SOUTH CANTERBURY RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION OPEN GRADE RULES Definitions Union is to mean the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union. Union s office or the Union office is to mean the office of the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union situated at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru The Council is to mean the committee of the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union constituted under Part 7 of its Constitution and known as the Council of Clubs. The NZRU is to mean the New Zealand Rugby Union. The SCRRA is to mean the South Canterbury Rugby Referees Association Lodge in relation to any document required to be submitted to the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union under these Rules includes the following: - Personal delivery to the Union s office at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru; - Transmission by facsimile to 03 688 6179 - Transmission by e-mail to info@scrfu.co.nz And to lodge and lodged shall have a corresponding meaning. References to the singular shall include a reference to the plural and vice versa AUTHORITY OF THE COUNCIL OF CLUBS 1. The Council is responsible for the control of all club and school rugby and all representative rugby below open grade level in the South Canterbury province. 2. The Council has the full power and authority to arrange, regulate and control all club and school matches and said representative matches as they see fit. Any such match played by NZRU registered players within South Canterbury and/or officiated by a SCRRA referee, or associate referee, is within the jurisdiction of the Council. 3. The Council may delegate responsibility for arranging, regulating and controlling club and school matches and said representative matches to sub-committees and or Union staff as it sees fit. Sub-committees for Draws, Cancellations & Postponements, Registration Review, Transfer Approvals, Disciplinary Hearings, and Teenage Rugby are to be appointed prior to the start of competition each season. 4. Clubs will be required to formally notify the Union s Rugby Manager, when advised, which competition grades their teams will be entering 5. The Council will allocate matches, dates and grounds, and may delegate responsibility for JAB grades to the JAB Committee. Fixture draws to be arranged such that each team in a competition does an equal, or as near to equal as possible, amount of travel.
6. The format of competitions will be as determined, from time to time, by the Council. 7. All playing venues must have the approval of the Council and it may cancel approval if necessary. The Union, clubs and schools must mark and prepare their grounds in accordance with the NZRU rules. 8. The Council reserves the right to transfer, postpone or cancel matches in any grade, such event to be notified to affected parties by the Union s Rugby Manager on its behalf. The match referee is the only other person with such rights. 9. The games are to be played as, when and where directed by the Council. The only exception being when both clubs mutually agree to change at least 10 days before the set date and the change is ratified by the Council. 10. The venues for semi-final matches will be at the home ground of the highest qualifiers or, if no suitable venue is available, as designated by the Council. Finals will be played at Alpine Energy Stadium if practicable. 11. The details of all inter-club and inter-school competition rugby matches played in the province of South Canterbury must be notified to the Union s Rugby Manager at least 10 days prior to the fixture. 12. All club, school and below open grade representative grade rugby competition games in South Canterbury, and therefore under the jurisdiction of the Council, must have a suitably qualified referee officiating and at least one trained first aid person in attendance at the game. Teenage and open grade teams must have at least one coach who has completed the most recent RugbySmart training. 13. Failure to comply with these provisions will render any offending club or team, liable to suspension from any Union competition for any period the Council may determine 14. Any club/team traveling to play domestically in New Zealand but outside the South Canterbury province is required to notify the Union of the game/games 15. Any club/team travelling to play overseas is required to have the prior approval of the Union 16. All clubs registered colours and uniform must be approved by the Union. 17. All teams shall play in their club or school s registered colours and uniform with correctly numbered jerseys 17.1.1. Reserves should, as nearly as possible, be numbered 16 Reserve Hooker
17 Reserve Front row 18 Reserve Forward 19 Reserve Forward 20 Reserve 1/2 backs 21 Reserve Inside Back 22 Reserve Outside Back 18. Where there is similarity in colours that has a potential for confusion/mistakes the home team will provide themselves with alternative jerseys. 19. Where a club has two or more teams in a grade, they may differentiate them with suitable alternative jerseys 20. The Council will administer the Union s competitions through the services of council members and staff of the Union. 21. As part of that administration the Council reserves the right to impose penalties and or monetary fines on clubs or schools that act in any way contrary to these Rules as set by the Council. In cases where penalties are imposed these will generally be stated within the Rules and monetary fines will be up to but not exceeding $300.00 for each offence. 22. Any club or school in arrears with fine payments may not play at any grade level until the fines are paid. TEAM ENTRIES 23. Team entries will be called for by the Union with the closing dates for those entries being notified at the same time, as determined by the Council. 24. Late team entries are permissible and may be accepted by the Council at its discretion. 25. The entrance fee for each competition will be decided by the Council. Clubs will be advised of team entry fees when competition entries are called for by the Union and these are to be paid within the timescale set. 26. Clubs will receive an invoice and receipt from the Union for payment of team entry fees. 27. The Council has jurisdiction in all matters relating to the classification of players and has the power to re-grade teams in regard to the competition entered. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY & TRANSFERS 28. Players, team coaches, team managers, team support personnel and persons assigned touch judge duty must be bona fide members of an affiliated school or club, in accordance with the Constitution and Rules of the club, to play in the Union s competitions and associate with club teams.
29. No player is allowed to play for more than one club team in any one grade of competition except for 1 School students may play on separate days for their school and an affiliated club if able to do so safely. In such cases they should register with their club in the first instance. 2 Clubs fielding more than one Open grade team are able to transfer players between the grades, for all games including semi-final and final games. 30. Generally a player will only be permitted to play for one club or school, that is the club or school they first registered with at the commencement of a season [as determined by the date at which they signed the NZRU registration form]. If there are exceptional circumstances they may request and may be given approval to transfer to another club, by the Council. 31. A player must have a transfer clearance from their previous club and register with the new club when transferring between clubs when 1 The player is transferring between affiliated clubs within the South Canterbury province in successive years 2 The player is transferring from and returning from playing overseas and wishes to play for an affiliated Club in the Union s competitions (and/or be eligible for representative rugby). The Player must have an international clearance from the overseas Union before completing registration with the Union. A player does not need a transfer clearance when transferring to a club within the South Canterbury province, when, 1 Transferring from another NZRU province; or 2 The Player was not registered with a Club that is affiliated to the Union in the previous year. A player who does not need a transfer clearance is still required to comply with all other registration conditions required by the Union. 32. It is the responsibility of the player s new club to obtain a transfer clearance on the official Union transfer form and lodge it with the Union s office during normal business hours. The completed transfer form must be lodged with the Union s office seven (7) days prior to the player participating in any competition game for the new club. 33. Unpaid invoiced subscriptions are the only reason a club may withhold a transfer clearance. Non payment for gear, travel, accommodation etc. and any other issues are to be resolved between clubs and players, and shall not impinge on the right of the player to receive a transfer clearance. 34. Any player seeking to transfer clubs during a competition must do so prior to the fourth competition game and have the transfer approved by the Council. A player obliged to relocate and shift residence within South Canterbury due to work-related requirements may be permitted to transfer after the fourth competition game, provided the player s new club has obtained the written approval of the Council. 35. In any given year affiliated clubs are restricted to obtaining a maximum of two new senior [A] grade recruits (through internal Union club transfers) from the entire senior playing pool within the
Union s senior competition. A senior recruit is deemed to be a player that was listed at least ten times on official team sheets in the previous year s senior [A] club competition A player obliged to relocate and shift residence within South Canterbury due to work-related requirements will not be considered as part of the maximum number that can transfer between seasons. Any transfer movements greater than the maximum will require the written approval of the Council 36. If the Council has grounds to believe that a player was offered an inducement to transfer they may withhold approval indefinitely or until the issue is resolved by the Union s Disputes Committee. 37. Any decision by the Council in relation the issue of transfer of players may be referred to a Union s Disputes Committee who will be charged to settle the matter according to the tenor and spirit of these Rules. 38. Should a club be unable for any reason to field a team in a specific grade for which they have entered, any or all of that team s members may transfer to another club fielding a team in the appropriate grade, as loan players subject to obtaining the written approval of the Council and the club concerned prior to the match being played. 39. Transfers of players within club teams of the same grade (where the club fields two or more teams) is subject to the approval of the Council. 40. Secondary School and Tertiary students home on vacation may be permitted to play for a club with which they had a previous affiliation in a team/grade for which they are eligible. The player s club must obtain written approval from the Unions Rugby Manager 24 hours prior to the player taking part in any Union competition match. In such circumstances Player Late Registration and NZRU Registration forms are to be completed by these players, noting the institution that the player is on leave or vacation from, and lodged with the Union s office prior to playing. 41. There is no stand down period for players before they can play in a lower Open Grade competition. 42. Any club/team that breaches the player eligibility and transfer rules will forfeit each match the player has played in. Where the offending team has won the match the team will lose all available competition points (5) and trophies etc. for the match and these will be awarded to the non-offending team. If the offending team loses the match all available competition points (5) for the match will be deducted from the losing teams competition points tally even if it this puts the team into a minus position on the competition points table. Additionally where loss of points does not constitute an adequate penalty the Council may impose a monetary fine Continued infringement may result is a monetary fine as determined by the Council. PLAYER REGISTRATION 43. Every player must be registered with the Union prior to playing. The completion of a NZRU Player Registration Form is compulsory as it provides a player with Insurance cover for permanent injury or death whilst playing rugby.
44. A player is eligible to register for his/her Club after the 1 st January each year. A player intending to transfer clubs within the SCRFU and register with the new club can only do so after the completion of the transfer clearance process. 45. Team Registration lists [on the official NZRU team registration form] and NZRU Registration forms for each player must be lodged with the Union s office no later than seven (7) days before the commencement of competition games; however 1. During the first four weeks of competition any players not on the originally submitted Team Registration List can complete the approved NZRFU form in full prior to the match and the forms must be lodged to the Union s Office by 9.00am the Tuesday after the match. After the first 4 weeks of competition 2. If the player was last registered to your club the approved NZRU Registration Form is to be completed in full and lodged with the Union s office by mid-day Friday prior to the game. 3. Any players that are new to a club are to complete the NZRU Registration Form in full and these must be lodged with the SCRFU office (together with any clearance transfer that may be required under these Rules) 7 (seven) days prior to playing in competition games. 46. The club is responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in any Player Registration Form or Team Registration List. These forms will be checked for accuracy and authenticity by the Union. If necessary an officer of the Union will discuss any discrepancies or anomalies with the club or school concerned. 47. All details requested on the Union s and NZRU forms must be completed in full, including player signatures to indicate their acceptance of club, Union and NZRU affiliation. 48. Team and Player Registration sheets will be scrutinised and any irregularities will result in a player being regarded as an unregistered player. In all cases until team and player registration papers are fully and correctly completed and lodged with the Union s office a player will be considered unregistered. The Union s office will return any incomplete registration forms to the club concerned. Any such player/s will be considered unregistered until their registration forms are completed correctly and in full, and are returned to the Union s office. 49. If for any reason a player plays who is deemed as unregistered the club/team that breaches the registration rules will forfeit the match the player has played in. Where the offending team has won the match the team will lose all available competition points (5) and trophies etc. for the match and these will be awarded to the non-offending team. If the offending team loses the match all available competition points (5) for the match will be deducted from the losing teams competition points tally even if it this puts the team into a minus position on the competition points table. Additionally where loss of points does not constitute an adequate penalty the Council may impose a monetary fine Continued infringement may result is a monetary fine as determined by the Council. TEAM SHEETS & RESULTS NOTIFICATION
50 Team Sheets/Result Cards with correct full names of each player must be lodged by each team manager to the Union s Office by 9 a.m. Tuesday Details supplied must be legible and include: i. Club, Date, Opposition, Venue and Result ii. Number of tries, penalties, conversions & field goals to be attributed to players iii. Replacements (by jersey number) iv. Sin Bin actions (Yellow card) v. Ordering Off actions (Red card) vi. Dispensated players identified (grade appropriate) vii. Designated front row players identified viii. Loan players and club registered with ix. Signature of the Team Official and the Referee 51 In any competition game of rugby played under the control of the Union the maximum number of players allowed to be stripped (in playing uniform) is 22 for each team All players will be named on the team sheet, including 5 players trained to play in the front row. 52 If there are less than 22 players named then Laws of the Game, Law 3, 3.5 (a) i. 15 or less 3 players who can play in the front row ii. 16 18 iii. 19 22 4 players who can play in the front row 5 players who can play in the front row 53 NZRU Serious Injury Reports [as defined by the NZRU] must be filled out by the team manager and forwarded within 48 hours to the Union s Office. 54 The failure to submit team sheets/cards will result in points not being awarded for the game. Where the losing team fails to comply points will be deducted from their competition tally even if it puts the total into minus. For continued failure to submit team sheets/cards a club may be subjected to a fine as determined by the Council of Club 55 All results are to be texted to 027 64 99150 straight after your match. 56 Every player named on the Team Sheet/Card must also be listed on the Team Registration Form submitted prior to the competition starting or have fully completed a Player Late Registration Form prior to the match and lodged with the Union office according to conditions in Cl. 45. 57 Team cards will be scrutinized by the Union and any discrepancies or irregularities found between the original team registration list and any subsequent Player Late Registrations and the Team Sheet/Card will be queried with team management. If no satisfactory explanation is provided competition points will be deducted and the team may be liable to a fine from the Council.
58 If for any reason a player plays who is not transferred correctly or is deemed as unregistered teams will incur penalties as noted in clauses 42 and 49 DEFAULTS 59 If play does not commence within thirty (30) minutes of the appointed time, the referee may declare the team that is unable or unwilling to proceed to have lost by default 60 Any Club/Team unable to keep its engagement (defaulting) in any match must give notice to the Union s office by 9.00 a.m. on the day prior to the match. If the day prior falls in the weekend, then the notification must be made by 9.00 a.m. on the last business day of the preceding week. 61 The management of the defaulting team must notify opposition club officials and check that the referee has been notified of the default. 62.If a team defaults, the opposition will register a 20-0 victory (equivalent to a 4 try bonus point win) and be awarded 5 competition points. The defaulting team will lose 5 competition points, even if this put then into a minus position on the points table. 63 A record of all defaults will be kept. 64 Any team that defaults later than 9.00 a.m. on the day prior to the match will be fined an amount set by the Council to pay the opposing club as reimbursement for expenses incurred and loss of revenue. Such costs could include travel, ground preparation, food purchased that cannot be kept, and the loss of potential bar revenue, but not exceed $300 in each instance of default. 65 The minimum number of players a team may field without a default is twelve (12) of which three (3) must be designated front row forwards. Any team unable to meet the minimum number will forfeit the game, but may play a friendly game with non-contested scrums or sides evened up. 66 A team that defaults on two consecutive occasions or three occasions at intervals may be withdrawn from the competition by decision of the Council. 67 A game that is cancelled or unable to take place, for any reason excluding defaults, will be rescheduled for the next available free competition day. If no such day exists the competition points will be allocated to the teams as for a draw (2 points each). 68 A game is officially constituted as such after seven (7) minutes of continuous play for sevenaside games and fifteen (15) minutes of continuous play for fifteen-aside games. DISCIPLINE & DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE RULES DISPUTES & DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 69 Any decision by the Council of Clubs may be taken to the SCRFU Disputes Committee who will be charged to settle the matter according to the tenor and spirit of the Rules.
70 All disciplinary matters relating to incidents of foul or illegal play by any player, or any incident of misconduct involving any person, in respect of any game played under the Union s jurisdiction shall be addressed in accordance with the Union s Judicial Hearings Policy. COMPETITION RULES 71 Ties at the Conclusion of Round Robin Play In the event of teams being equal on Competition Points at the end of the Round Robins to qualify for the finals, the finalists will be determined by the following criteria, which shall be applied in the order in which they appear until a result as to the position of the relevant team is determined:. A Where teams are tied, the tied team with the most wins against the other tied teams shall have the higher position. B If teams win one game each in round robin play then the team having the higher differential of the average of points scored for and against in the round robin matches over all round robin games shall have the higher position. C If teams are still tied the team that scored the most tries over all round robin games shall have the higher position. D If teams are still tied the higher position will be decided by the toss of the coin. Tie in a Semi Final In the case of a draw at the end of normal time the following criteria will be used to determine the winner 1 A further 5 minutes played each way. Teams are to have a 2 minute break between normal full time and change ends. After 5 minutes play teams will have another 2 minute break and change ends for the last 5 minute spell 2 If teams are still tied the team that has scored most tries in the match 3 If teams are still tied the team getting the most competition points in round robin matches involving the two teams 4 The team with the higher points differential between average points for and against in the round robin matches shall be the winner Tie in Final 72 In the event that teams are tied at the end of the final match the two teams will share the title In the case of a draw at the end of normal time the following criteria will be used to determine the winner 1 A further 5 minutes played each way. Teams are to have a 2 minute break between normal full time and change ends. After 5 minutes play teams will have another 2 minute break and change ends for the last 5 minute spell 2. If still tied teams will play 5 minute spells with a 2 minute break for change of ends until one team scores. The first team to score shall be the winner Loan Players 73 One front row loan player is allowed per team under extra ordinary circumstances (safety reasons). This player must be a registered player in South Canterbury and the referee and opposing manager must be informed pre match. This loan player must be highlighted on the team sheet/ card and may not take the field ahead of existing front row trained team members. Failure to comply will result in a forfeiture of competition points.
74 Competition Points Win Draw Loss within 7 points or less Four tries or more 4 points 2 points 1 bonus point 1 bonus point 75 The host team is to provide three Union sponsored match balls for all club matches or points from the game will be lost. 76 Match balls to be used as sanctioned by the NZRU and presented in good order. TEAM PROTOCOLS 77 Team lists, including forenames, surnames and assigned playing numbers are to be supplied to programme coordinators at host clubs/venues immediately following Thursday night practice. 78 Drinks in glass containers are not to be taken into changing rooms and showers 79 Teams must accept the sponsorship obligations of host clubs and refrain from public use of competing sponsors products 80 Team managers are responsible for any players gear and valuables left in changing rooms if they cannot be locked 81 All teams have a duty to leave the changing rooms they have used clean and swept out, with all rubbish to BE placed in the rubbish bins following a match. 82 At Alpine Energy Stadium the host team will provide personnel to operate the time clock and the scoreboards and to pick up flags and goalpost pads after the last game for the day and return them to main corridor in the changing rooms under the stand 83 The host club is to provide an after match function, including food for travelling teams, and opportunity for speeches. Speakers are to refrain from using offensive language. 84 Teams that fail to comply with the above protocols may be subject to penalty as determined by the Council. SEPARATION of PLAYING FIELDS from SPECTATOR AREAS 85 For Senior A & B games Clubs are to provide a clear area between the touch line of the playing field and areas where team reserves and officials and spectators assemble. Only designated line umpires, ball boys, water boys and medics can be in this area. Where there is a permanent fence this will suffice as a boundary and home club officials will ensure that only the designated persons above are in the area between the permanent fence and the touch line.
If the touchline is some distance from the permanent fence, eg. AES No 1, the home club may rope off an area the length of the field 7m from the touch line for team reserves and officials or rope off an area on three sides at least 7m from the touch line that is long enough to seat the designated reserves and team officials from both teams. All spectators must remain behind the permanent fence Where there is no permanent fence the home club will rope off an area 7m from the touch line for the length of the field and if necessary on both sides. The Home Club will ensure that all team officials and reserves and spectators will stay outside the segregated area except for the half time break. Spectators are to stay outside the segregated area for the whole match. PROMPT OR IMMEDIATE DECISIONS OF COUNCIL In any circumstance where a prompt or immediate decision is required form the Council (e.g. loan players) the Council Chairman may, instead of convening a meeting of Council, contact a majority of Council members (excluding those Council members which represent a club or team with a direct interest in the outcome of the required decision) and on the basis of discussions with those members make a decision on behalf of the Council accepting or declining the request. Such a decision shall be ratified at the next full meeting of the Council, however, if no such ratification is provided this shall not invalidate the original decision made by the Chairman. Programme Contacts VENUE CONTACT PH NO FAX E-MAIL AES Nicky Geary (03) 6888 (03) 688 nicky@scrfu.co.nz 653 6179 Geraldine Helen Henderson (03) 693 (03) 693 helen@hhaassociates.co.nz 9345 9779 MacKenzie Kim Jordan 03 685 4920 mackenzierfc@yahoo.co.nz Pleasant Point Copy fast (03) 614 Fax team sheet directly to Copyfast 7174 (03) 684 6298 or email: michelle@copyfast.co.nz Temuka Vickie George bundy-vick@xtra.co.nz Waimate Waimate Trader waimatetrader@clear.net.nz