National League One

First Division Rugby Limited
Season 2007-08
Regulations and Administrative Instructions

Club Positions  Kick-off Times  Postponements  Match results  Half-time  4th Official  Replacements   Radios  videos Visitors  Shirts  Touch Judges  Finance  Appeals 

First Division Rugby Limited (FDR) issues these regulations and administrative instructions pursuant to the powers granted to it by the Rugby Football Union in the regulations for the English Clubs Rugby Union Championships (the Principal Regulations) in its delegated role as the Organising Committee for National League One.
These regulations and procedures are binding on the Clubs playing in National League One (the Clubs) who by commencing their first match in National League One confirm their agreement to them.

REGULATIONS
The Principal Regulations in so far as they affect and are applicable to the Clubs, govern National League One save for the amendments set out at A and B hereunder and the instructions that follow

A.    Club Positions
The position of a Club in the League shall be established by awarding four League points for a win and two points for a draw.  In addition, one bonus point will be awarded to a team

 i)    on each occasion it scores four or more tries in a League game
 ii)   on each occasion it loses a League game by seven points or less.

If two or more Clubs have the same number of League points at the end of the Season, final league positions shall be determined firstly by the number of wins achieved and then on the basis of match points scored.  
A Club with a larger number of wins in the League shall be placed higher than a Club with the same number of League points but fewer wins. If Clubs have equal League points and an equal number of wins in the League then a Club with a larger difference between match points “for” and match points “against” shall be placed higher in the League than a Club with a smaller difference between match points “for” and match points “against”. Should two Clubs have the same number of League points and an equal number of wins and the same match points difference, a Club having scored more match points “for” shall be placed higher in the League than a Club having the lesser number of match points “for”; If this still does not establish the positions then the Clubs involved shall be ranked according to the number of matches won, excluding the first League match of the season; If necessary this process shall be extended to exclude the second match, third match and so on until the final positions are established.

Regulation 16.1.2 of the Principal Regulations shall be deemed to be deleted and there will be substituted therefore the following:
(a)    Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this Regulation, the Home Club shall fix the time of the kick-off of
        its league matches as follows:
        (i)   between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm in each case for a league match played on a Saturday or a Sunday
              of a scheduled weekend.
        (ii)  between 12.00 noon and 3.00 pm for a League match played on a Bank or other public holiday or
              between 12.00 noon and 4.00 pm when a game is scheduled on the same day as an England
              home International match
        (iii)  between 7.00 pm and 8.00 pm for a match played on a Friday

A match cannot be arranged on any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or Bank or other public holiday
without the consent of the Visiting Club

(b)    All matches shall be played on the weekends scheduled in the fixture list approved by the Board prior to
        the start of the season unless postponed in accordance with paragraphs 1.1 - 1.8 below.
(c)    The Home Club shall notify the Visiting Club and the Executive Director in writing of the date and time of
        its League match with that club at least twenty-eight days prior to the date of such League match.
(d)    Any variations to the timings referred to in paragraph (a) of this Regulation shall only be made by the
        Home Club with the prior approval of the Board of FDR or any delegated Committee of disinterested
        persons nominated by the Board. in the event of a variation in the time fixed for the kick-off of a League
        match, the Home Club shall forthwith notify the Visiting Club ion writing of such variation.
(e)    The last League game of the season shall only be played on a Saturday and the kick-off time shall be
        3.00 pm.

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Postponement of Fixtures
     The following procedures must be followed:

1.1.      If a fixture is in doubt due to the pitch being unplayable because of bad weather or the forecast of bad weather, the visiting team must be informed as soon as practicable.  A suitably accredited RFU Referee (not a person, whether a Referee or not, who regularly acts as a Clubs' 4th Official or who is a member of the home club) must confirm the postponement after an inspection of the match pitch. Such a pitch inspection by an independent Referee must take place before the time the visiting team intend to travel to fulfil the fixture.

1.2       If the inspecting Referee deems the pitch unplayable and/or likely to be unplayable the home club must act on that judgement and immediately postpone the fixture. If the inspecting Referee deems the pitch playable and/or likely to be playable the home club must act on that judgement and notify the visiting team accordingly

1.3       If this procedure is not followed and the fixture is postponed, because the pitch is unplayable, after the visiting team have travelled to fulfil the fixture the home club will be responsible for 50% of the costs of travel and accommodation incurred by the visiting team. Such costs will be payable by the home club within 28 days from receipt of the relevant invoice and supporting copy invoices from the visiting team.

1.4       When a late decision (i.e. within 3 hours of kick-off) as to the fitness of the pitch for playing a match is necessary, the decision shall be made by the captains of the teams involved. If the captains are not able to agree, the decision as to the fitness of the pitch should be made by the appointed Referee in accordance with Clause 18.1 of the Principal Regulations. If the match is postponed the home club must notify the Executive Director within 48 hours of the decision to postpone. If the Referee declines or fails to make a decision, and the captains disagree about the fitness of the pitch, the match shall be immediately postponed and the circumstances notified to the Executive Director within 48 hours of the decision to postpone.

1.5       When the decision to postpone is made before 5pm on the day preceding the match, the home Club must immediately inform the RFU Operations Department, the Executive Director and the match officials as well as the visiting team. If after 5pm on the day preceding the match, the home Club must immediately notify the visiting team, the  Executive Director and the match officials.

1.6       A postponed match must be re-arranged by the home club in consultation with their opponents on the next available weekend (as the same is defined in the Principal Regulations) and the new date notified to the Executive Director within 7 days. If agreement is not reached either club shall notify the Executive Director that agreement cannot be reached whereupon the Executive Director shall stipulate the date on which the match is to be played. The Executive Director shall have power to decide which club is at fault in not reaching agreement with the other club and such club shall be subject to a financial penalty of £250.00 for the first occasion in which it is in breach of this regulation and £400.00 for each breach thereafter such payment to made to FDR.

1.7       If the game is postponed for any reason other than the weather, the home Club must  follow the
                       procedure outlined in 1.5 and 1.6 above. If a Club postpones any match, for any reason other
                       than the weather, without prior approval by FDR it will be deducted such number of League
                       points as FDR deems appropriate (subject to the appeals procedure set out in the Principal
                       Regulations and summarised  in Paragraph  8 below) and any other sanction which FDR deems
                       appropriate.
                       In addition at FDR’s discretion the match will be re-arranged in accordance with 1.6

1.8       NB. Lack of players because they are required to attend a match or training for a national
            representative team is not a justification for non-fulfilment of a scheduled fixture or for
            application to the Board to re-arrange a match.

NB The sanctions set out in paragraph 1.6 may at FDR’s discretion also apply in the event of postponement due to bad weather where the correct procedure has not been followed.

2.    Match Result Sheets

2.1       The Match Result Sheets MUST be ‘faxed within one hour after the final whistle to RFU Operations (0870 143 2423), RFU Results (0870 741 5119); S.McCormack (0161 926 8900); Rugby Roundup (01455 844044) and the FDR Executive Director (01943 872410).

Failure to comply with this requirement will give rise to a fine of  £100.00 on the first occasion.
Non payment of fines within 14 days and a second or subsequent failure to submit a results
sheet within the prescribed time may give rise to sanctions including points deductions as
decided by the Board.

            2.2       The match sheets will be supplied to all clubs by the RFU Community Rugby & Operations
                        Department or by the FDR Executive Director.

2.3       The Home Club must ensure that the sheet is completed in accordance with Principal Regulation 20.

2.4       Both clubs must ensure that the information is accurate and legible. The sheet should be
            completed in upper case, as should the names of the signatories. Any discrepancies caused 
            by lack of clarity or incorrect information may be regarded as a breach of the regulations, as 
            will non-completion by both Clubs. This will also apply in the event of 'frivolous' entries.
            Either or both Clubs may be sanctioned in such cases. These sanctions will include a 
            financial penalty of £100.00 on the first occasion and £150.00 for each occasion thereafter
            during that season

2.5       In accordance with RFU instructions, the home club must pass to the referee a completed match sheet (signed by both Clubs) and the appropriate Player Registration Certificates to the referee at least one hour before Kick Off. The sheets cannot be altered after passing them to the referee without a valid and unavoidable reason (e.g., injury during warm up).

A change of mind or late arrival of a player is not “exceptional”.

2.6       After the match, the referee will return the sheet, signed by him and containing the match result, to the home club, which is then responsible for returning the sheet to Community Rugby & Operations Department as per 2.1 above.

2.7       In the event that due to exceptional circumstances it is not possible to fax the results sheets immediately after the match as per 2.1 the sheet must be received by Community Rugby & Operations Department within 72 hours of the end of the match. If sent by post, the onus for proof of posting lies with the home club. If it is not received on time, the offending Club will be fined £100.00 on the first occasion in a season and £150.00 for each occasion thereafter during that season. It is recommended that each club photocopy the match sheet before posting to the RFU in order that a further copy can be submitted in the event of loss.

2.8       The timely receipt of the sheets will enable Community Rugby & Operations Department and FDR to check player eligibility prior to the next League or Cup match. (See Section 2 above)

3.    Player Eligibility

            3.1       All Match Sheets will be checked against the current Registration File. Any irregularity will
                        be notified by the Community & Operations Department to the Executive Director

3.2.      The Executive Director will inform the Club in writing as soon as possible and request an explanation of the occurrence. If the Club is found to be guilty of fielding an ineligible player sanctions may be applied in accordance with the Principal Regulations.

4.    Half-time

            4.1       The half-time interval shall normally be ten minutes and both teams may leave the field of play
                        during this interval if they wish to do so.

  4.2       With the agreement of the captain of each team the referee may reduce the half-time
              interval in exceptional circumstances but in this case the interval shall not be less than
              five minutes.

  4.3       No club Official other than the designated 4^th Official shall enter the referees changing
              room during the half-time interval.

            4.4       No club official other than the designated 4^th Official shall approach the referee at any time
                        during the half-time interval to discuss any issue arising from the first half of the match or to
                        discuss any other matter.

5.    4th Official

Each home Club must provide a nominated 4th Official for each match.  The 4^th Official will :

5.1.      Ensure that he/she is introduced to the Referee.

5.2       Issue the radio sets to the referee and touch judges (the officials); ensure that they
                        understand how to operate these devices; collect the equipment from the officials at
                        the end of the match.

5.3.      Be responsible for the administration of ALL substitutions and replacements (blood or otherwise). He/She should have boards carrying the player's numbers, and these should be displayed on each occasion a substitution takes place, indicating clearly the player leaving the pitch and the player joining the match.

5.4       Be responsible for logging all such movements, noting the names, reason and time of substitution on the Match Result Sheet. He/She is also responsible for ensuring the correct nomination of front row replacements, and informing the referee of their identities at least 45 minutes prior to kick-off.

5.5       Be responsible in conjunction with the referee and an official of the visiting team for accurately completing the Match Result Sheet and obtaining the necessary signatures.

            Copies of the Match Result Sheets should be retained by the home Clubs until the end of the season to which they apply in case reference is needed in the future. .

5.6       Be responsible for monitoring the time penalty for a player sent to the sin-bin. He/She will ensure that the suspended player remains in the designated area, separate from the replacements bench, until the full time penalty has elapsed. The 4^th Official will then notify the referee via a touch-judge that the player can rejoin the game.

5.7       At all times during the match be readily available at the pitch side. He/She must not sit in
            the stand nor leave the pitch-side during the match.

6.    Replacements/Substitutes 

            6.1       A substitution card as shown below will be used for the management of replacements on and
                        off the pitch.  

6.2       Procedure during match.

6.2.1     On match day, the team’s nominated person will be situated during the match in the Technical Zone.The team’s nominated person will have at his disposal as many replacement cards as he requires. 

6.2.2     When it is decided that a player must be replaced, he then complete the details on the form, giving all the requested details (names, numbers, reasons, times etc). 

6.2.3     Once this form is completed, it is handed to the 4^th Official instructing him of the replacement at the next opportunity.

6.2.4     After the match, the 4^th Official will attach the forms used for the replacements to the Match Report for the Home team to forward to the RFU.

            6.3       In the interests of safety each team playing in National League One must have
                        at least five players in their nominated match squad aged at least 18 years
                        suitably trained and experienced to be capable of playing in the front row to
                        ensure that on the first or second occasion a front row player is required to be
                        replaced the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums.