Warwickshire Colts’ Rugby Football Union
Warwickshire Colts RFU Knock-out Cup Competition
RULES SEASON 2014-15
Principle
1.1
The competition shall be called “The Bob Coward Cup”.
1.2
The competition will be organised by the Committee of the Warwickshire Colts Rugby
Football Union (hereafter called The Committee). Any decision of the Committee will
be binding and final on any matter not covered by these regulations and on their
interpretation.
1.3
The winning Club team will be awarded the ‘The Bob Coward Cup’, which it will hold for
the following year.
Eligibility of Clubs
2.1
The competition shall be open to any club situated in Warwickshire being a member of
the Rugby Football Union and fully affiliated to Warwickshire Colts RFU, and which
organises its own Club Colts Under 18 team.
2.2
Entry to the competition will be accepted when a completed entry form and annual
affiliation fee is returned to the Committee by the designated date.
2.3
No club may enter more than one team in each season’s competition.
Player Eligibility
3.1
A club in the competition may only play or select as a replacement players who are in
Under 17 and Under 18 age groups at midnight on the 31st August/1st September at the
beginning of the current season.
3.2
All players must be members of the club and registered by that club in accordance with
the RFU Registration Scheme. The RFU Registration Number for each player shall be
recorded on the Match Result Card and given to the referee before the match. A player
will be deemed to have taken part when he is nominated on a team list, whether as a
player or as a replacement.
3.3
No player shall play for more than one club in the competition in any one season.
3.4
The latest date for registering players will be January 31st in the current season.
3.5
A player may play one game for one other club within the previous 28 days of a cup
match without losing his eligibility to play for his own club (provided that any match
played is not a Warwickshire Colts Cup match).
3.6
All players in the competition shall be regular playing members of competing clubs and
must have played a minimum of 10 games in the current season prior to 31st January,
of which five games must have been played for the competing club at either Colts
Under 18 or Under 17 levels.
3.7
Appearances for school, county or divisional sides shall count as if playing for the club.
3.8
Players not fulfilling the Criteria 3.5 and 3.6 due to injury should be referred to the
Committee who will adjudicate. The decision of the Commiittee will be final.
3.9
If requested, clubs must provide evidence of players’ eligibility.
Matches
4.1 All matches in the competition shall be played 35 minutes each way.
4.2 All matches in the competition shall be played under the Laws of Rugby Union Football
with the Rugby Football Union Under 19 interpretations, as printed in the current RFU
handbook.
4.3 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 ground of the
home team, except for the final which will take place at a venue to be decided by the
Committee, refer to 14.5.
4.4 The Committee will set the date of each round of the competition according to the RFU
Structured Season.
4.5 The clubs who have entered the competition will be sent a copy of the dates and the Rules
of the Tournament.
4.6 Any team which fails to attend the appointed venue in time for a match to be played will
forfeit the tie.
4.7 Matches shall be played on a Saturday. In exceptional circumstances and only if both
clubs agree and if a WSOR referee can be appointed, the match shall be played on the
Sunday of the designated weekend for the round. Matches may be played in advance of the
scheduled date, if both teams and the WSOR are in agreement. The Committee reserve the
right to decide what constitutes exceptional circumstances.
4.8 The Committee reserves the right to reschedule the final if necessary to cater for
unforeseen county events.
4.9
If a club has any player unavailable due to representative rugby, it may seek a
postponement. The match should be rearranged in accordance with Rule 7.1.
Replacements and Substitutions
5.1
Rolling replacements are permitted in the competition.
5.2
A team can have a maximum of 15 players and 4 replacements up to the semi-final, a
team can have a maximum of 15 players and 7 replacements for the semi-final and
final. 15 players & 4 replacements = 4 front row, 15 players & 7 replacements = 6 front
row.
5.3
Front row (FR) replacements must be marked on the Match Result Card.
5.4
Front row replacements do not have to be substitute players; they can be players
already named in the starting XV, as long as they are suitably trained and qualified to
play in the front row.
5.5
A substitution may be made at any time with the referee’s permission.
5.6
Any player replaced because of injury may not be used as a substitute later in the
game.
Clash of colours/Identification of players
6.1
In the event of Clubs having similar or clashing shirt colours, the home team shall be
responsible for changing its shirt colours, subject to the satisfaction of the appointed
referee.
6.2
The shirts of the competing clubs should be correctly numbered to ensure the correct
identification of all players and replacements during a match. NO player will be allowed to
swap a shirt with another player, also players wearing shirts with the same number as a
player on the field or with no number will NOT be allowed to enter the field of play.
6.3
All teams reaching the final of the competition will be required to bring an alternative
set of shirts with them.
Postponed matches
7.1
If weather or ground conditions or any other valid reason prevents a match being
played on the scheduled date, it shall be played before the date of the next round on a
date to be agreed between the two clubs concerned. The rearranged date must be
agreed and notified to the Committee in writing by both clubs within 72 hours of the
original date. If the clubs concerned cannot reach agreement regarding a rearranged
date, the matter is to be referred to the competition Committee, who will adjudicate.
The decision of the Committee will be final.
Abandoned matches
8.1
If a match is abandoned because of bad weather/pitch conditions/serious injury, or any
other reason except as detailed in Rule 9, then the result shall stand if 55 minutes have
been played.
8.2
The referee shall be the sole judge of the time elapsed.
8.3
If a match is abandoned as in Rule 8.1, the game shall be rearranged at the earliest
possible opportunity, in accordance with Rule 7.1.
Uncontested Scrummages
9.1
In the interest of safety each team must have the required number of players to comply
with the Rule 5.2 in their nominated match squad who are suitably trained and
experienced to be capable of playing in the front row to ensure that up to semi-final
stages on the first occasion and for semi-final & final stages on the first, second or third
occasion (whether due to injury or consequent to a player(s) being temporarily
suspended or ordered off) that a front row player is required to be replaced, the team
can continue to play safely with contested scrums.
9.2
If on any occasion a front row player requires to be replaced and his team cannot
provide a replacement or another player suitably trained and experienced from those
who started the match or from the nominated replacements to enable the match to
continue safely with contested scrums, the Referee having made enquiry of and having
confirmed this fact with the Manager of the team, the match will continue with
uncontested scrums and (subject to Rule 9.5 below) the final result will stand.
9.3
In the unusual event that the Referee decides to continue the match with uncontested
scrums on the grounds of safety, because he cannot safely manage the scrums
otherwise, the final result will stand. Subject to Rule 9.5 below.
9.4
The Referee shall make any final decision regarding a player’s suitability to continue to
play in the front row.
9.5
The Committee may review the circumstances in every case where a match is
completed with uncontested scrums and save for the right of appeal the Committee and
the Appeal Committee (as the case may be) shall be entitled to impose penalties in
accordance with Rule 15.
In the Event of A Draw
10.1 If the scores are level at the end of any match except the final, there is no provision for
a replay. The following method will be used to decide the winning team.
a)
The team that scores the most tries shall win. If the score is still level then
b)
The team that scores the most conversions from tries shall win. If the score is
still level then
c)
The team with fewest players sent off/sin-binned (where the tariff of a ‘red card’
is worth twice that of a ‘yellow’) shall win. If the score is still level then
d)
The team named as the away team shall win.
10.2 If the scores are level at the end of a final, again there is no provision for a replay. The
following method will be used to decide the winning team.
a)
The team that scores the most tries shall win. If the score is still level then
b)
The team that scores the most conversions from tries shall win. If the score is
still level then
c)
The team with fewest players sent off/sin-binned (where the tariff of a ‘red card’
is worth twice that of a ‘yellow’) shall win.
If the above does not produce a winner then the trophy will be shared.
Sendings-off and ‘Sin bins’
11.1 If a player receives a red card and is sent off he will be required to leave the field of
play and return to the changing rooms for the duration of the match.
11.2 A ‘sin-bin’ system will operate, as per IRB laws and RFU regulations, in all Cup
matches. If a player is temporarily sent off (after receiving a yellow card), he will serve
a period of 7 playing minutes in the ‘sin-bin’. He must stand off the pitch and behind
the posts which his opponents are defending. He may collect clothing and water on his
way to the posts.
11.3 If any player receives a red card during the final the player will not be permitted to
receive a medal in the post match presentation. The medal will be handed to the club.
Notification of Results
12.1 Officials of both clubs are responsible for informing the organiser of the competition of
the result.
12.2 Both clubs are required to complete their respective Match Result Card duly signed by
the match referee and sent to the organiser of the Competition within 48 hours of a
completed match.
Referees and Touch Judges
13.1 The Home team is responsible in arranging with the Warwickshire Society of Referees
(WSOR) to appoint officials for matches in all rounds up to and including the semi finals.
13.2 The Committee will be responsible for the administration of the appointment of match
officials (a referee and two assistant referees) for the final.
Match Arrangements
14.1 Home teams will be responsible for match arrangements.
14.2 It is the responsibility of a home club to ensure the proper marking of the pitch and to
take steps to exercise spectator control. This includes the erection of a barrier or ropes
at least five metres (5m) from the touch line at ALL GAMES and appoint necessary
stewards.
14.3 All clubs participating in the competition are responsible for arranging their own medical
arrangements for all matches including the Semi-Final and Final.
14.4 All home clubs MUST provide Technical Areas as per Midlands League Administrative
Rule.
14.5 The Final will be played on a neutral ground within the Warwickshire Constituent Body
area.
Disputes
15.1 The Committee may disqualify any club from the current and/or subsequent
competitions for failing to honour any rule of the Competition. Any objection or claim
that the rules of the Competition have been broken must be received by the
Committee, in writing, within seven days of the game in question.
15.2 A club may appeal against any decision made by the Committee by notifying the
Committee Secretary in writing within 24 hours of the decision of the Committee being
announced. The club SHALL set out full details as to why such an appeal is made and
supply full documentary evidence upon which it wants to rely. In addition a fee of £100
is payable within 48 hours thereafter (such a payment being refunded if the appeal is
upheld).
The Committee are empowered to hear any appeal made subject to the following:
The appeal hearing is to be
a) Chaired by the President, Senior President Elect or Junior President Elect of
Warwickshire Rugby Football Union
b) An independent arbitrator (with legal experience if possible) to be present
c) Two members of the club appealing will be invited to attend the hearing to place
before the hearing any facts NOT previously disclosed in their evidence.
The Committee shall have regard for natural justice, Human Rights Act and the interest
of all the parties concerned when hearing the appeal.
The decision of the Appeals Committee will be FINAL.
Final Version – 14 June 2013