Standing Orders
OF THE
Northumberland Rugby Union
These Standing Orders interpret elements of the Constitution of NRU and control the conduct
of the Union’s business
1. Northumberland
For the purposes of the administration of Rugby Union as delegated to the County by the
Rugby Football Union Northumberland is defined as the land encompassed in the Local
Authority areas of Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne as they are
outlined in 2007
2. Meetings – Are defined as and will meet as follows:
2.1 Annual General Meeting – will be held no later than 30th. June of each year in order to
conduct business as defined in the Constitution
2.2 General Meeting – a meeting of the County General Committee to be held 6 times per
year in alternate months beginning in the month following the Annul General Meeting
2.3 Annual Financial General Meeting – is held no later than 30th. September of each year
in order to receive and approve audited accounts of the Union. It will normally be held
immediately prior to a General Committee Meeting. Notice of the Annual Financial General
Meeting will be given according to the same rules as the Annual General Meeting.
2.4 Extraordinary General Meeting – Honorary Secretary shall call an Extra-ordinary
General Committee meeting when he receives a written request to do so, signed by any four
members of the General Committee or 25 County Members
3. Committees
Structure
3.1 The NRU structure is established to enable the bi-monthly County General Committee to
receive, discuss and accept reports from the 5 main Committees: Finance, Marketing and
Communication, Representative Rugby, Community Rugby [RDP] and Governance and from
sub-committees thereof as appropriate.
3.2 The President or most senior Vice-President present will chair General Committee and
Annual Committee meetings.
3.3 The dates for the General and Annual General Meetings for each season will be
announced at the AGM each year. For General Committee meetings the agenda notice of date,
time, venue should be received by members 14 days before the date of the meeting
accompanied by all relevant committee/sub committee minutes which make up the business of
the meeting. The Executive Committee will contain recommendations upon matters of
business which require the approval of the General Committee and will also identify topics for
further discussion.
3.4 The quorum for General Committee meetings shall be fifteen members entitled to vote. In
the event of the vote being only for club representatives the quorum shall be 66% of the
eligible clubs.
Representation
3.5 Northumberland Referees’ and Schools’ should nominate a Representative for the General
Committee to the Honorary Secretary following their AGMs’
3.6 Committees and Sub Committees may co-opt individuals for specified items of business
and/or for specific expertise which they can contribute to the work of that committee.
3.7 The following Officers of NRU are ex officio of all Committees and Sub Committees:
President, Honorary Secretary, RFU Council Representative and the Senior Vice President
3.8 Unless given dispensation by the General Committee a Past President who has not
attended a General Committee meeting for two seasons will no longer receive the notice of the
Annual and General Meeting and will no longer be entitled to attend meetings.
A Past President wishing to have his rights reinstated must apply through the County Hon.
Secretary.
3.9 Associate members are invited to attend Annual and General Meetings but may not vote.
Voting
3.10 Committees and sub committees shall vote by a simple majority with the Chairperson
having a second and casting vote. A quorum of a Committee or Sub Committee is 50% of
those entitled to attend and vote.
3.11 A Club representative may only vote at the Annual and General Committee meetings if
he or his club’s approved nominee has attended 50% of the General meetings [6 General] in
the preceding season.
3.12 Past Presidents of the County receive notice of meetings and have voting rights provided
they have attended two General Committee meetings during the preceding season or have
obtained special leave from the General Committee for non-attendance.
3.13 In the event of a club nominee not being able to attend a General Committee meeting the
Club concerned shall be entitled to send a replacement, who will have full voting rights,
provided the name of the replacement is notified to the Honorary Secretary in writing in
advance of the meeting
Conduct of Business
3.14 The reports referred to in paragraph 3.1 [above] will have previously been considered by
the Executive Committee which will make recommendations with regard to matters of business
or policy which require to be approved by the General Committee. The General Meeting will
consider, discuss and vote upon acceptance of these recommendations.
3.15 Each sub committee and committee will produce numbered minutes as per the NRU
system [numbers beginning at the first meeting following the AGM each season] which record
the responsibility for action of groups/individual[s].
3.16 The minutes of sub committees and committees should be forwarded to the County
Office a.s.a.p. in draft form to allow circulation to the appropriate Committee, in the case of
Committees to the Executive and in the case of the Executive to the General. The draft minutes
must be available for the next stage 14 days before the date of the next meeting.
3.17 When major items and items that will have a major financial implication are being voted
on only the club representatives may vote. For this purpose a major item is defined as one that
is proposed as such by a club representative and seconded by the representative of another
club.
4. Executive Committee
Subject to any guidance which may be given from time to time by the County General
Committee, the Executive Committee [or such name as may be adopted] may take executive
decisions regarding the day to day running of the County and its business provided that:
i.
It shall have no power to alter or amend the existing rules
ii.
No sums of money shall be expended beyond those sums agreed in the
budget by the County General Committee plus a contingency sum of no
greater than £5,000. Any further expenditure must be approved by a
meeting of the County General Committee
iii
The quorum of the Executive Committee shall be 6 members attending of whom three
shall be officers and three elected by the General Committee
Iv
The Chairman, or in his absence, the acting chairman shall be entitled to a
second casting vote
5. Role of the Club County representative
The County Club Representative should be on the Senior Management /Executive of their club
and shall ensure
 Liaison between County and Club is appropriate by reporting relevant County and RFU
matters to the club and expressing considered club view to the County General
meetings
 The Club County Representative is expected to be willing to support County committee
activity by being a member of committee[s] that are appropriate to the expertise and/or
interests of the Club Representative
 Support the County teams
 Attend [or arrange a substitute to attend] General Meetings
 Attend the Annual General Meeting at which a second non voting representative may
attend.
 After suitable service to the County the Club Representative should be available for
consideration for election as Vice President of NRU
6. Regulation for matches
The Representative Rugby Committee shall ensure players are selected for all County matches
The uniform shall be a Green Jersey with Red and Yellow Hoops, Green Socks with Red and
Yellow tops, and White Shorts, which must be worn by all members playing in County
matches.
A County Cap shall be awarded to players who have made 3 consecutive appearances as a
starting player in the Senior County Championship or other approved matches or 5 appearances
in all as a starting player [non-consecutive] or as a replacement. Replacement for a blood
injury would not count for this purpose.
Clubs in membership of the County who are provided with referees supplied by the
Northumberland Rugby Union Referees’ Society are required to pay to the Referees Society
each season a sum to be agreed by the Finance Committee.