 RFU Regulation 9 with regards to First Aid in all requirements.
1.2.2 RFU Regulation 15 with regards to Age Grade Playing in all requirements.
1.2.3 RFU Regulation 21 with regards to all Safeguarding requirements.
2. Organising Committee
2.1 The Competition will be organised and managed by the relevant age group Competitions Administrator whose decisions, subject to a right of appeal to the Committee set out in Somerset Junior League Regulation (SJLR) 12 as detailed below will be binding and final on any matter but specifically:
a) the interpretation of these Regulations.
b) any dispute between competing Clubs and
c) any matter not provided for in these Regulations.
2.2 The Competitions Administrators appointed by the Committee to manage plan and organise the structure of the League fixtures, administer and compile results and provide a focal contact point for all issues and inquiries. All contact information can be found: Committee https://somersetrugby.com/contact-us/
3. Fixtures
3.1 Each club must confirm its participation in the League for the following season to the relevant age group Competitions Administrator by the closing date for entry detailed on the entry form & email said form to the relevant competitions administrator. Any application for participation after this date will be at the absolute discretion of the Committee.
3.2 All entries will be acknowledged on receipt by the relevant age group Administrator via return email. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they send the application to the relevant administrator for the age group entry. Administrators cannot be held liable for any entries not correctly addressed. The Competitions organisers will notify the Clubs entered in the Leagues all fixtures prior to the end of the previous season where possible.
3.3 Fixtures will be based on separate divisions comprising five teams in each division randomly drawn to be played on a home and away basis on dates designated by the Administrators and based strictly on the Age Grade Structured Season. This is the ‘First Stage’. The competition will then progress on to ‘Second Stage’ with dates designated by the Administrators from February based on the Age Grade Structured Season where the winners of each individual division from the first part of the season will play each other on a home and away basis and this will also apply to those teams who came second, third, fourth and fifth in each of their first stage divisions. This stage is designated as the Silverware Stage with Cup (1), Shield (2), Plate (3), Vase (4) & Trophy (5).
3.4 The RFU’s age grade variations to the Laws of the Game will apply to the playing of all fixtures save where these Regulations differ in which case these Regulations will apply.
3.5 A team must always comprise at least 10 players, for any fixture the two teams by mutual agreement may lend / borrow players from the other team to ensure a fair and equivalent match.
3.6 Where teams are unable to field a trained front row with replacements (as per World Rugby Law 3.8) for a league match the opposition team should be informed at least 24 hours before the match. Should a late withdrawal of a player render a team unable to field a front row then the opposition team should be notified as soon as possible. Teams are not required to drop a player but scrums must match (as per World Rugby Law 19.6) to a minimum of 5 players.
3.7 For each fixture in the league, one club will be designated by the Committee as the home club and one as the away club. The home club is responsible for making all match-day arrangements including the provision of a qualified referee (as per SJLR Reg. 10), a suitable safe playing field set out according to Law 1 of the World Rugby Laws of the Game and each team must ensure it has its own suitable validated First Aider as required under RFU Regulation 9. With the agreement of the away club the home club may cede home status to the away club or play at a neutral venue. If the match is played at a neutral venue the designated home club is responsible for all the match-day arrangements. If the designated home club cedes home status to the away club that club becomes responsible for and agrees to undertake all the match-day arrangements.
3.8 All fixtures issued by the Competitions Administrator are to be played on the Sunday, however this can be changed if it is agreed by both the home and away teams. If the match date is changed from the original fixture date it is the responsibility of the home team to advise the Competitions Administrator of the revised date.
3.9 Kick-off times will be preset on GMS by the league administrator, any variation must be by mutual agreement between the home and away teams. Amendments to kick off time must be communicated by the home team to the referee society if a referee is already appointed.
3.10 Where a change in fixture date is determined in accordance with Regulation 4.1 agreement from the other club cannot be unreasonably withheld.
3.11 Without exception all League fixtures must be completed by the end of January for first stage fixtures and end of age grade season for Silverware Stage fixtures. Any fixtures outstanding at these dates will be void.
3.12 Where a team withdraws from the League part way through a season, all of its match results will be declared void and expunged from the League.
3.13 As per the RFU Age Grade Calendar, certain weeks are set aside for County Rugby. No fixtures/games are to be played on these dates. Sanctions may apply.
3.14 Any team wishing to Veo or make other video footage of a youth match should seek permission from the opposing team in advance. In any case of players who cannot be filmed for safeguarding reasons, the other club has the right to request that the footage must not be shared outside of the coaching team of the respective clubs. Teams are encouraged to share Veo footage with their opposition teams who will have given their agreement under TREDS (Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline & Sportsmanship) and with the Referee Societies Training Officer for referee development.
4. Unplayed, Postponed or Abandoned Matches
4.1 If weather conditions or the state of the pitch prevent a match being played or a match is abandoned because of such conditions with more than 10 minutes playing time remaining, the match shall be played or replayed on the next available date.
4.2 The decision on weather conditions and/or pitch conditions making a match unplayable must be made in consultation with the host club grounds team and both teams coaches no later than 08.00 on the day of the match to allow reasonable time prior to teams commencing travel.
4.3 In the event of a League match not being played for any reason other than under 4.1 & 4.2 above or a circumstance agreed by the Committee, the club not in default will be awarded 4 League points and 1 Bonus point and the score deemed to be 28-0; 4 tries to nil.
4.4 If a club is unable to play a League match, it must notify its opponents and the appointed referee with a copy to the Competitions Administrator as soon as the facts are known and, in any event, no later than 48 hours preceding the match. If the fixture cannot be rescheduled by mutual agreement, then the club not in default will be awarded a Walkover and the score deemed to be 28-0; 4 tries to nil.
4.5 If a match is rescheduled the home team must inform the relevant age group Competitions Administrator as soon as is practicable, but no later than 7 days after the original scheduled fixture date.
4.6 Teams who are unable to host a fixture resulting from weather and weather related pitch conditions ONLY, should in the first instance look for a reschedule date or if the away club can host and the appointed home club is willing to lose home advantage, then the game can proceed. Should the appointed home club be unable to reverse the fixture due to loss of home advantage, ie. players unable / will not travel etc then the committee representative will verify in the first instance that there is no available reschedule date up to and including the last week of the season.
4.7 If both teams do not have a league fixture booked on any date the committee representative will allocate that date for a rescheduled game to be played. League games will take priority over friendly fixtures at all times.
4.8 If the committee representative confirms there is no reschedule date available both teams will be allocated a 28 point draw with 4 tries/conversions.
4.9 If a team declines the rescheduled date set by the administrator the opposing team will be awarded a Walkover result.
5. Club Positions
5.1 The position of a club in the appropriate League of the Competition will be established according to the number of League points the club has been awarded. Clubs will be placed in ascending order with the highest number of League points at the top. League points will be awarded as follows:
• 4 League points for a win.
• 2 League points for a draw.
• 1 bonus League point for a loss by 7 match points or less; and
• 1 bonus League point for scoring 4 or more tries in the fixture.
5.2 If a match between sides reaches a point that the difference in score between the two sides exceeds 50 points after the last score, then the match is considered finished and the score and try count is recorded as the result. If both teams wish to continue, they can but any further score is excluded from the league result.
5.3 In the case of equal number of League points accumulated, positions between clubs will be determined according to which has the highest match points difference. Match points difference is the difference between cumulative match points for and cumulative match points against.
5.4 If a tie remains after applying 5.3 then the club with the highest total match points scored will be placed Highest in the League.
5.5 If a tie remains after applying 5.4 then the club with the highest tries scored will be placed highest in the League.
6. Notification of Match Result
6.1 Each club should ensure all League results (score and number of tries scored) are entered via the match GMS Matchcard within 48 hours of the games completion. Host clubs will be responsible for submission.
6.2 Failure to notify results within the 48hour timescale may render the result void If the Competitions Administrator so decides.
6.3 The relevant Competitions Administrator is responsible for the collation of all results and publication of the league tables and will publish the results within a maximum of 5 working days of receiving ALL results. Latest results and tables will be published on the England Rugby Fixtures & Results page & link to same via Somerset RFU website (Somersetrugby.com).
7. Players
7.1 A club may only play or select as a replacement or substitute players who are registered with their Club under the RFU Youth Registration Regulations and who:
i) are bona fide playing members of the club.
ii) are of the correct age for their Age Grade at one minute to midnight on 31st August of the season in question.
iii) RFU regulation 15.3 (Playing Up) and 15.4 (Playing Down) are applicable as long as all relevant players are registered and approved by the Somerset Playing Out Of Age Grade team POOAG). Notification of any POOAG players in a squad must be notified to the opposition club at least 24 hours before the match.
iv) have not played in any Somerset League fixture for any other RFU registered club in the Somerset League in the season in question unless sanctioned by the Committee at least 14 days before playing in any match.
7.3 A club will be deducted up to 5 League points by the Organising Committee on each occasion that it has been represented by an ineligible player or an ineligible player acts as a replacement or substitute.
7.4 Where a team has fewer than 15 players but at least 10 players then the match can proceed. Where a team is one player short the opposition team may play with a full team of 15 players. The match may also proceed and be played with the opposition reducing its team to one player more than the team that has 13 players. Where a team has 10-12 players teams must match numbers. The No.8 or both flankers will be missing respectively where the match is played 1 or 2 players short.
8. Replacements and Substitutes
8.1 In all matches in the League replacements and rolling substitutes are permitted in accordance with the RFU regulations relating to their use with a maximum of twenty three players allowed in a squad . A player who has been substituted may replace any player, whether or not that player has been injured. Players may be exchanged at any time during the match, when the ball is dead and with the knowledge of the referee. League replacements and rolling substitutes are permitted in accordance with the RFU regulations relating to their use with a maximum of twenty three players allowed in a squad. A player who has been substituted may replace any player, whether or not that player has been injured. Players may be exchanged at any time during the match, when the ball is dead and with the knowledge of the referee.
8.2 The half game rule applies at all times with exception of injury, discipline & for safeguarding, infringements will be dealt with under RFU Regulation 19 – Appendix 6, Subsection 2.
9. Duration of Matches
9.1 In accordance with RFU regulation 15 the maximum duration of each match will be as per the age grade regulations for the relevant age group. U15 = 30 mins per half, U16 & U18 = 35 mins per half.
9.2 Stoppage time will be played at the end of each half as determined by the referee.
10. Referees
10.1 The home club will be responsible for arranging the match referee who should preferably be a County Society referee. For all matches the referee should be at least RFU Ready2Ref / Level 2 qualified and should not be a coach of the age group at the club nor be conflicted through any other relationship with the team (e.g. father of a player).
10.2 Both clubs in a fixture will provide one touch judge each who will act under the referee’s direction.
10.3 Where the only referee(s) available are linked to one or both age group teams then the match can still proceed with such a referee if both teams are in agreement. If there is a choice of referees in such situations, then the away team will make the selection.
10.4 If a player is yellow carded by the match referee, he will spend 7 minutes of actual playing time off the pitch without replacement and remain adjacent to and under the control of his coach.
10.5 If a player is red carded, he will immediately leave the pitch and proceed to the clubhouse. The player will then be banned from playing again until his case has been properly dealt with in accordance with Regulation 19 of the RFU regulations. NB. Team Managers should notify the County Discipline Officer within 24 hours of the red card incident.
11. Behaviour of Non players
11.1 Each club in the Competition will be responsible for ensuring that all non-players at matches in the Competition respect the decisions of the referee, will not abuse any player or referee and will behave in accordance with core principles of the RFU namely Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline & Enjoyment (TREDS). Notwithstanding any action taken under RFU Regulation 19 or any action taken by a Club the Organising Committee may take such action against any Club or individual as it deems appropriate in relation to any complaint or report of behaviour in breach of this Regulation or one or more of the core principles referred to above. Such action may include but not be limited to referring the matter to a Club to be dealt with (with or without recommendations or directions), deducting League points or referring the matter to the County Disciplinary Committee.
11.2 Coaches, associated team staff and non-playing team members should remain within their designated technical areas throughout their match, unless given leave by the referee or in case of emergency.
12. Disputes
12.1 Any matter in dispute between participating clubs shall be notified to the Competitions Administrator as soon as it becomes apparent or, if occurring during a match, within 24 hours of the end thereof. Written confirmation of the details of the complaint or dispute must reach the Competitions Administrator within 48 hours after the initial notification and shall set out fully the nature and cause of the complaint. The Complaint should include the following areas in addition to any cause for citing a player during any passage of play not dealt with by the referee at the time which will be referred to the CB Disciplinary Committee Secretary.
i) Breach of requirement to comply with RFU Regulation 9 – Player Safety and First Aid Cover.
ii) Lack of an up-to-date Risk Assessment for the match arrangements.
iii) Any Safeguarding issue and whether an appropriate Safeguarding Officer was present.
iv) Whether alcohol misuse was observed by any under-age individuals. With the exception of any Safeguarding issues which should be passed directly to the Somerset County Safeguarding Manager & reported via the online report form https://webform.clue.co.uk/RFUSafeguarding the Committee shall have absolute discretion (and using such procedure as it, in its absolute discretion it deems appropriate) to resolve any such complaint as it shall think fit and may decline to accept a complaint validly made if it considers doing so to be in the interests of the Competitions generally or the game of Rugby Football. Subject only to the provisions of SJLR Regulation. 12.2, the decision of the Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.
12.2 Where any party having an interest in the matter is aggrieved by any decision of the Committee taken pursuant to Regulation 12.1 above or otherwise in relation to the Competitions, it shall have the right to appeal that decision to the Management Committee of the County Union by so notifying the Secretary of the County Union in writing (within 48 hours of the decision of the Competitions Committee being announced) giving full details of the grounds of such appeal and supplying all evidence upon which it wishes to rely. In submitting its application, the complainant Club must lodge a fee of £100, with the exception of any Safeguarding issues; which payment will be refunded in full if the appeal is upheld.
12.3 The SCRFU Management Committee in dealing with any appeal may use such procedures as in its absolute discretion it may decide.
