Rules - Cup, Bowl & Vase
Rules of the Competitions (Cup, Bowl and Federation Vase)
1. The Competitions shall be called the Middlesex County R.F.U. Knockout Cup and the Middlesex County R.F.U. Knockout Bowl, and the Middlesex Federation Vase
2. All matches shall be played under the Laws and Bye-Laws of the R.F.U.
3. The Competitions shall be restricted to Clubs affiliated to the Middlesex County R.F.U. and which are not otherwise qualified for the R.F.U. Senior Knockout Competition in the following season by reason of their position in the English Clubs Rugby Championship in the current season.
4. Each Club entering the Competitions shall pay an entry fee, the amount of which shall be decided by the Committee of the Middlesex County Rugby Football Union.
5. The Competitions Standing Committee shall supervise the running and organising of the Competitions.
6. In particular the Competitions Standing Committee will:-
(a) Send out invitations to clubs.
(b) Arrange the draw and dates of Rounds.
(c) Decide on all questions regarding the interpretation of these Rules and any breaches thereof.
(d) Generally organise and direct the Competition and appoint an Organising Hon. Sec.
7. Each match shall be forty minutes each way unless the captains otherwise agree.
8. The Middlesex Cup and Bowl
A club may only play or select as a replacement players who hold EFFECTIVE registration for that club in accordance with the R.F.U. Registration of Players Regulations. For the Vase a Club may select five unregistered players
9. Each Club will be responsible for completing team cards which must be handed to the referee prior to kick off. At the completion of the game these must be signed by the referee and officials from both Clubs and posted to the Organising Sec. to arrive no later than the Wednesday following the game.
10. In all rounds except the final, in the event of a match being drawn at no-side, the teams shall change ends and there shall be an immediate period of replay between the same teams of ten minutes each way, with a one minute interval. If the scores are then still equal, the team that has scored the most tries shall go forward into the next round. If this does not produce a result, the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall go forward into the next round. If the scores are still equal and the tries still equal and the goals from tries still equal, the visiting team shall go forward into the next round.
11. In the event of the final being drawn at no-side, the teams shall change ends and there shall be an immediate period of replay between the same teams of ten minutes each way, with a one minute interval. If the scores are then still equal the team that has scored the most tries shall be the winner. If this does not produce a result, the team that has scored the most goals from tries shall be the winner. If no result is then achieved, the teams shall change ends and a further ten minute period shall be played and the first team to score shall be declared the winner. If there is not a score in this period of extra time then further ten minute periods of time shall be played, the teams changing ends after each period until a score is obtained.
12. Hon. Secretaries of Clubs concerned shall immediately notify the Organising Hon. Secretary of any possible or actual postponement of any match, and abandonment of any match together with their proposals for a date when the game will be played (if postponed) or replayed (if abandoned).For the Rules in relation to abandoned matches see RFU regulations.
13. The Competitions Committee shall be solely responsible for the making of draws, the informing of referees’ society of the dates of the matches, fixing of kick-off times and is empowered to seed Clubs, alter the date or dates of any round or of any match in the competition. In each draw the first Club drawn shall be the home side but with the prior approval of the Competition Committee Clubs may alter the venue of the match if they so desire. In the event of a colour clash the home side will change.
14. Immediately after each game the Home Club Hon. Secretary shall notify by telephone the Organising Hon. Secretary of the result.
15. All money, including money charged for admission to stands and enclosure, revenue from the sale of programmes and car parking, taken or otherwise collected from spectators at each match (Bar taking excepted) shall be divided equally between the Clubs taking part in the match provided, however that the Home Club may deduct there from the cost of printing tickets and programmes and referees expenses but save as aforesaid no other deduction shall be made. The Home club shall within 14 days of each matchs end to the visisting club (with a copy to the Organising Secretary) an account of the said monies together with a remittance in respect of the ammount due to the visiting club
16. The Committee of the Middlesex County Rugby Football Union shall have the power to alter or amend the Rules in such a manner as it may from time to time decide.
17. The Competition Committee shall have the right to disqualify from the Competition any Club which in the sole and unfettered opinion of the said committee is in breach of these Rules or any of them.
18.The County will donate a Cup to be called “The Middlesex Cup” a Bowl to be called “The Middlesex Bowl” and a Vase to be called "The Middlesex Federation Vase" This will be held by the winners for one year only and it shall not be possible for the same to be won outright. The winning Club will also be presented with a Middlesex shield which they will keep. The runners up will receive a Middlesex shield which they will keep.
19.(i) Matches will be played on the Saturday of a designated weekend. If the sides cannot agree to play on the Saturday they can agree to play on the Sunday. If they cannot agree either day then the Organiser reserves the right to exclude the side who who caused the cancellation of the match on Saturday.
(ii) Where the Clubs have a League match either before or after the designated weekend but before the next round they can double up. The only stipulation is that this is cleared with the Cup and League Organisers.
(iii) If a match is not played on the designated weekend for whatever reason (and the Organiser has not excluded the side) then it must be played before the date of the next round. (Consideration must be given to playing with Club XVs on Sunday and midweek under lights)
(iv) If it becomes apparent that the sides are simply unable to agree to play the match on a mutually acceptable date the Organiser reserves the right to exclude the side who he thinks has caused the failure. (If the only reason is that one side3 has other Cup and League committments then this will not automatically save them from exclusion.
Front Rows
Subject to paragraphs 20 and 21 below, the RFU regulation 7.3 applies.
20. In all rounds of the competition other than the semi-finals and final not more than four replacements or substitutes are permitted. In the interest of safety each team shall have available four players in the match squad (including replacements) on the field of play capable of playing in the front row of the scrum should a replacement be required whether due to an injury or consequent upon a player being temporarily suspended from the field of play or being ordered off. If on the first occasion a front row player requires to be replaced and his team cannot provide a player capable of playing in the front row of the scrum the referee having confirmed this fact with the captain of the team, will order uncontested scrums and the team shall be deemed to have lost the match
20. In the semi-finals and final not more than six replacements or substitutes are permitted. in the interests of safety each team shall have available five players in the match squad (including replacements) on the field of play capable of playing in the front row of the scrum should a replacement be required whether due to an injury or consequent upon a player being temporarily suspended from the field of play or being ordered off. If on the first or second occasion a front row player requires to be replaced and his team cannot provide a player capable of playing in the front row of the scrum the referee, having confirmed this fact with the captain of the team,will order uncontested scrums and the team shall be deemed to have lost the match.(E&OE)
National Senior Knock Out Competition Qualifications
Clubs will be selected for however many places are available, in the following order and manner from the current seasons Knockout Cup competition and the English Clubs Championship
1. The winner of the Middlesex Cup. In the event that this Club also qualifies by gaining promotion to National Division 3 (South) in the Championshipat the end of the current season then this place will be taken by the losing finalist in the Middlesex Cup.
2. The Club reaching the highestposition in the Championship below National Division3 (South) after giving effect to promotion and relegation at the end of the current season. Thus for example:-
(a) a Club relegated from National Division 3 (South) at the end of the current season would qualify.
(b) a Club promoted from London League 2 North would be selected before a Club relagated from London League 1 at the end of the current season
3. If the County is invited to nominate more than two clubs then the next highest placed club(s) in the English Clubs Championship as defined in 2 above will be selected.
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