Essex Rugby
Youth League Competition Rules
Season 2007/08
1. Administration
1.1. The Competition shall be called the Essex Rugby Youth League, hereafter referred to as The Competition.
1.2. The Competition shall be organised by the Essex Rugby Competitions Sub Committee, hereafter referred to as The Committee.
1.3. The Committee shall appoint a Competition Secretary to administer The Competition on a day-to-day basis.
1.4. Each club entering The Competition shall appoint one Club Competition Contact with whom the Competition Secretary shall communicate in respect of all matters relating to The Competition.
1.5. The Competition shall be played under The Laws of the game of Rugby Football Union and Guidelines for each age group as printed in the R.F.U. Schools and Youth Handbook and subject to any variations imposed and approved by the I.R.B. and the R.F.U.
1.6. Changes to the Competition rules will be published before the beginning of each season and will be binding on all clubs who enter the competition.
2. Entry to the Competition
2.1. The Competition shall be open to all Clubs allocated to the Essex Rugby by the R.F.U. that are operating a Junior Section. Entry to sides associated to the Essex Rugby will be on a fixture availability basis.
2.2 To join The Competition, a team will be expected to meet the following minimum requirements:
» Have played at least 5 friendlies against Essex teams in each of the last two seasons
» Participated in the relevant Essex Cup Competition or Festival completing all assigned matches. Allowance will be made for teams that applied, in good time, to participate in an Essex Festival who were rejected because the Festival was full.
» Have a minimum of 15 players registered with Essex RFU as playing for the club applying, at the relevant age level, at the closing date for applications.
2.3. To participate in The Competition, clubs are required to complete an Entry Form. The Entry Form must be lodged with The Competition Secretary by the closing date specified by The Committee.
2.4. The Committee may refuse entry to Clubs who have had teams disqualified from The Competition in previous seasons.
3. Format of the Competition
3.1. The Competition shall be organised by age group. The Committee shall specify the format for each age group according to the number of teams entered:
Either:
» Leagues where all teams play each other and the winners being determined by league position.
» Leagues where all teams play each other both home and away and the winners being determined by league position.
3.2. The teams entering The Competition shall be organised into leagues, based on age groups.
3.3. If there are two or more leagues then there will be promotion and relegation between the leagues at the end of each season to be determined by the Competition Secretary. Normally 2 teams will be promoted and relegated from each league.
3.4. Commencing with the 2008/09 season, the selection for division 1 of the U13 League will be based on the results of the Essex Festival at the U11 age level in the season two seasons before the league season.
3.5. The Competition Secretary shall determine the dates upon which the games are to be played, based on the R.F.U.s Structured Season, and shall publish the schedule of matches as soon as practicable.
3.6. Leagues will normally have a minimum of six teams and a maximum of eleven teams at the time of formation except where decided by The Committee.
4. Eligibility of Players
4.1. Before participating in any Competition match, all players (whether as participants or replacements) must, for the current season:
» be a paid up member of the club they represent;
» be registered with the R.F.U. Player Registration Scheme.
4.2. Players must play within the correct age group as determined by date of birth (i.e. have been born on or after 1st September for the age group). If a team has insufficient players for the age group, those from one year younger may participate.
4.3. If an over-age player is found to have participated in any Competition match, the offending team shall be disqualified from The Competition.
4.4. If an ineligible player, other than over-age, is found to have participated in any Competition match, the result is void and the non offending team shall be awarded a 39 – 0 win.
5. Organisation of Matches
5.1. The home team shall be responsible for all organisational matters relating to matches, including:
» confirmation with appointed referees (at least 48 hours prior to kick-off);
» payment of referees expenses;
» confirmation with visiting team (at least seven days before the match);
» condition of the pitch;
» change of colours in the event that both teams are similar;
» supply of the match ball;
» notification to the Competition Secretary and the Referee in the event of any change to arrangements.
5.2. All games are to be played on the prescribed dates, except as follows:
» the pitches are unfit due to bad weather;
» the match clashes with an Essex cup match involving either team.
» where the two teams mutually agree to an alternative date and/or venue.
5.3 In the event that pitches are unfit due to bad weather, the home team must immediately notify the opposition, the Competition Secretary and the Referee. The respective team managers must, within 48 hours, agree new arrangements for the game to be played. In this case the visiting team must be offered the option to play at their ground. The Competition Secretary may over-rule the agreement if, in his opinion, the proposed date is unsuitable or contrary to the spirit of The Competition. If the team managers are unable to agree, the game shall be played on the next available Sunday when neither team is involved in an Essex Youth match/National Clubs Competition match or County weekend.
5.4 In the event of a match being postponed due to a clash with the RFU organised National Clubs competition, the involved team must immediately notify the opposition, the Competition Secretary and the Referee. The respective team managers must, within 48 hours, agree new arrangements for the game to be played. The Competition Secretary may over-rule the agreement if, in his opinion, the proposed date is unsuitable or contrary to the spirit of The Competition. If the team managers are unable to agree, the game shall be played on the next available Sunday when neither team is involved in an Essex Youth match/National Clubs Competition match or County weekend.
5.5 In the event that both teams mutually agree to alter the date or venue or kick-off time of a league match, they must seek the permission of the Competition Secretary. The Competition Secretary may refuse permission if, in his/her opinion, the proposed date is unsuitable or contrary to the spirit of The Competition. All rearranged games must be played by the end of April.
5.6 If no acceptable date can be found, the side that cannot meet the original date will forfeit the game.
5.7 The Competition Team Sheet should be printed out and completed by BOTH teams for every match.
Each club fills out their own copy with their squad details and match result. This should then be signed by a club official and the referee before being exchanged with the opposition at the end of the match. Please ensure that the result on each sheet is the same! Clubs should also be prepared to show RFU registration cards for each squad member.
Opposition sheets are to be retained by each club for inspection on request of the League Secretary.
For the resolution by the League of any dispute over the match result or player eligibility it will be necessary to produce the opposition's signed sheet.
Both team managers are responsible for notifying the League secretary of the result by 12 noon on the day following the match by emailing the score to one of the following e-mail addresses, as appropriate:
U13league@essexrugby.com
U14league@essexrugby.com
U15league@essexrugby.com
U16league@essexrugby.com
U17league@essexrugby.com
In normal circumstances failure to notify the result within this period will result in the offending team being docked 1 League point. Match durations shall be:
Under-13 – 25 minutes each way
Under-14 - 25 minutes each way
Under-15 - 30 minutes each way
Under-16 - 35 minutes each way
Under-17 - 35 minutes each way
Under-18 - 35 minutes each way
5.8. Under-13 and under-14 games shall be played with a size 4 ball. All other age groups shall play with a size 5 ball.
5.9. For the purposes of recording a result in The Competition, no team may win by a margin of more than 50 points. If a game reaches a score difference of 50 points, the referee shall suspend the game. The match may continue at the discretion of the coaches and referee. If a result is submitted which shows a margin of victory greater than 50 points, the winning team score shall be reduced accordingly.
5.10 It is the responsibility of all teams to, where possible, carry an adequate first aid kit and have somebody qualified, present at the match to treat minor injuries.
6. Players & Replacements
6.1. All games are to be between two sides of 15 players with up to seven players nominated as replacements or substitutes. Each side must start the game with a trained front row. If either side does not have enough players to start the game with a trained front row they must concede the match. i.e. The game may not be started with uncontested scrums.
If a front row player is injured during the game and their team has no trained front row substitute then the game will continue with uncontested scrums.
6.2. If one side has less than 15 players the game may go ahead as long as:-
i. there are even numbers in each scrum
ii. each side has trained front rows. (The game may not be started with uncontested scrums.)
iii. The referee deems it safe to do so.
If these criteria are not met then the game must be conceded.
6.3. If seven replacements or substitutes are named, at least six of the 22 players must be nominated as cover for front row positions (Tight Head Prop, Hooker & Loose Head Prop).
6.4. An injured player may be replaced by a player who has already been substituted.
6.5. Any “B” side may include up to a maximum of 4 players who have played or who have been nominated as substitutes for that clubs “A” side in their previous league match.
7. Failure to Fulfil Fixtures
7.1. If a team fails to fulfil a fixture for any reason other than bad weather, unfit pitches or National Clubs Competition Match the non-offending team shall be awarded the game by a score of 39 points to nil.
7.2. If a team fails to fulfil a fixture for any reason other than bad weather, unfit pitches or National Clubs Competition Match, the coach must, in writing and within seven days, notify the Competition Secretary and give the reasons.
7.3. If, for any reason, a team is unable to field a side and fails to give more than 24 hours notice to the opposition, that team shall be liable for the referee's expenses.
7.4. If, for any reason, a team fails to fulfil more than two of its Competition fixtures, the team shall be, at the discretion of the Competition Organiser, disqualified from The Competition.
8. Leagues
8.1. League positions shall be determined on a point’s basis: two points for a win and one point for a draw. In the event of tied league points, positions shall be decided on the following basis:
1. match points difference between the clubs;
2. match points scored.
If the above does not separate winners and runners up of a league competition, the teams concerned shall be declared joint winners.
If the above does not separate those teams involved with promotion and relegation issues of a league competition, both teams will be promoted / relegated.
8.2. If a team withdraws or is disqualified from The Competition, all games already played by that team shall be declared void and league points adjusted accordingly.
9. Referees and Touch Judges
9.1. Society Referees shall be appointed to as many games as practicable.
9.2. For all matches, each team shall provide one touch judge.
9.3. If a Society referee is not available then the Home Team must;
a. Inform the visiting team at least two full days in advance that there is no Society referee.
b. Provide a competent, qualified alternative referee acceptable to the visiting team. If such referee is attached to the Home Team club then this should be made clear in advance.
c. Offer the visiting team the option of providing a qualified referee for the whole game.
d. Failure to comply with these rules may result in the docking of points from the Home Team and so it is advised that they keep a record of when and to whom the information was relayed.
9.4. If an appointed society referee arrives after the game has started using an arrangement under Rule 9.3, the appointed referee shall take over.
10. Child Welfare & Photography
10.1. Because of recent changes in legislation and best practise the RFU has published guidelines on the photography of children. These are set out on page 36 of 'Policy and procedures for the welfare of young people in Rugby Union'.
10.2 All Clubs entering the Competition have been asked to draw to the attention of parents/guardians that in entering their children in the Competition they implicitly agree and accept that:
a) Photographic images may be taken of their son/daughter, during the normal course of rugby activity, by accredited photographers and/or other parents/guardians.
b) These images may be used in the press or in Club/County/RFU publicity, in line with the RFU guidelines.
The Essex Rugby Welfare Officer, Bea Bards, should be consulted re any Child Welfare issues.
11. Disputes
11.1. Any disputes or matters not already covered by these rules shall be addressed in writing to the Committee.
11.2. There is a right of appeal to the Essex Management Committee in respect of a decision made by the Organiser. Such appeal shall be made in writing within 48 hours of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the appeal and shall be made to the President of the County through the Hon. Secretary of the County.
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