CHELTENHAM AND DISTRICT RUGBY COMBINATION
RULES FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO SENIOR AND JUNIOR CUP COMPETITIONS
November 2009
CLUB ELIGIBILITY
1. All clubs in full and associate membership of the Combination are qualified to enter.
2. The Executive Committee will decide each year which teams can play in the Senior and Junior Cups, depending on the League position of their 1st XV. The 1st XVs of teams playing in Leagues Level 7 and above are not eligible.
3. Clubs which have failed to pay their subscription may be barred from participating.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
NB Restrictions on eligibility apply only to the year in question.
4. All players must be bona fide members of the club they play for in the Cup.
5. Players can only represent one club in the Competition.
6. If a player habitually also plays for another club at a higher level, the Executive Committee must rule on his eligibility.
7. If a player starts for his club in the Senior Cup, he may not subsequently play in the Junior Cup. A player who only comes on as a replacement or substitute is not so restricted.
8. If a club plays in the Junior Cup before playing in the Senior Cup, then those players who started the Senior Team League or Merit match immediately prior to the cup match are ineligible for the Junior Cup throughout the competition.
9. If a Team’s 1st XV is ineligible, players who started for that team in the league match immediately prior to the Cup matches shall be ineligible for cup matches for the duration of the competition. Any special circumstances will be determined by the Officers.
TEAMS
10. A match squad may consist of at most 19 players, all of whom may play.
IRB Law 3.5 on front row players must be complied with: briefly, a 19 man squad includes 5 players who are suitably trained and experienced for the front row. 16-18 man squads should include 4 such players; with 15 or less, three are required
11. Club officials shall exchange squad lists before a match starts, and such lists must identify qualifying front row players.
12. In the event of any dispute over player eligibility, the decision of the Combination official in attendance shall be binding to allow the game to be played, but a written appeal may subsequently be lodged with the General Secretary.
COMPETITION ORGANISATION
13. The full draw shall be made at a meeting of the Executive Committee. Both competitions will be a straight knockout.
14. The General Secretary of the Combination will be responsible for passing details of the draw to the Referees' Society.
15. The Executive Committee shall agree the arrangements for the finals.
16. All other matches shall normally be played on the ground of the club drawn first. The home club will be responsible for all arrangements, including confirming with referees (and touch judges where appointed by the Referees' Society).
17. Weather permitting, all matches shall be played on the dates decided by the Executive Committee, or earlier if mutually acceptable and notified to the Competition Secretary.
18. Any club failing to field a team in the Competition shall forfeit the game and their opponents will automatically go through to the next round.
19. Any club failing to field a team in the Senior Cup will be removed from the Junior Cup, unless the Executive Committee rules otherwise.
20. If a team is removed after having won a game, its opponents shall go through instead.
MATCH ARRANGEMENTS
21. Pitches in all Combination Cup matches shall be roped off as a mandatory requirement.
22. All matches are to be 40 minutes each way, unless agreed otherwise by both captains, in which case all matches are still to consist of equal halves.
23. All matches are to be played in accordance with the IRB Laws of the Game.
24. Drawn matches:
Except in the Finals, if the scores are level after 40 minutes play each way:
(a) the side which has scored the most tries shall go forward into the next round;
(b) otherwise, the side which has scored the most goals from tries shall go forward into the next round;
(c) otherwise, the visiting team shall go forward to the next round.
In the Finals, if the scores are level after 40 minutes play each way:
(d) the team which has scored the most tries shall be declared the winner;
(e) otherwise, the team which has scored the most goals from tries shall be declared the winner;
(f) otherwise, there shall be an immediate period of Extra Time (IRB Law 5.6) consisting of 10 minutes each way with an interval of one minute.
(g) If no result is still achieved, using (a) and (b) above, the match shall be adjudged a draw.
25. Should a game be abandoned for any reason:
after 60 minutes play, the score will stand;
if less than 60 minutes have been played, the officers of the Combination will decide if it is possible to arrange for the game to be replayed or if the result should stand.
26. The RFU provisions for uncontested scrums shall not apply. If uncontested scrums become necessary, the game shall continue, and the result shall stand, subject to Rule 25..
APPEALS AND PROBLEMS
27. The Officers of the Combination shall have full power to deal with any matter relating to the Cup Competitions for which no provision is made in these rules.
28. Any complaints or queries should be addressed to the General Secretary in writing by the club concerned within 72 hours of the event.
29. A match may be played under protest if the problem cannot be resolved beforehand.
30. If it is not practicable for the Executive Committee to give a decision when required, a majority agreement by at least three of the Officers shall suffice.
RFU.com 
Search
