Hertfordshire County Rugby Football Union
Girls Under 15 - League Rules - 2009/2010
1. Administration
1.1. The Competition shall be called the Hertfordshire Girls Under 15 League, hereafter referred to as The Competition.
1.2. The Competition shall be organised by the Hertfordshire Womens and Girls Development Group, hereafter referred to as The Committee.
1.3. The Committee shall appoint a Competition Secretary to administer The Competition on a day-to-day basis.
1.4. Each club entering The Competition shall appoint one Club Competition Contact with whom the Competition Secretary shall communicate in respect of all matters relating to The Competition.
1.5. The Competition shall be played under the relevant Laws to each age group as stated in the RFUW U15 law variations document
2. Entry to the Competition
2.1. To participate in The Competition, every club must be affiliated to the RFUW
2.2. To participate in The Competition, clubs are required to complete an Entry Form. The Entry Form must be lodged with The Competition Secretary by the closing date specified by The Committee.
2.3 An entry fee of £50 per team will be levied to cover the league administration costs
2.4. The Committee may refuse entry to Clubs who have had teams disqualified from The Competition in previous seasons.
3. Format of the Competition
3.1. The Competition shall be organised by age group. The Committee shall specify the format for each age group according to the number of teams entered:
3.2. The Competition Secretary shall determine the dates upon which the games are to be played and shall publish the schedule of matches as soon as practicable after the draw has been made.
3.3 Games will be scheduled so as not to clash with RFUW or Hertfordshire County competitions
4. Eligibility of Players
4.1. Before participating in any Competition match, all players (whether as participants or replacements) must, for the current season:
be a paid up member of the club they represent
be registered with the R.F.U.W. Player Registration Scheme.
These rules can be relaxed for new members within 30 days of joining a club , however after 30 days all players should conform to the above regulation
4.2 N.B THIS REGULATION WILL BE RELAXED AND NOT ENFORCED FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF COMPETITION .. i.e. SEASON 2009 / 2010.. and will be reviewed for season 2010 / 2011
Players/Team Managers must hold valid RFUW Registration Cards (with Photographs) for each player in a match day squad and have them present for inspection, if required, at every match.
If a side/Team Manager does not present the Squad Registration Cards when requested
- The game is to go ahead as normal
- Non presentation is to be noted to the Competition secretary
- If challenged the offending side is to present a copy of their Registration Cards within 1 week of the match to the Competition Secretary, If the correct Registration is not produced the offending team shall be deducted two league points and the game and points awarded to the non offending side with a score of 40-0 unless age group dispensation has been granted by the RFUW.
4.3. Players must play within the correct age group as determined by attending school years 8 /9/ 10
In exceptional circumstances players can play out of age providing both the team coaches and parents are in agreement that it will not be detrimental or cause safety issues to other players
5. Organisation of Matches
5.1. The home team shall be responsible for all organisational matters relating to matches, including:
» Appointment of suitable referee (society where possible)
» confirmation with appointed referees (at least 48 hours prior to kick-off);
» payment of referees expenses where applicable
» confirmation with visiting team (at least seven days before the match);
» condition of the pitch;
» change of colours in the event that both teams are similar;
» supply of the match ball;
» notification to the Competition Secretary and the Referee in the event of any change to arrangements.
5.2. All games are to be played on the prescribed dates, except as follows:
» the pitches are unfit due to bad weather;
» where the two teams mutually agree to an alternative date and/or venue.
5.3. In the event that pitches are unfit due to bad weather, the home team must immediately notify the opposition, the Competition Secretary and the Referee. The respective team managers must agree new arrangements for the game to be played as soon as possible and must inform the Competition Secretary of the new date. The Competition Secretary may over-rule the agreement if, in his opinion, the proposed date is unsuitable or contrary to the spirit of The Competition. If the team managers are unable to agree, the game shall be played on the next available Sunday when neither team is involved in a Junior Girls League match.
5.4. In the event that both teams mutually agree to alter the date or venue or kick-off time of a league match, they must seek the permission of the Competition Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the original or proposed date, whichever is earlier. The Competition Secretary may refuse permission if, in his opinion, the proposed date is unsuitable or contrary to the spirit of The Competition.
5.5.The home team must notify the Competition secretary of the result within 3 days of the match being played Failure to comply with this rule may result in the offending team being deducted two league points.
5.6. Match durations shall be: Under-15 - 25 minutes each way
5.7 Under-15 games shall be played with a size 4 ball.
5.8. For the purposes of recording a result in The Competition, no team may win by a margin of more than 40 points. If a game reaches a score difference of 40 points, the referee shall suspend the game and call the team managers together. At this point the League match is completed and the Team Managers then agree either to end the game or to continue on a friendly match basis. If they agree to continue this may be in an agreed modified form (e.g. for a reduced time period, with any number of substitutions made), the match is then to be restarted after coaches have had sufficient time to instruct players).
If a result is submitted which shows a margin of victory greater than 40 points, the winning team score shall be reduced accordingly.
5.9. It is the responsibility of each team to carry an adequate first aid kit and have somebody qualified, present at the match to treat minor injuries.
5.10. All matches shall be played on a full size pitch
5.11. RFUW Cup Competitions take priority over all other fixtures.
6. Players & Replacements
6.1. All games are to be between two sides wherever possible of 13 players with up to seven players nominated as replacements or substitutes.
6.2. If one side has less than 13 players, the game may go ahead as long as:-
. there are even numbers in the scrums and the teams will play with an equal number of players per side but with a minimum of 7 per side
6.3. If one side has more players than the other teams are encouraged to lend players to make even numbered sides encouraging all girls to get game time
6.4 Substitutions can take place on a rolling basis at the appropriate stoppage in the game
6.5 All games will have contested scrums unless both coaches and the referee agree that one (or both) side is too inexperienced to do so. Once started with contested scrums they will continue to do so unless the referee deems it unsafe to do so
7. Failure to Fulfil Fixtures
7.1. If a team fails to fulfil a fixture for any reason other than bad weather, RFUW Endorsed Competitions or unfit pitches the non-offending team shall be awarded the game by a score of 40 points to nil, unless the match has been re-scheduled (as in 5.4)
7.2. If a team fails to fulfil a fixture for any reason other than bad weather, RFUW Endorsed Competitions or unfit pitches the team manager must, within seven days, notify the Competition Secretary and give the reasons.
7.3. If, for any reason, a team is unable to field a side and fails to give more than 24 hours notice to the opposition, that team shall be liable for the referee's expenses.
8. League Stage
- League positions shall be determined on a points basis: four points for a win and two points for a draw and one point for a loss. One bonus point will be awarded for any team scoring 4 tries or more
( regardless of whether they win or lose the match )
- In the event of tied league points, positions shall be decided on the following basis: match points difference between the clubs;
If the above does not separate winners and runners up of a league competition, the teams concerned shall be declared joint winners.
10. Referees and Touch Judges
10.1. The home club shall attempt to find a referee who is mutually acceptable. If a referee cannot be found, a coach from the home club shall referee the first half and a coach from the visiting team shall be given the option to referee the second half.
10.2. Sides must inform their opposition if the referee has any connections with them and must offer the opposition the chance to provide a referee to officiate one half of the game.
10.3. For all matches in the Competition, each team shall provide one touch judge.
11. Child Welfare & Photography
11.1. Because of recent changes in legislation and best practise the RFU has published guidelines on the photography of children. These are set out in 'Policy and procedures for the welfare of young people in Rugby Union'.
All Clubs entering the Competition have been asked to draw to the attention of parents/guardians that in entering their children in the Competition they implicitly agree and accept that:
a) Photographic images may be taken of their son/daughter, during the normal course of rugby activity, by accredited photographers and/or other parents/guardians.
b) These images may be used in the press or in Club/County/RFU publicity, in line with the RFU guidelines.
Hertfordshire Rugby Welfare Officer should be consulted regarding any Child Welfare issues.
12. Disputes
12.1. Any disputes or matters not already covered by these rules shall be referred to the Committee, whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.
Kevin Green
Competition Secretary
May2009