Cumbria Rugby Union – Youth Competition Rules

1. DESCRIPTION
These regulations apply to all knock-out competitions under the control of or recognised by Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited. Each competition may have its own title including the name of sponsor (if applicable) as determined by the committee.
2. FORM
All matches in the competition shall be played under the Laws of Rugby Union and comply with the Rules and Regulations of the Rugby Football Union. (Hereinafter called “the RFU”).
3. ORGANISING COMMITTEE
The competitions will be organised by an Organising Committee (Hereinafter referred to as the “Youth Committee”) appointed by and reporting to the CBRDP (Constituent Body Rugby Development Partnership). The decision of the Youth Committee shall be binding and shall be final on any matter not provided for, in and on the interpretation of these regulations. The Youth Committee will organise the competitions through the meeting programme and will be approved by the Committee Members in attendance.
4. ELIGIBILITY OF CLUBS

a. The competitions shall be open to any club situated in Cumbria being a member of the Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited. Each club may enter only one team in any competition.
b. The clubs eligible to take part in the Cumbria Youth Cups are any across Cumbria provided they are in the correct age group. Teams in Cumbria are allowed to combine age groups with players ‘playing up’, under no circumstances must players ‘play down’ unless they fit the criteria in RFU Regulation 15 and have RFU authorised documentation.
c. A club in a competition match may only play or select as a replacement, only players;
i. Who are registered with that club under the Rugby Union Youth Player Registration Scheme for the appropriate age group of the competition and have been issued with a registration card which must be available for inspection at all competition games if required.
ii. Who are registered as above to play for another club in membership of Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited which is not taking part in the competition, provided that both clubs notify the organiser in writing to be received 7 days prior to the player playing in the competition.

5. ALL COMPETITIONS
Any person who has played for another club in that competition in the current season may not represent a second club in the competition.
Any infringement of this regulation will result in disqualification from the competition for that season for the player & club involved.
The committee shall have the power to reinstate a club in the competition when it has been eliminated by a club that has been in breach of this regulation. That power shall cease to apply at 2pm three days before when a further round of the competition immediately following that in which the breach was committed is scheduled to be played.
By entering the competition, the club authorises a copy of its Players Register to be supplied to the Organiser if required.
6. THE DRAW
The draws in the competition shall be made as follows;
a. The draw for all rounds of the competition will be made at the August/September Cumbria Youth Committee Meeting and all clubs shall be issued with ‘Play By’ dates to allow flexibility of fixtures.
b. The first named club to be drawn in a match shall be considered the ‘Home’ team and unless otherwise mutually agreed, the venue of that match shall be the ‘Home’ ground of such home team, except the final, where the Organisers shall determine the ground.

7. DATES OF ROUNDS

a. Rounds shall be played by the dates fixed by the Youth Committee unless otherwise determined by the organisers, and published on the County Website and other relevant CB documentation.
b. Clubs are encouraged to play these fixtures prior to the ‘Play By’ dates issued by the organisers and only use the ‘Play By’ date as a final option.
c. In the event of a match not being played on or before the appointed date both clubs must notify the Organiser in writing within 48 hours with their reasons. The Organisers will assess each case individually considering all the circumstances, making further enquiries as necessary and give a ruling within 7 days. The Youth Committee may direct the match to be played before a further date or may eliminate one or both clubs from the competition.

8. DRAWN MATCHES

a. In all Youth Fixtures – No extra time will be played to determine a winner of any particular competition. This is in line with RFU Continuum Guidelines as part of RFU Regulation 15.

9. CLASH OF COLOURS / IDETIFICATION OF PLAYERS

a. In the event of a team having similar or clashing colours, the away team shall be responsible for changing its colours subject to the satisfaction of the appointed referee. For the final, the away team will be decided by the toss of a coin, at least 2 days before the match concerned.
b. The jerseys of the teams competing in the competition should all be numbered or lettered to ensure correct identification of all players and replacements during the match.

10. REFEREES & TOUCH JUDGES

a. The referee for each match shall be organised by the ‘Home’ team in each of the rounds. It is encouraged to utilise the services of a ‘Neutral’ Society Referee wherever possible.
b. Touch judges will be provided by the participating teams, one from both the ‘Home’ & ‘Away’ Team.
c. For the ‘Cup Finals’ the Organisers will organise a ‘Neutral’ Society Referee to officiate in conjunction with the Society Appointments Officer.
d. If a referee appointed or provided under these regulations has not arrived at the agreed kick off time or if the referee is unable to officiate for the whole of the match for any reason and a replacement referee is available, the captains/coaches of the two clubs concerned may agree that the replacement referee can officiate and the result shall count in the competition. Such agreement shall thereafter be binding upon clubs. If there is no agreement then the match shall not count in the competition and it must be replayed in accordance with the provisions in Regulation 12.
e. The ‘Home’ club is responsible for confirming directly with the referee his appointment to the fixture.

11. REPLACEMENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

a. Up to seven replacements or substitutes are permitted in all matches in accordance with RFU Regulations.
b. In accordance of safety each team must have at least 5 players in their nominated match squad who are suitably trained and experienced to be capable of playing in the front row to ensure that on the first and second occasions (whether due to an injury or consequent to a player(s) being temporarily suspended or ordered off) that a front row is required to be replaced, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums. If any front row player requires to be replaced and his team cannot provide a replacement or other player suitably trained and experienced from those that started the match or from the nominated replacements to enable the match to continue safely with contested scrums, the referee, having made an enquiry of and having confirmed this fact with the captain of the team (or other such person nominated by the club as the manager or other person responsible for the team):
i. On the first and second occasion the match will continue with uncontested scrums, the offending team will be prevented from replacing the injured player(s) and
ii. On the third and subsequent occasion the match will continue with uncontested scrums and (subject to Regulation 11-b-iii below) the final result will stand.
iii. The Youth Committee may review the circumstances in every case where a match is completed with uncontested scrums.

12. POSTPONED & ABANDONED MATCHES

a. In the event of a match not being played by the appointed date or abandoned both clubs must notify the Organisers in writing within 48 hours with their reasons.
b. If conditions prevent a match being played or a match is abandoned because of such conditions with less than 60 minutes (Adjust for Youth Games) having been played, it shall be played or replayed before the date of the next round on a date and at a time agreed by the two clubs concerned and agreed by the Organisers. If there is no agreement within 4 days of the date of the match that was not played or abandoned or if the date and time agreed by the two clubs is not deemed acceptable by the Organisers, the date and kick off time of the replay will be as directed by the Organisers upon the application of either club.
c. If a match is abandoned because of weather conditions when 60 or more minutes (Adjust for Youth Games) have been played then the score at the moment of abandonment shall stand and be deemed the final score in the match. The referees decision as to the necessity for abandonment and the number of minutes played at the moment of abandonment shall be final.
d. In the event of a match being abandoned other than because of weather conditions or a shortage of front row players as referred to above the result of the match as at that time will be deemed to be the final result if more than 60 minutes (Adjust for Youth Games) has elapsed and if less than 60 minutes (Adjust for Youth Games) play has elapsed the match shall be replayed before the date of the next round. If there is no agreement within 4 days of the abandonment or if the date is not deemed acceptable by the Organisers, the date will be as directed by the Organisers on the application of either club.

13. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

a. Each club shall be responsible for informing the Cumbria Rugby Union Office by telephone & email of the result by the Monday following the match.
b. The Organisers are empowered to expel a club from the competition for failure to notify the Cumbria Rugby Union Office of fixture results.

14. KICK OFFS & DELAYED ARRIVALS

a. All matches shall take place at a mutually agreed kick off time between the teams involved in the fixture. This should take into account travel times for the ‘Away’ team to and from the ‘Home’ Club.
b. Any delays may be reported by the non-offending club to the Organisers who may impose such a penalty as it thinks fit.

15. GROUNDS

a. A home club is responsible for correctly and clearly marking its pitch and it must make proper provision to ensure (with the exception of the touch judges) all spectators, replacements and officials are kept at a reasonable distance from the field of play.
b. When a late decision as to the fitness of the ground for the playing of a match is necessary, it shall be made by the respective captains / coaches of the clubs involved, but if the captains are unable to agree, the decision will be made by the appointed referee.
c. A late decision is defined as one made within 3 hours of the scheduled kick off time.
d. Where possible teams should be alerted to games being cancelled the day before the scheduled fixture by the ‘Home’ team. Failure to do so may incur sanctions imposed by the Organisers.

16. FINANCE

a. The ‘Home’ team shall bear all expenses for the match and shall take any ‘gate’ monies (This could be entry or production of a programme for the game).
b. ‘Away’ teams pay their travelling expenses and in the case of the final both teams will pay for travel to a mutually convenient venue.

17. PROTESTS, DISPUTES & TRANSGRESSIONS

a. Any matters in dispute or any transgression of these Regulations shall be referred immediately to the Organisers by telephone if necessary, providing written confirmation following within 48 hours setting out the ground of complaint in full. The Youth Committee shall have an absolute discretion to resolve any such protests or disputes as it shall think fit and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing may decline to act upon a protest validly made if it considers doing so to be in the interests of the competition generally. The decision of the Youth Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.

18. MEDICAL SAFETY

a. Wherever possible, the ‘Home’ team should ensure a doctor or other medically qualified person is in attendance throughout the match.

19. MEDIA RIGHTS

a. Media Rights together with their sole right of exploitation except in so far as has been expressly agreed belong to the Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited.

20. TERMS & CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

a. Each club by commencing its first match in the competition agrees it has entered into a legally binding obligation with the Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited and has separate obligations with other clubs in the competition and with any sponsor of the competition that it will:
i. Comply in every particular with Regulations 1-20 inclusive.
ii. At all times comply with each and every of the obligations and requirements entered into by Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited with third parties, including, but not limited to, any sponsors of the competition under the terms and conditions of any sponsorship agreement provided that the details of any such obligations and requirements have been notified by the Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited to the participating clubs.
b. Each club by commencing its first match in the competition agrees it has entered into a legally binding obligation with the Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited and has a separate covenant with each Referee, Touch Judge or Match Official involved in any match in the competition or cancellation or abandonment thereof that it will not hold liable or make any claim against such official.
i. For any loss charge compensation or expenses arising out of or in connection with any kind of injury or illness suffered by any player, spectator or other person.
ii. For any damage to property of any kind.
iii. For any other loss cost charge expenses or damages be it for loss of profit expense incurred or otherwise and whether directly or consequential arising out of or due to any decision or action that such official may take under the Laws of the Game, these Regulations or any other rules or regulations published in the handbook or which have been properly introduced by the Cumbria Rugby Football Union Limited or in respect of the normal procedures to hold, play, control, cancel or abandon a match.

21. SPECIFIC YOUTH COMPETITION NOTES

a. Match Squads will be up to 22 players and rolling substitutions will operate with all club and County Cup Fixtures.
b. If a game is cancelled for whatever reason it is recommended that this is done the day before a game so that the ‘Away’ team have the opportunity to cancel their travel arrangements and thus incurring no cost.
i. Communication for the above must be done with team managers / coaches of the teams concerned and the Organiser of the Competition.
c. Dates given for the completion of fixtures are ‘Play By’ Dates – Please do not leave the fixture until that date as poor weather will impact heavily on subsequent rounds and teams may be removed from the competition.
d. Dates of finals are organised at the ‘May’ Fixtures Forum in Cumbria, these dates will not be moved unless there are exceptional circumstances involved as detailed in Regulations 11, 12 & 15 above.
i. If your club are unable to play in a relevant final it is recommended that you do not enter the competition.
ii. Finals are ‘Neutral’ venues and as such there is a large administrative burden, to cancel and reorganise these is very difficult particularly so late in the season.
e. Much of the regulations mention 60 minutes as the benchmark for judging the completion of certain fixtures, in youth rugby these are adjusted to;
ii. U15 – Games – 45 minutes
iii. U16/U17/U18 Games – 52 minutes
f. It is best practice to bring to an end a match if: (a) at Under 7s to Under 12s the try difference rises to more than six; or (b) at Under 13s to Under 18s the points difference is more than 50 points, unless both parties agree for the match to continue.
g. Further Information on Regulation 15 which has information on all aspects of Youth Rugby – Click Here

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