RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION
NORTH EAST AND CUMBRIA
COLTS SATURDAY & SUNDAY
LEAGUES
RULES OF THE COMPETITION
This League was set up to try and address the problem of player dropout between the ages of 16 – 24
years. This issue is one of the Rugby Football Union’s priorities in its Strategic Plan.
The introduction of the Leagues was first and foremost to provide young players with a
fun, rewarding stepping stone from youth to senior rugby. It is hoped that all matches
will be played with this ethos in mind.
PLAYING
All games will be played in accordance with the U19 Laws of the RFU. If during the game the Referee
is unable to continue and the game has not reached 60 minutes of playing time and no suitable
replacement is found the game shall be replayed. The replacement referee should ideally be a qualified
referee and acceptable to both sides.
ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS
Eligibility shall be confined to players in the Colts leagues who are either 16 or 17 years of age at
midnight on 31st August.
For your information please see the R.F.U. Handbook. (Schools and Youths Regulations).
Team Sheets
Team Sheets no longer need to be completed, the new electronic scorecard will replace the team
sheet.
The league tables will not be updated until the completed scorecard has been submitted.It is each
individual teams responsibility to submit a scorecard. Therefore the home team will be responsible for
submitting the result and the away team will also submit the result
.
Deadline for scorecards to be received is a Monday after a match is played. Points will
not be awarded if a scorecard is not received.
REFEREES AND TOUCH JUDGES
Ideally neutral referees appointed by the respective Referees’ Societies should referee games. Each
Club shall provide a Touch Judge for every game except where Touch Judges are appointed by the
Referees’ Society. Should the Referees’ Society be unable to appoint a neutral referee participating
teams should seek to appoint a qualified referee from their own Club.
Initially it will be the responsibility of the home team to appoint qualified referees from their own Club.
If however, the home team cannot provide a qualified referee but the away team does have a qualified
referee the game should be played with the away-qualified referee officiating the game.
CANCELLED GAMES
CONDITION OF GROUND
In the event of the ground being rendered unfit by weather or other circumstances, the home side shall
notify the visiting side and the referee society at the earliest reasonable time and arrangements made
to play the game at an alternative venue or time.
If there are difficulties due to weather then games should be re-arranged at the soonest
available date for both teams.
A club wishing to claim points for a cancelled game, were all reasonable avenues have been
exhausted to try and rearrange the game, should submit their request for points in writing with
a full explanation. This will then be discussed by the League Committee and the League
Administrator and a decision will be made.
.
Points awarded for cancelled games.
Home game 3 points
Away game 4 points
Points awarded for cancelled games if the scenario is a team is at the ground when the game
is cancelled (other then the rule concerning condition of ground)
Home Team 4 points
Away Team 5 points
No double-header games will be allowed.
SHORTAGE OF PLAYERS
It is within the ethos of the Leagues that matches should be played even if sides are short of a
full complement of players and that the exchange/loan of players to allow a match to take
place is far more preferable than a cancellation. Where possible a club should lend players in
order to permit a game to take place, which could otherwise have been cancelled. Also rather
than cancel, a game can be played with a minimum of ten players on both sides.
FRONT ROW SHORTAGES
With this being a major aspect of all games taking place (and associated points gained from
the match) it is imperative for the overall benefit and development of the game for coaches to
be developmental minded.
In the case of one side being short of front row players before the game then the match should
be allowed to be played with uncontested scrums, unless a front row player/players are loaned
from the opposition team.
AGE GRADES AND APPLICABLE VARIATIONS
In youth Rugby Players shall play in their own age grade unless they fall within one of the following
exceptions;
a) Those in the U16 and U17 age grades may play up two age grades.
b) In very exceptional circumstances, where a young person’s safety may be compromised due to
a development disability (physical or behavioural) that young person may play down one age
grade. Permission must be obtained from the young person’s parent or guardian. Teams should
be informed that the opposition is fielding a player playing down age.
Any team found playing players in a match that are not playing in the correct age group (ie:U19 players
playing in an U18 match) will be asked to leave the relevant league.
Results
If for some reason the game has to be abandoned the result will stand if 60 minutes has been
played.
PLAYING PLAYERS FROM ANOTHER CLUB
If a team turns up on the day and have less than 10 Players the opposition may lend them the
players required to play the game. HOWEVER if players are being lent from another club
(within the graded league) apart from the opposition, permission must be given. The League
Administrator must be notified of this intention, with the reason for it, at least 5 days prior to the
game.
Start Times
Mainly the home team will determine start times for games but please be flexible and
whenever possible respect the away teams wishes.
PENALTIES
The League organisers reserve the right to deduct points where an obvious breach of fair play
or courtesy has been incurred.
DISCIPLINE
If for some unfortunate reason a player is sent-off by the referee the formal procedure of
completing the ‘Player Sending-Off’ form enclosed, must be carried out. Whether the Referee
is a member of a Referee Society or not the completed Player Sending Off Form MUST be
sent to the respective Junior Disciplinary Officer within 3 days (72 hours) of the game having
been played.
Whether the Referee is a member of a Referee Society or not, in all circumstances where a
player has been sent off his Club Secretary must within 48 hours report any sending off to the
respective Junior Discipline Officer, providing the name, address and contact number of the
player.
Scoring System
The respective Competitions shall be played on a home and away basis.
awarded in accordance with the schedule below.
Win
Draw
Completing Fixture
Home
Away
3
1
1
4
2
1
Points will be
League split partway through the season.
In the case of mid season promotion and relegation Points will be wiped clean after this point
and the leagues will be determined by the second part of the season.
A Team withdraws from the league.
The points, gained from games played against a team that subsequently withdraws from the
league, will be deducted.
ADMINISTRATION
The League administrator is Rob Parkinson, his E-Mail is [email protected] results can be EMailed to the above address by the Monday following the fixture.
Thanks to everyone for their assistance throughout the season as without this support the
results and tables could not be formalised, updated and sent out.
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Have a good 2016/17 season.