Blacksticks Junior Challenge Rules 2015/16

Entry to the Competition                                                                              

1         The County Cup competition for junior club rugby is administered by the ‘7-16 Committee’ of the Lancashire County RFU, through the Junior Cup Competitions Committee and its Secretary (‘The Organisers’).

2            i.   The Competition structure is to be known as the ‘Blacksticks Blue Junior Rugby Challenge’.

ii.     Every endeavour will be made by The Organisers to ensure that the Competition structure, announcement of fixtures, reporting of matches and recording the results are referred to by the above names in all articles, publications, handbooks, journals and websites, together with the use of whatever logo or other device that The Organisers, in conjunction with any sponsors, shall deem appropriate to use.

iii.     All participating Clubs are expected to follow the same guidelines when referring to the Competition structure in their locality, in newspaper, website or other publicity, fixture lists, advertising, match results & reports.

3         The Junior Cup Competition Committee shall be the sole arbiter in cases of dispute, and from its decision there shall be  no appeal at law or otherwise, other than in exceptional circumstances to the Rugby Football Union. Any appeal must be lodged with The Organisers within 48 hours of the conclusion of the match.

4         Entry to the ‘Blacksticks Blue Junior Rugby Challenge’ is open to Under 13s, 14s, 15s and 16s sides from all Clubs        that are members of the Lancashire County RFU.

The ‘Lancashire Junior Rugby Challenge’

5         The competition is designed to encourage the maximum interest in the development of Rugby Union played in clubs throughout Lancashire.  The aim is to encourage ‘More People, More Teams and More Enjoyment’ in rugby.

6            i.  Four Qualifying Pools (‘Q. Pools’) are established at each of the four age groups (see 4 above), into which all  entrants are placed by way of a draw or other means as The Organisers consider appropriate. The decision as to whether to ‘seed’ teams, and the method of any seeding and the conduct of any draw will be at the discretion of The Organisers.

ii.     Clubs will play each other within each Q. Pool on a ‘home OR away’ basis, as determined by The Organisers on specified days as laid out below.

iii.     At the end of the Under 13s’ Q. Pool stage, teams will proceed to a knock-out phase dependant on their position within each Q. Pool, providing they fulfil their Q. Pool stage matches, as follows:

·       Teams placed 1st and 2nd will compete for ‘The Blacksticks Blue Junior Rugby Challenge Cup’;

·       Teams placed 3rd and 4th will compete for  ‘The Blacksticks Blue Junior Rugby Plate’.

·       Teams placed 5th and 6th will compete for  ‘The Blacksticks Blue Junior Rugby Vase’.

iv.     The higher placed side will gain a home draw in the opening knock-out (Quarter Final) stage.

v.     At the end of the Under 14s, Under 15s and Under 16s Q. Pool stage twenty-four teams, (see paragraph vi., below), having been seeded into pools dependent on their performance in the previous season, will advance to the three competions (as above) depending on their pool and position in the pool.

vi.     A fixed-date preliminary round, after completion of the Q.Pool stage of the competition, will be used to allow teams to progress to a higher level knock-out and also to eliminate the total number of teams should those completing the programme at any age exceed twenty-four.

vii.     Any side deemed trying to take an unfair advantage of their position to enter a different knockout competition may be disqualified from the whole competition.

Qualifying Pool Positions

7         The overall position in the Q. Pools tables will be determined by:

i.    Points accumulated based on the match result of each game (including bonus points gained or penalty points deducted), adjusted for any side not fulfilling their fixtures.  (See Paragragh 17 below)

ii.    Scored points difference (points for less against) subject to 30-point margin, adjusted for a side not fulfilling fixtures.

iii.    If sides remain tied, the result between the two sides, and finally, if the matter is still unresolved the total tries, then conversions, then drop goals, then penalties.

If still tied, The Organisers shall determine the respective positions by way of the toss of a coin.

Conduct of Competition Matches

8            i. Competition matches, including all Q.Pool and knock-out fixtures, must be played on the dates for each round as specified at the beginning of the season in the Lancashire ‘Structured Season’, and the Fixture List, with no alternative days being allowed at any age group, subject to exceptional circumstances – see Section 12.

ii.     Competition dates are scheduled, where possible, to avoid County representative matches.

iii.     If a match is to be cancelled by the ‘home’ club, the match can be played ‘away’ if circumstances allow it.

iv.     If circumstances do not allow the transfer of the venue, both sides will gain the points for a ‘No Result’.

v.     If The Organisers determine that any side deliberately fails to play, or fails to continue to play, a fixture for whatever reason, all points arising from that match will be forfeited.

vi.     In the event of adverse weather conditions on the day of a match, the Referee’s decision as to the starting of the match (or its continuation) shall be final.

vii.     All matches will cease after reaching a 40 point margin, and reformed ‘development’ games are encouraged

viii.     Teams in a reformed match, starting a new game with any replacements, will each receive a ‘Fair Play Award’ credit.

Eligibility of Players

9         All players taking part in the Competitions must be under their respective age on the 1st September of the relevant year.

10          i. Every player MUST be both a signed-up member of their Club and also registered with the Lancashire County RFU through the RFU Young Player Registration Scheme before taking part in any Competition match.

ii.     RFU ‘Young Player Registration’ forms must be fully completed for every squad member and sent via the Club’s Registration Officer to the Lancashire Youth Registration Secretary, to be received at least one week prior to participating in a Competition match.

iii.     Players must NOT  play in more than one match on any Competition date.

iv.     Any player who takes part in any round of the Competition for one Club, and thereafter transfers to another Club, is prohibited from playing for his new Club in any of the three Competitions during the same season.

v.     Any player sent off by a match official in any Competition match will be subject to any tariff imposed by the players club.

vi.     A player ‘playing up’ is permitted, but no player may participate in a competition match ‘playing down’ an age group.

Player Identification

11          i. All players, or their coaches, must be in possession of a valid RFU Registration Card issued under the RFU Young Player Registration Scheme, incorporating a photograph of the player, the name of the player’s Club and the relevant date of birth.

ii.     Team coaches, managers or administrators are requested as a part of the pre-match routine to carefully inspect the Registration Cards of their opponents. A challenge of a player’s registration card should be made at the time of the match, not afterwards.

iii.     Not withstanding the provisions in (ii) above, during or immediately after a Competition match all Registration Cards should be made available for inspection by opposing coaches, managers or administrators and The Organisers or other County officials.

iv.     A team failing to produce a correct, valid Registration Card (or a sheet containing multiple cards) for each player before a match may forfeit the match and any further participation in that season’s Competitions.

Postponements

12          i.   No postponements or re-arrangement of Q. Pool matches are permitted, other than by the Organisers. In the case of unplayable weather conditions  including frozen or waterlogged pitches  a Q. pool match should be rearranged for the following Sunday, where this is a Bank Holiday the Sunday after the Bank Holiday. and only one re-arrangement per fixture will be allowed.

ii.     Except in exceptional circumstances, determined by the organisers and from whom specific authority will be given, the postponement of a knock-out stage match will not be permitted.  Application should be made to the Organisers.

iii.     In the case of player injury or unavailability, Competition matches may be played using ‘uncontested scrums’ should at any time a side be unable to field an experienced or trained front row. The match referee MUST be informed before the kick-off of player shortage, and the Match Report Form noted accordingly.

iv.     Any team failing to fulfil a scheduled knock-out stage fixture may be removed from the competition and the opposing team will be judged to have won that round of the competition and progress to the next round.

Competition Organisation

13       Match Report Forms

Match Report forms must be fully completed on the day of the match.

The Organisers will accept a team sheet for each team being submitted – provided that BOTH sheets are signed by the signatory to the other sheet, and the score is noted on both sheets.

The Match Report form requires:

i.    the completion of the Home Team, Away Team, Age Group, Match Number (by reference to the published Fixture List) and the breakdown of the full match result;

ii.    the completion of the full squad, both starting and as replacements, with the RFU Registration Number (the last 4 digits will suffice);

iii.    the analysis of the score for both teams against each player, with red or yellow cards indicated;

iv.    the name of both coaches or manager responsible for completion;

v.   the details of the match official in charge of the game.

Following the match,

vi.    the result should be emailed to the appropriate email address as indicated below by the Monday night;

vii.    the Match Report Form(s) must be sent by 1st Class Post or email (using a ‘JPG’ or ‘PDF’ attachment) to the appropriate address, as indicated on the Match Report form .

viii.    The WINNING team is responsible for e-mailing the Organisers of the result, NOT by  phone. When the match is drawn it is the home teams responsibility to send the result form in.

ix.    Failure to report a result by the WINNING team( or home drawing team) will incur penalty points, as will the failure to submit the Match  Report Forms(s) by 9.00am Friday morning following the match.  A 2 point penalty will be imposed on the WINNERS.

14       Playing Strip – Colours

In the event of a clash of colours, the ‘home’ club will change their playing strip.

Referees and Discipline

15          i. The Organisers recognise that there may not be sufficient Society Referees available from the Manchester, Liverpool or Furness Societies to officiate at all fixtures throughout the Q. Pool stages. It is good practice to seek Society Referees for Quarter final and Semi final stages in all ages although due to the shortage of Referees this can not be made an absolute rule. Home teams should seek help from away teams if they are having difficulty in finding Society referees for Semi and Quarter Finals.

ii.     Where possible, Under 15s and Under 16s matches should obtain a Society appointment.

iii.     All Clubs should look to encouraging Referees to take the Entry Level Referee Certificate.

iv.     The responsibility for arranging the referee at all matches lies with the home club. If it is not possible for the home club to appoint a Society Referee or an accredited Foundation Referee, the opposition must be notified in advance of the game and given the opportunity to supply a Society Referee.

v.     The obligation to provide a suitable alternative official remains with the ‘home’ club.

vi.     A player sent off in a Competition match by an match official must be notified on the Match Report form .

vii.     The Organisers may request from a non-Society match official, whose contact details must be added to the Match Report form, a report of any sending off, the responsibility for this contact being ultimately that of the ‘home ‘club.

viii.     This sanction is notwithstanding the result of any disciplinary action that may subsequently arise.

The Organisers wish to encourage the use of Junior Referees. An award will be made to the most promising junior  referee, who has attained at least the ELRA/National Foundation Certificate Level One, and is in the Under 19s age group or below, taking charge of any match within the competition structure.  Clubs are encouraged to advise the Organisers.

Clubs are expected to provide a responsible person to act as a touch judge or ‘assistant referee’ (TJ) in all matches and  to assist the referee in matters affecting the touchline only. Referees are requested to take the advice of a club TJ only on decisions relating to the touch line or the kicking of a conversion or penalty at the posts.