YOUTH CUP & YOUTH BOWL 2015-16
RULES OF COMPETITION
1
COMPOSITION OF THE COMPETITIONS
The Scottish Rugby Youth Cup (“the Youth Cup”) and Youth Bowl (“the Youth Bowl”)
will be contested by club teams in four competitions (“the Competitions”):
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2
A Cup competition for the under-18 age group;
A Cup competition for the under-16 age group;
A Bowl competition for the under-18 age group; and
A Bowl competition for the under-16 age group.
STRUCTURE AND MATCH DATES
2.1
Each of the Cup competitions (Rules 1.1 and 1.2) will be contested by 10 teams
as follows;
2.1.1 two teams from the Borders area;
2.1.2 two teams from the Edinburgh area;
2.1.3 two teams from the West region;
2.1.4 two teams from the Caledonia region (one from the Midlands and one from
the North); and
2.1.5 the two finalists from the Bowl competitions (Rules 1.3 and 1.4).
2.2
The 8 regionally nominated entrants to the Cup competitions (defined in Rules
2.1.1 – 2.1.4) will be decided by an appropriate youth committee from each
region/area, as designated by Scottish Rugby’s Championship Committee. The
youth committee must seed each nominated team 1 and 2. The selection
process used by each youth committee must be approved by the Championship
Committee and the National Youth League Forum.
2.3
The youth committees must declare the entrants to the Cup competitions for
their region/area no later than 20 December 2015.
2.4
The nominated team seeded 1 for each region/area will be rewarded with a
home quarter-final and the nominated team seeded 2 for each region/area will
join the Bowl finalists in the draw for the preliminary round.
2.5
To be eligible to enter the Bowl competitions named in Rules 1.3 and 1.4 under16 and under-18 teams must not be from a club that is participating within the
2015-16 Scottish Rugby Club Youth Conferences.
2.6
The finals of the Cup Competitions (Rules 1.1 and 1.2) will be played at
Murrayfield. The finals of the Bowl Competitions (Rules 1.3 and 1.4) will be
played at neutral venues. All match arrangements for these finals will be
communicated to the clubs concerned by the Competition Organiser.
2.7
Dates for Under 18 and Under 16 Cup and Bowl Competitions
Cup (U18 & U16)
Bowl U18
Bowl U16
Preliminary Round Weekend of Saturday 9
January 2016
Round 1 – Saturday 26
September 2015
Preliminary Round Sunday 20 September
2015
Quarter-finals – Weekend
of Saturday 23 January
2016
Quarter-finals –
Saturday 31 October 2015
Round 1 – Sunday 4
October 2015
Semi-finals – Weekend of
Saturday 6 February 2016
Semi-finals – Saturday 14
November 2015
Quarter-finals –
Sunday 1 November 2015
Finals – Sunday 28
February 2016 (BT
Murrayfield, main pitch)
(tbc)
Finals – Sunday 29
November 2015 (BT
Murrayfield, back pitches)
Semi-finals – Sunday 15
November 2015
Stand by weekends:
Saturday 16 January 2016
Finals – Sunday 29
November 2015 (BT
Murrayfield, back pitches)
Saturday 30 January 2016
Saturday 13 February 2016
3
2.8
The default dates for all matches (except the finals) in these four competitions
are as listed in Rule 2.7 with kick-offs at 2.00pm. However, a fixture can be
played on an earlier date and/or with a different kick-off time if both clubs agree
to such change(s) and if the Competition Organiser grants permission.
2.9
Because of the limited availability of stand-by dates, all clubs will have to agree
to play when necessary at neutral venues, including the Murrayfield artificial
pitch. Scottish Rugby may allocate a neutral venue for any match postponed
because of adverse weather or ground conditions. However, the club initially
drawn at home in any match will continue to be recognised as the home club for
the purposes of these Rules regardless of where the match is eventually played.
LAWS OF THE GAME
All matches will be played according to World Rugby Laws, including the Under 19 Law
Variations.
4
DURATION OF MATCHES
4.1
Every under-18 and under-16 match will last no more than 70 minutes (two
halves of 35 minutes) (World Rugby Law 5: Time (Under 19 Variation)).
4.2
No extra time will be played at any stage of the Competitions.
4.3
If the scores are level after 70 minutes’ play in any Cup or Bowl match the
following tie-break procedures will be followed (except for finals):
4.3.1 The team which has scored the greater number of tries will be declared
the winner.
4.3.2 If Rule 4.3.1 fails to define a winner then the team which has scored the
greater number of conversions will be declared the winner.
4.3.3 If Rules 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 fail to define a winner then the team which scored
the first try will be the winner.
4.3.4 If Rules 4.3.1 to 4.3.3 fail to define a winner then the team which has
scored the greater number of drop goals will be declared the winner.
4.3.5 If Rules 4.3.1 to 4.3.4 fail to define a winner then the team which has had
fewer red cards in the match will be declared the winner.
4.3.6 If Rules 4.3.1 to 4.3.5 fail to define a winner then the team which has had
fewer yellow cards in the match will be declared the winner.
4.3.7 If Rules 4.3.1 to 4.3.6 fail to define a winner then the away team will be
declared the winner.
4.4
5
6
If in a final the teams’ scores are equal after 70 minutes’ play the trophy will be
shared.
ARRANGING OF FIXTURES AND NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
5.1
The home club must contact the opposition, the allocated referee, and the
Competition Organiser at least 72 hours before the kick-off to confirm the match
details. If any change is made to the date and/or venue and/or kick-off time for
the match (as defined in Rules 2.7 and 2.8), the home team must inform the
opposition, the allocated referee, and the Competition Organiser without delay.
That responsibility for match-day arrangements remains with the original home
team for any fixture (except a final) rearranged for a neutral venue.
5.2
The home team must advise the Competition Organiser of the result no later
than 10.00am on the Monday after the match or, for a match played midweek,
no later than 24 hours after the kick-off.
FITNESS OF THE GROUND
6.1
In event of doubt, immediately before the scheduled kick-off, determination of
the fitness of the ground for play shall be by mutual agreement of the head
coach of each team. Should the coaches disagree, the referee shall decide
whether the pitch is playable. If either coach disagrees with the referee’s
decision the match shall not start, and the circumstances shall be referred to
Scottish Rugby’s Championship Committee.
6.2
No later than 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off time, if a postponement is
considered possible, advance warning must be given to the visiting club. The
visiting club must be advised that alternative arrangements may have to be set in
place. At that same time the home club must advise the Competition Organiser
so that he can assist in arranging for a neutral venue to be on stand-by.
7
8
POSTPONED OR ABANDONED MATCHES
7.1
Where a match is postponed or otherwise not fulfilled, a new date and, if
necessary, a neutral venue will be set as defined in Rule 2.9.
7.2
When a match is abandoned before 55 minutes of play (that is before 20 minutes
of the second half have elapsed) the match will be replayed at the original venue
or, if necessary, a neutral venue.
7.3
When a match is abandoned after 55 minutes of play then the score at that time
will be the match result. In the event that the scores are level in a match
abandoned after 55 minutes of play then the winner will be decided under the
terms of Rule 4.3.
7.4
For the avoidance of doubt, National Competition Rule 4.4 regarding red cards,
yellow cards, and other discipline matters will apply to every abandoned match.
TEAM COLOURS
The coach in charge of the home team must establish before match day whether there
will be a clash of colours (jerseys and/or socks). In the event of such a clash of colours
it shall be the responsibility of the home team to change.
9
PLAYER REGISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY
9.1
Before playing for a club in a Youth Cup or Bowl match a player must be
registered with that club on the Scottish Rugby online player registration system.
9.2
Every player listed on a club’s team sheet for a match in any round of the Cup
competitions must have played at least two matches for that club’s under-18 or
under-16 (as appropriate) team in the course of that season.
9.3
All players must be eligible in accordance with Scottish Rugby’s Age Eligibility and
“Are You Ready To Play Rugby?” policies.
9.4
Apart from those players granted dispensation through the Scottish Rugby’s “Are
You Ready To Play Rugby?” policies:
9.4.1 All players participating in the National Under-18 Youth Cup or Bowl must
be born on or after 1 September 1997 (under 16 on 1 September 2015).
9.4.2 All players participating in the National Under-16 Youth Cup or Bowl must
be born on or after 1 September 1999 (under 18 on 1 September 2015).
Full details of the above policies are published in the “Are You Ready to Play
Rugby?” section of the Scottish Rugby website: www.scottishrugby.org.uk
9.5
10
Dual Registration (National Competition Rule 5.3) is not applicable in Youth
Rugby.
PLAYER NUMBERS AND SUBSTITUTES
10.1 The minimum number of players in a team for a Cup or Bowl fixture to go ahead
is 13. Should a team have fewer than 15 players but more than 12 the match
may go ahead and the result will stand providing that each team had a suitably
qualified front row to start the match.
10.2 Up to seven substitutes per team may be used. However, the number of
substitutes in every match squad must comply with World Rugby Law 3.5
(Suitably Trained and Experienced Players in the Front Row). All directives from
Scottish Rugby regarding the use of replacements in matters of safety must be
adhered to.
11
TEAM SHEETS
11.1 For every match each club must provide a completed team sheet to the referee
and to the opposition at least 30 minutes before kick-off. The team sheet must
list each player’s registration number and must clearly identify the position of
every suitably qualified front-row player.
11.2 A copy of the team sheet must be sent to [email protected] on the
Monday immediately following the match or, for a match played midweek, no
later than 48 hours after kick-off.
12
MATCH OFFICIALS
12.1 For all matches except the Cup semi-finals and the Cup and Bowl finals, the home
team shall arrange for a suitably qualified referee to be appointed by the local
referee society. A competent adult touch judge must be appointed by each team.
12.2 Scottish Rugby will appoint all match officials for the Cup semi-finals and all
finals.
12.3 As required in Rule 5.1, match arrangements, especially venue and kick-off time,
must be confirmed to the referee at least 72 hours before kick-off. If there is a
change to the date and/or venue and/or kick-off time for the match, the home
club must inform the referee without delay.
12.4 For all matches other than Cup semi-finals and Cup and Bowl finals, it is advisable
for the home club, where possible, to have a local Level 1 qualified referee
available to cover any late call-off or injury to the referee.
13
INFRINGEMENT OF RULES
A club found to have infringed any of the Competitions’ Rules will be subject to
sanction by the Scottish Rugby Championship Committee. Such sanctions include a
reprimand and warning as to future conduct and/or disqualification from the
competition. A player found to have infringed any of the Competitions’ Rules also may
be subject to sanction.
14
DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES AND CODE OF CONDUCT
14.1 Scottish Rugby’s Discipline Procedures apply to all matches, including abandoned
matches as defined in Rule 7.4.
14.2 Players, coaches, match officials, parents and spectators must abide by Scottish
Rugby’s Schools and Youth Playing Charter and all other Scottish Rugby policies,
protocols and codes of conduct.
15
TRAVEL EXPENSES
15.1 Where a club is required to fulfil a Cup or Bowl fixture with a return journey of
200 or more miles, Scottish Rugby will make a travel contribution in respect of
each of these journeys. An enhanced contribution will be available for return
journeys of 400 or more miles. Where a club is required to travel to or from a
Scottish Island to fulfil a Cup or Bowl fixture, Scottish Rugby will make a separate
travel contribution in respect of each of these journeys.
15.2 All travel payments will be made directly to clubs via BACS payment at the end of
the competition. Only journeys made to Orkney, Shetland and Stornoway need
to be claimed using the island travel claim form.
COMPETITION ORGANISER
Under-18 & Under-16 Cup Competitions:
John M Gillies, West Region Administration Manager.
Telephone: 07764 178954 Email: [email protected]
Under-18 & Under-16 Bowl Competitions:
Garry Gold, East Region Administration Manager.
Telephone: 07580 463791 Email: [email protected]