Regulations Governing all League & Cup Rugby Competitions in Ulster for Download

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REGULATIONS GOVERNING ALL LEAGUE AND CUP COMPETITIONS 2014-2015

SECTION 1 – GENERAL REGULATIONS

1 COMPETITIONS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (“CMC”)
(a) The CMC shall decide:-

(i) the dates on which matches, including replays, shall be played

(ii) the venues of matches

(iii) whether or not extra time if necessary shall be played

(b) The CMC may at any time scrutinise team lists, reinstatements, referees’ reports or other relevant material, and apply competition regulations as appropriate.

(c) The CMC may refer matters of conduct and responsibility, or of discipline, to the Honorary Secretary of the Ulster Branch.

2 FIXTURES
Fixtures shall be arranged at meetings of club representatives convened for the purpose and shall be placed before the CMC for its approval. In case the representatives of any 2 clubs cannot agree in regard to the date on which any match shall be played, the CMC shall decide the same.

3 DURATION OF GAME
(a) Save as provided in (b) below:-
(i) The duration of a match shall normally be 80 minutes subject to the Laws of the Game.

(ii) In the knock-out stages of all Cup Competitions extra time of 10 minutes each way will be played in the case of a draw at full time. Extra time will also be played in all play-off matches for promotion or relegation.

(iii) In the finals of Cup Competitions where, after extra time, the match still ends in a
draw the Cup will be shared.

(b) The duration of matches in Schools, and Youth, Cup Competitions shall be subject to the rules of such Schools, and Youth, Cup Competitions.

4 REFEREES
(a) The Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees shall (whenever possible) appoint Referees for all League and Cup matches, except for the finals of Cup or League Competitions, when the Society, through its representative, shall, at a Committee meeting held prior to the date of the final of each Cup Competition, recommend the name of a Referee to the Branch Committee for its approval.

(b) In relation to Law 6 (Laws of the Game) if a referee, having been duly appointed for a Cup or League game, is not in attendance, or if such appointment was not made, or if a referee who was appointed for a Cup or League game is unable to officiate for the whole period of a match, the game as scheduled may be postponed or in the latter case may be abandoned and reported to the CMC

(c) If either Club offers an alternative person to referee (including a referee spectating at the ground) in circumstances covered by (b) to enable the match to be played or concluded, agreement to the arrangements should be confirmed by both Captains signing the team lists submitted to the Referee before the game or before the game is concluded.

(d) Save as provided in (c) above, changes of a referee’s appointment after arrival at a ground can only take place with the approval of a Referee’s Selector.

(e) Referees may refuse to permit players to take part in a game if not wearing the registered Club jersey. If the registered colours of teams in a match are of such similarity as would present playing or refereeing difficulties, it is the responsibility of the home team to make the necessary change and to notify the Branch and opponents of such change.

5. ENTRY TO COMPETITIONS
Applications for all competitions must be made to the Branch on the appropriate form in accordance with Branch regulations.

6. CUP DRAWS
The CMC shall arrange to make the draws for all knock-out cup competitions. Each competing Club shall be notified of the result of the draw, dates and venues of each round, and of the instructions to referees regarding whether extra time should be played in the event of a draw. (See 3 (b))

7. COMPETITION PROVISIONS
(a) In the Ulster Championship League, and any other league operating the bonus points system, a team winning a league match shall be awarded 4 points. In the case of a drawn league game, each team shall receive 2 points. One bonus point will be awarded to a team scoring four or more tries in a league match, and one bonus point will be awarded to a team losing by seven points or less. Any team failing to fulfil a league fixture shall have 5 points deducted from its league points scored, and their opponents shall receive 4 points. In the case of 2 or more teams having an equal number of points, a deciding match or matches may be arranged as the CMC may determine.

(b) In all other leagues the team winning a league match shall be awarded 2 points. In the case of a drawn league game, each team shall receive 1 point. Any team failing to fulfil a league fixture shall have 3 points deducted from its league points scored and their opponents shall receive 2 points. In the case of 2 or more teams having an equal number of points, a deciding match or matches may be arranged as the CMC may determine.

(c) Any team scratching an away league fixture will forfeit home advantage in the return fixture. (If circumstances permit, this may be carried forward to the next season at the discretion of the CMC.)

(d) Any team scratching more than 2 league matches in a season may, at the discretion of the CMC, be debarred from entering a particular league competition in the following season.

(e) Any team scratching from a cup competition, for which it has entered, may, at the discretion of the CMC, be debarred from entering that competition in the following season.

8. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

(a) Each club shall submit on-line to the Branch in advance of each fixture electronic teamsheets which shall include the names and numbers of all players.

(b) The full names of the players of each team, and the number of their playing position, must be given to the referee before the start of each match and he shall retain same and forward them to the Branch if requested.

(c) Any differences between the teamsheet submitted to the Branch in accordance with the provisions of (a) above and the players who actually played or were named as substitutes in the fixture must be notified to the Branch on line by amendment to the electronic timesheet no later than 96 hours from the end of the game.

(d) The referee shall submit the result and number of tries scored by each team by text to the Branch immediately following the end of the game.

(e) In the event of any matter of importance affecting a match, including red and yellow cards or serious injury the referee shall submit a report about the incident on-line to the Branch within 24 hours of the end of the game.

9. REGISTRATION, ELIGIBILITY AND MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS, AND PAYMENTS TO PLAYERS
(a) All Clubs are subject to the provisions of Regulation 6 of the Regulations of the Irish Rugby Football Union (“the IRFU Regulations”).

(b) In addition the following provisions shall apply:-

(i) Clubs playing in Division Two of the Qualifying League, or in any division or league below Division Two of the Qualifying League, shall be permitted to register with the Branch, before 1 September in each year no more than one overseas player to play 1st XV rugby. In determining the eligibility of players to register under this provision the provisions of (a) to (d) of paragraph 2 of the Annex hereto, entitled “Eligibility of Players”, shall be deemed to apply for this purpose as they apply to clubs playing in Division One of the Qualifying League.
(ii)(A) Save as provided in (B) below, a player shall not be eligible to play for a club unless he is registered with that club in accordance with the IRFU Regulations, and in the case of knock-out Cup Competitions he shall be ineligible to take part in any such Competition unless he shall have been so registered before the commencement of the particular Competition.

(B) A school-leaver entering adult rugby for the first time, or a player enrolling in university and joining the university club, shall be eligible to play in knock-out Cup Competitions after the commencement of any such Competition provided such school-leaver or player is registered with his new club by 1 October at the latest.
(iii) A player may not transfer as a playing member from one Club to another unless he is free from any financial obligation with the Club he is leaving.
(iv) A player whose transfer has not been completed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 6.4.4 of the IRFU Regulations by the 31 January in any year will not be eligible to play for his new Club in Branch League or Cup Competitions.

10. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYER – AIB LEAGUE AND QUALIFYING LEAGUE DIVISION
(a) Clubs playing in the All Ireland League :-

(i) are subject to the provisions regarding the registration and eligibility of players set down in Regulations 9.14 and 9.15 of the IRFU Regulations , and
(ii) shall, on or before 1st June in any year , submit to the Branch a copy of the list of players submitted to the Union under the provisions of Regulation 9.14.1 of the IRFU Regulations .

(b) Clubs playing in Division One of the Qualifying League are subject to the provisions regarding the registration. and eligibility of players set down in the Annex hereto.

11. REINSTATEMENTS
(a) The CMC shall have the power to reinstate :-
(i) players who have become disqualified from league competitions, and
(ii) players (other than players cup-tied under the provisions of Regulation 15 (a),
and players selected by a Club in breach of Regulation 15 (b), below) who have
become disqualified from cup competition, provided that application is made on the electronic teamsheet submitted to the Branch under the provisions of Regulation 8(a) above and provided that such application is received by the Branch by 10am 3 working days before the match in which the player seeks to play.

(b) A player becomes disqualified if, during the current season, he has played, in
aggregate, four or more cup and league matches for a team in his Club playing in the next highest grade in which that Club has a team, or once for a team in a higher grade of League than the next highest grade.

(c) A dual status player, returning to play for his Qualifying League Club, shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) above.

(d) For the purposes of this regulation the grades of League shall be AIL/Ulster Senior, 2nd XV/ Qualifying, Junior and Minor.

(e) The provisions at (b) above shall not apply to a player in the Under 20 League,
(see Under 20 League Regulation 47 (g))

12. UNQUALIFIED PLAYERS
If any Club includes in its team, any player who is not duly qualified to represent it, the team shall be deemed to have lost the match, and: –
(a) in the case of a match in a league operating the bonus points system will have two
points deducted from its league total to date, and
(b) in the case of a match in any other league will have one point deducted from its league total to date and may at the discretion of the CMC be excluded from such league for the remainder of the season.

13. FALSIFYING TEAMSHEETS
If any Club includes in its team any player who is not duly qualified to represent it, and includes that player in the electronic teamsheet under a name or registration number other than his own, the team shall, in addition to any sanctions which may be applied under the provisions of Regulation 12 above: –

(a) in the case of a match in a league operating the bonus points system, have sixteen points deducted from its league total to date ;

(b) in the case of a match in any other league, have eight points deducted from its league total to date ;

the Club may be subject to further sanction by the Disciplinary Committee of the Branch if its conduct is held to be detrimental to the best interests of the Game.

14. THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND THE REPLACEMENT AND SUBSTITUTION OF PLAYERS

(a) Teams participating in the following competitions must comply with Law 3 of the Game in respect of the nomination and replacement/substitution of players.

COMPETITION NOMINATED SUBS OR REPLACEMENTS FRONT ROW REQUIREMENT
(i) Ulster Championship League 5 2
(ii) Qualifying 1 2 1
(iii) Qualifying 2 2 1
(iv) Qualifying 3 and 4 0 0
(v) Senior Cup (all rounds) 5 2
(vi) Junior Cup (up to quarter-final) 2 1
(vii) Junior Cup (semi-final and final) 5 2
(viii) Towns Cup (up to quarter-final) 2 1
(ix) Towns Cup (semi-final and final) 5 2
(x) McCrea Cup (to quarter-final) 2 1
(xi) McCrea Cup (semi-final and final) 5 2
(xii) Gordon West Cup (round robins) 2 1
(xiii) Gordon West Cup (quarter-final) 2 1
(xiv) Gordon West Cup (semi-final and final) 5 2

(b) Teams participating in the following competitions are not required to comply with Law 3 of the Game in respect of the nomination and replacement/substitution of players.

COMPETITION NOMINATED SUBS OR REPLACEMENTS FRONT ROW REQUIREMENT
(i) Junior League Sections 1-6 3 0
(ii) Minor League 3 0
(iii) Crawford Cup/Shield (all rounds) 3 0
(iv) Forster Cup/Shield (all rounds) 3 0
(v) McCambley Cup/Butler Shield (all rounds) 3 0
(vi) Harden Cup (all rounds) 3 0
(vii) Ravenhill Cup (all rounds) 3 0

15. CUP TIED PLAYERS
(a) A player may play for only one team in any particular Cup Competition.

(b) A Club may not select a player from a higher team to play in the semi-final or final of any cup unless the player has played in a previous round of the competition or in exceptional circumstances permission is granted by the C.M.C. For the purposes of this provision a player from a higher team shall be deemed to be a player who, during the current season, has played four or more matches in aggregate for a higher team or teams in cup and league competitions.

16. CLOSED DATES
League, Cup or Friendly matches must not be arranged for the afternoon, in Belfast and within a radius of 25 miles of Belfast, on dates closed by the Branch Committee.

17. STARTING TIMES OF MATCHES
(a) Normal kick-off time for all Saturday matches whether League, Cup or Friendly will be 2.30 pm. For matches on ‘closed dates’ the kick-off time will be 12 noon or earlier.

(b) Application to vary these kick-off times must be made in writing to the Branch Office 10 days before date of match.

18. CHANGE OF DATES
When the date and time of any match has been approved by the CMC the same shall not be changed without the prior permission of the CMC, other than under the provisions of Regulation 23, and any Club or Clubs contravening this regulation shall be deemed to have lost the match unless the CMC rules otherwise. Any postponed game must be re-arranged, and notification sent to the Branch by the Home club, within 14 days of the original date, in default of which the game will be re-arranged by the CMC.

19. REFUSAL TO PLAY
(a) League and Cup matches must be completed by the date specified by the CMC

(b) In the event of a Club failing to play a match or replay on the stipulated date or refusing to play extra time if ordered to do so by the CMC having control of the competition, it shall be adjudged to have lost the match unless the CMC considers there was a reasonable and proper cause for the refusal and, if the match is a Cup match, shall be liable to a fine as provided in Regulation 20.

20. POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION OF MATCHES
(a) Any Club postponing a match (with the permission of the CMC in accordance with
Regulation 18 above), or cancelling a match, for any reason, must immediately notify:-

(i) The Honorary Secretary or an authorised official of the opposing Club
(ii) The Branch in writing eg Fax or e-mail (Branch will notify Referee if cancellation is more than 24 hours before kick-off)

(iii) The Referee, if postponement or cancellation is within 24 hours of kick-off.

(b) Any Club failing to comply with (a) above shall be liable to a fine of £100 in respect of the expenses of a referee who travels, and may, at the discretion of the CMC, be held liable to pay the travelling expenses of the visiting Club.

(c) Save as provided in (d) below any Club postponing or cancelling a match within 24 hours of the fixture shall, in addition to the fine payable under (b) above, be liable to:-
(i) A fine of £50 if notification of such postponement or cancellation is given under the provisions of (a) above on the day preceding the fixture, or

(ii) A fine of £100 if such notification is given within 12 hours of the fixture, or in the event that no such notification is given.

(d) The provisions of (c) above shall not apply to a Club postponing or cancelling a match on behalf of its lowest league team, provided such team competes in either the Junior or Minor League, but such Club shall, in addition to the fine payable under (b) above, be liable to a fine of £100 if notification of such postponement or cancellation is given under the provisions of (a) above within 4 hours of the fixture or in the event that no such notification is given.

(e) Any Club failing to fulfil a fixture in the following competitions will be fined as follows :-
(i) Ulster Championship League £400 per match
(ii) Second XV League £300 per match
(iii) Qualifying League 1 £300 per match
(iv) Qualifying League 2 £200 per match
(v) Qualifying League 3 £100 per match
(vi) Qualifying League 4 £100 per match

(vii) Senior Cup £400
(viii) Towns Cup £300
(ix) McCrea Cup £200
(x) Junior Cup £300
(xi) Gordon West Cup £100 per match

(f) A Club failing to fulfil an away fixture in any of the competitions referred to in (e) above shall be subject to an additional fine of £100.

(g) A Club failing to fulfil a cup fixture in a competition other than those referred to in (e) above shall be subject to a fine of £100.

(h) Where a Club is subject to a fine of £50 or £100 for late cancellation under the provisions of (c) or (d) above, such fine shall be in addition to any fine payable under (e), (f) or (g) above.

(i) A Club wishing to appeal against the imposition of any fine payable under this Regulation must do so in writing on Club note-paper signed by the Honorary Secretary or the President of the Club to reach the Honorary Secretary of the Ulster Branch within 96 hours of notification of the fine.

(j) All postponed or cancelled League or Cup matches not previously notified to the Branch under the provisions of 20(a) above, must be reported by both clubs to the Branch by email within 48 hours of the scheduled match.. The offending Club should confirm forfeiture of points if appropriate, or both Clubs should confirm match rearrangement if this has been mutually agreed, giving date, venue etc.

(k) If agreement cannot be reached on forfeiture or rearrangement this should be reported by both Clubs and the decision will stand referred to the CMC. The offending side MUST immediately inform the CMC of the reasons why they failed to fulfil the fixture and why the CMC should not award points to the non offending side.

(l) Any team which is unable to stage a home fixture at the knock-out stage of a competition on two successive occasions will forfeit home advantage.

21. ORDER OF CANCELLATION
(a) Clubs must cancel or postpone League and Cup matches from the lowest team upwards.

(b) Cup games within their designated sections take precedence over league games.

(i) If a team is scheduled to play a Cup or League match on the same day as the Club has cancelled a Cup or League match of a higher team then the result will be declared null and void and its opponents will be declared the winners, whether the match actually takes place or not.
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(ii) Teams lose 1 point for each match played in a league at a lower level and their opponents receive 2 points.

(d) Where a match commences with less than 15 players on a team, that team may be deemed by the CMC, for the purposes of this Regulation only, to have cancelled the fixture and, if such cancellation is in breach of the order prescribed above, the CMC may impose the above penalty.

(e) When cancellation in the order prescribed above is impracticable (eg because of late cancellation or difficulties arising from an assigned pitch being declared unplayable) full details must be sent to the Branch in writing by the Club responsible for the cancellation within 72 hours of the cancellation. The CMC will then decide whether or not the above penalty will be imposed.

22. PROTESTS OR APPEALS
A Club wishing to make an official protest or appeal to the CMC in relation to a fixture must do so in writing on Club note paper signed by the Honorary Secretary or President of the club to reach the Branch Office within 96 hours after the end of the match to which it relates.

23. FITNESS OF GROUND
Prior to kick-off the Home Club shall be the sole judge of the fitness of the ground for the playing of a League or Cup match. In the case of a public ground the decision shall lie with the groundsman in charge. Once a match starts the referee is the sole judge of the fitness of the ground.

24. TROPHY OWNERSHIP & RESPONSIBILITY
(a) The Trustees of the Branch for the time being shall be for all intents and purposes the legal owners of all cups and shields in trust for the Branch.

(b) Cups and shields shall be presented to winning Clubs at the final or conclusion of the competitions, where practicable. Clubs winning a cup or shield shall, when the presentation has taken place, give to the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, a written guarantee for its safe custody and return when directed by the Branch.

25 DECISIONS OF THE CMC
The Clubs Committee, at its regular monthly meeting, shall be the final arbiter of any decision of the CMC which is disputed by a Club, provided that where reference to a monthly meeting of the Clubs Committee is impractical a Club may appeal direct to the Branch Committee in writing on Club note paper signed by the Honorary Secretary or President of the Club, and addressed to the Honorary Secretary of the Ulster Branch. Any such appeal must be lodged within 96 hours of the club receiving official notification of the CMC decision, and must be accompanied by a sum of £250 which may, at the discretion of the Branch Committee, be refunded in whole or in part.

26 ANTI-DOPING
For the sake of clarity the Branch affirms that : –
(a) the Irish Rugby Football Union Anti-Doping Regulations (“the Anti-Doping Regulations”) apply to the game in Ulster ;

(b) the Branch, and all persons participating in the game in any capacity under the jurisdiction of the Branch, are bound by, and shall comply with, the Anti-Doping Regulations;

(c) the Branch shall enforce the Anti-Doping Regulations and, in the event of a breach thereof, shall apply the sanctions set out therein.

ANNEX

REGISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS – QUALIFYING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

1. Operative Dates

(a) Only a player who is registered with a Club on the Union Player Registration Programme on or before 1 October in any year shall be eligible to play for that Club in Qualifying League Division One (“the League”). A person may be registered as a playing member with one Club only.
(b) A player enrolling in University and joining the University Club shall be eligible to play for that Club in the League if registered with the Club on or before 1 October in that year.
(c) A player who is registered with a Club prior to 1 October and who attains the age of 18 during the season shall be eligible to play in the League after he has attained his 18th birthday, unless he is a schoolboy who is eligible for the relevant schools competition.

2. Eligibility of Players

(a) The following are the registered players who are eligible to play in the League : –

(i) A player who qualifies to play for Ireland under IRB Regulations. This includes players who have completed three years residency.
(ii) A player who holds a passport issued by a country which is a member of the EU.
(iii) A player who has a valid work permit as a professional rugby player and who is a national of a country which has an association / trade agreement with the EU as under the Cotonou agreement.

(b) In the above cases, players must both be resident in Ireland on 1 September and remain in residence until the commencement of the League.

(d) Exceptions
In any season each Club may register one player who does not satisfy the above criteria provided that he has taken up residence and has been properly registered prior to 1 September. For the purposes of interpretation, this player is classified as an overseas player and must be nominated as such to the Provincial Domestic Game Manager prior to the commencement of the League.

(e) A player who, during the current season, has played at any level for an All Ireland League Club or a non All Ireland League Club shall be ineligible to play in the League for another Club without the consent of the CMC, and in any case only in very special circumstances.

3 Dual Status Players

A player who is a bona fide playing member of a non All Ireland League Club may also play for an All Ireland League Club in the same season subject to the provisions of IRFU Regulation 9.15, and such provisions shall, in addition to applying in relation to matches in the All Ireland League and Cup, be deemed to apply in relation to matches in the Ulster Championship League and the Ulster Senior Cup. Where the provisions of IRFU Regulation 9.15 are applied in relation to matches in the Ulster Championship League or the Ulster Senior Cup, application, under Regulation 9.15.2.1, must be made to the Branch office as if the reference therein to the Union’s office was a reference to the Branch’s office.