Somerset Junior League Regulations
DEFINITIONS:
Committee means the County Union’s Competitions Sub-Committee
Competitions Administrator means the person to whom the Committee delegate the administration of a CompetitionCounty 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
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- 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). - Organising Committee
2.1 The Competition will be organised and managed by the Competitions Administrator whose decisions, subject to a right of appeal to the Committee set out in Regulation 12 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 Administrator appointed by the Committee is 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 (somersetrugby.com)
- Fixtures
3.1 Each club must confirm its participation in the League for the following season to the Competitions Administrator by the closing date for entry detailed on the entry form. Any application for participation after this date will be at the absolute discretion of the Committee.
3.2 The Competitions Administrator will notify the clubs entering the League all matches for the season within two weeks of the closing date for participation. Fixture dates will be determined by the individual teams according to the RFU Age Grade Structured Season and having regard to such other matters as the Committee may in its absolute discretion decide.
3.3 If less than ten teams enter then each team will play each other team in the League twice (Home and Away). If ten or more teams enter then each team will play each other team in the League once. The Committee will determine the home team.
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 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 the referee, 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.
3.7 All fixtures issued by the Competitions Administrator are to be played on the Sunday, however this can be changed if it is agreed with 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.
3.8 Kick-off times will be by mutual agreement between the home and away teams.
3.9 Where a change in fixture date is determined in accordance with Regulation 4.1 agreement from the other club cannot be unreasonably withheld.
3.10 Without exception all League fixtures must be completed by the last date as detailed on the entry form. Any fixtures outstanding at this date will be void.
3.11 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.
- 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 can only be made or confirmed in his absolute discretion on the day of the match by the match referee having consulted with both teams where practical and the respective groundsman where appropriate.
4.3 In the event of a League match not being played for any reason other than under 4.1 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 4 League points and 1 Bonus point 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 Competitions Administrator as soon as practicable.
- 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 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.
- Notification of Match Result
6.1 Each club should ensure all League results (score and number of tries scored) are sent to the Competitions Administrator within 24 hours game.
6.2 Failure to notify results may render the result void If the Competitions Administrator so decides.
6.3 The 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 Somerset RFU website, Somerset (somersetrugby.com).
- 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).
iv) have not played in any Somerset League fixture for any other RFU registered club in theSomerset 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 or 12 players. The No.8 or both flankers will be missing respectively where the match is played 1 or 2 players short.
- 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. 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.
- Duration of Matches
9.1 In accordance with RFU regulations the duration of each match will be 35 minutes each half.
9.2 Stoppage time will be played at the end of each half as determined by the referee.
- 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 ELRA 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.
- 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.
- 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 POOAG committee, 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 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 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 Management Committee in dealing with any appeal may use such procedures as in its absolute discretion it may decide.
- Description
