CONSTITUTION... of the North West Colts League.

Issue 23 - 14th September 2011

1. Title
 
(1). Originally founded in August 2000 as the Lancashire & Cheshire Colts League the Membership approved a name change the 2nd AGM; the Competition is thereafter to be known as the North West Colts League hereinafter referred to as the Colts League, League, or Competition.

(2). The name of the League or the League Cup Competition may be modified by the Committee at any time to align with sponsorship agreements.

2. Ethos Statement

(1). The Colts League Ethos outlines the primary objectives of the Colts League. It is simple clear and coherent but avails to nothing if it is not practiced by everyone involved in Colts League Rugby to the mutual benefit of all.

3. League Administration & Organisation

(1). The NW Colts League is a Members' League which shall be organised governed and administered by a League Committee empowered by the Members annually at the AGM consisting of the following :

(2). Officers :     

	(i).	President
	(ii).	Chairman
	(iii).	Hon' Secretary
	(iv).	Hon' Treasurer
	(v).	Hon' Fixtures Secretary
	(vi).	Hon' League Secretaries
	(vi).	Hon' Referees Secretary

(3). The Committee is empowered to appoint or co-opt further Committee Members as required with or without voting rights and shall normally meet four times per year at a venue mutually convenient to those attending.

(4). Due to the high turnover of Players and Clubs transiting the Colts League bi-annually the Committee is constantly searching for people who believe they can make a positive contribution to Club based Colts Rugby by assisting in the running of the League. Any person interested in joining the Committee should please make their interest known to the Hon' Secretary.

(5). The Committee shall draw-up and publish the Governance Regulations which shall outline the rules governing the running of the League Competition(s) to which all Member Teams must adhere. The Regulations form Appendix 1 of this Constitution.

(6). The Committee shall draw-up and publish the Cup Regulations which provide further regulation on the running of the League Cup Competition(s) at the end of season.

(7). The Committee shall also draw-up and publish the North U19 Challenge Cup Regulations which provide further regulation on the running of the Cock-o-the-North U19 Challenge Competition(s).

(8). The Committee is empowered to make decisions at any time on matters relating to the welfare and running of the League and on matters which are not covered by either this Constitution or the Regulations which the Committee shall have the authority to modify and update accordingly.

(9). Suggestions for amendments to this Constitution or to any of the Regulations will be considered from any Member Team or Club. Such amendments must be to the benefit of all Member Teams and their Players and should be submitted to the Hon' Secretary.

(10). The Committee strives to be as open and transparent as possible in the organisation and administration of the Competition. To this end the League WebSite www.colts-rugby.org.uk has been specifically designed to be accessed using the bare minimum of computer hardware and software.

(11). The League makes extensive use of eMail to communicate with the Administrators of Member Teams and Clubs therefore to participate fully and effectively in the Competition each Team must keep the eMail addresses of their Senior Club Secretary and Team Manager up-to-date on the League Database by notifying the Hon' Secretary of any changes or updates. These will be held in confidence by League Admin.

(12). Team Managers and Coaches must lodge their Mobile Phone Numbers (at least) for inclusion in the League's Contact Database. These are held for Matchday Contact purposes between Teams and will be published on the League WebSite.

4. Mandatory Conditions of League Membership

(1). Membership of the NW Colts League is open to individual Colts Teams from all Clubs affiliated to the Lancashire RFU or to the Cheshire RFU.

(2). Colts Teams from Clubs affiliated to other County CB’s may apply for entry as a Guest Team which may be granted at the Committee's discretion and which will not be unreasonably withheld.

(3). Membership / Entry Applications should be made on the appropriate Application Form each season which must be submitted Online and a printed copy signed by the Team Manager and Senior Club Secretary and posted to the Hon' Secretary before the Entry Deadline.

(4). Each Member Team's Senior Club Secretary and Colts Team Manager in consideration of signing and submitting the Entry Application Form for the Competition agrees they have entered into a legally binding obligation with the Colts League, the RFU, any sponsor of the Competition, and as a separate covenant with each other Club in the Competition, Match Official involved in any match in the Competition or cancellation or abandonment thereof, that their Club will not hold liable or make any claim against any of the foregoing or the Committee;
  a). for any loss cost charge compensation or expense arising out of or in connection with any kind of injury or illness suffered by any player, spectator or other person (in so far as is permitted by law).
  b). for any damage to property of any kind.
  c). for any other loss cost charge expense or damages be it economic financial consequential or for loss of profit expense incurred or otherwise and whether directly or consequential.
  d). for any loss of any description howsoever arising or alleged to arise from or in relation to the result of any match in the Competition arising out of or due to any decision or action that such official may take (or failed to have taken) under the Laws of the Game this Constitution or any other Rules or Regulations published by the Colts League or in the RFU Handbook or which have been properly introduced by the RFU or in respect of any opinion expressed under Regulation 17.5 or in respect of the normal procedures to hold play control cancel or abandon a match.

(5). Each Member Team's Senior Club Secretary and Colts Team Manager in signing and submitting the Entry Application Form confirms their agreement to ensure their Colts Team(s) abide by and adhere to this Constitution to the Code of Conduct and to the Regulations. 

(6). Membership / Entry is subject to a Membership / Entry Fee determined annually by the Committee which shall be published in advance on the Entry Application Form for the relevant year.

(7). When a Team has withdrawn from the League, or has been expelled through reneging on fixtures thus giving 3 x walkovers, or has given a walkover in a League Cup Competition match, then :~
    (i). Said Team's Club shall immediately incur a financial administration charge equal and in addition to the Entry Fee payable by their Club to cover the extra admin costs caused by that Team's withdrawal.
    (ii). The next entry from said Team's Club whether in the following or subsequent seasons will be conditional on written assurances given to the League from said Club's Senior Club Secretary.
    (iii). Said Club must lodge payment of a Surety Bond equal to 2 x the current Entry Fee, plus payment of the Entry Fee for the season; said bond only to be repayable upon satisfactory completion of the full season's fixtures.

(8). Only Teams duly Entered and Paid Up by 1st June of the relevant year will be considered as Member Teams for the ensuing season.

(9). Only Member Teams will be eligible to be included in the League Seeding Process which ultimately leads to inclusion in the League's published fixtures.

(10). Late Entries will not be accepted as they cause delays in the seeding process and unnecessary additional administration for League Volunteers.

(11). Good Admin and Communiction is essential; Teams who do not comply in good time with the information feedback requirements of the Seeding Regulations are not guaranteed Membership and are therefore liable to be excluded.

(12). All Member Teams must have the Mandatory Minimum Insurance as laid down by the RFU in place for their Teams.

(13). Clubs cannot enter Two Colts Teams into the Leagues at the same age group.

5. Player Eligibility

(1). Colts Players must be bona-fide paid-up Members of their Club and must meet the criteria of and be registered in accordance with the Squad Registration Regulations.

6. Seeded Leagues

(1). Teams shall be Seeded into Leagues of Teams with similar ability as determined by the Seeding Committee based on feedback submitted by Team Managers. It is therefore imperative all Team Managers contribute to the Seeding Process in accordance with the Seeding Regulations.

7. Disciplinary Powers

(1). All Member Clubs & Teams and their Players Officials and Spectators must observe and abide by the Colts League Code of Conduct issued as Appendix 2 of this Constitution.

(2). Any disciplinary process arising from a Competition match will normally be conducted in line with the Disciplinary Regulations by a Disciplinary Committee of the offenders own Club or County CB.

(3). Under exceptional circumstances the League Committee may itself convene a League Disciplinary Committee to consider more serious matters.

(4). The Committee shall have the power of expulsion fines or the imposition of any other penalty it considers appropriate in addition to any sanction imposed by the County Disciplinary Committee against any Team considered to have failed to support the Colts League Ethos or to be in breach of the Regulations or the Code of Conduct.

(5). Disputes or complaints should be notified to the Hon' Secretary by phone and eMail within 24 hours of the relevant game or situation.

(6). The Committee shall be the arbiter in cases of dispute or complaint and shall have the authority to make decisions at any time on matters which are not covered by this Constitution or the Regulations.

(7). A Club shall have the right of Appeal to the RFU against any such decision made by the Committee upon payment of the appropriate RFU fee to cover the costs of such a hearing. Guidelines on the appeals procedure are set out in Regulation 11 of the RFU Regulations. Appeals must be lodged within 14 days of a decision or ruling and a copy must be sent by eMail to the Hon' Secretary.

8. Annual General Meeting

(1). An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be called by the Committee after 1st June and before the start of each season as deemed practicable by the Committee. All Member Teams for the upcoming season shall be entitled to nominate one member to be present who may vote on their Team’s behalf. Additional persons from any Member Team are welcome to attend the meeting however there will be only one vote per Member Team. Only Members present may vote - there shall be no proxy voting.

(2). All Member Teams shall have at least 28 days notice of the AGM provided they maintain their eMail contact information up-to-date with the Hon' Secretary.

(3). The AGM shall consider the Election of Officers for the ensuing season, shall ratify the Committee’s determination on revisions to the Regulations, entry fees and conditions of entry, plus other Agenda Items and Any Other Business notified to the Hon' Secretary at least 14 days prior to the meeting.

(4). Nominations for Officers to be elected at the AGM should be received by the Hon' Secretary by eMail at least 21 days before the AGM. All persons so nominated must be proposed and seconded by a seperate Member and shall confirm their availability by eMail to the Hon' Secretary who will publish a list of nominations on the League WebSite at least 14 days before the AGM which shall be closed and removed 7 days before the AGM.

(5). There shall be no more than 18 months between AGM’s.

(6)  The AGM & Pre-Season Managers Meeting will normally be called for the end of August. ALL TEAMS (ie : each age group) must send at least one Representative to this meeting who MUST be involved with the day to day running of the Team; on penalty of a 2 point deduction for not attending.

9. Financial Management

(1). The Colts League is administered independently from the CB’s (County Unions) and therefore operates at a nil cost to any County RFU; thus remaining financially neutral to the CB’s is a prerequisite for the continuation and running of this independent Competition.

(2). A Bank Account in the name of the North West Colts League shall be maintained by the Hon' Treasurer. A statement of the League's financial standing shall be submitted to the Committee at each committee meeting and an annual financial report shall be presented at the Financial General Meeting in September.

Appendix 1 - Colts League “Regulations”
Appendix 2 - Colts League “Code of Conduct”
Appendix 3 - Colts League "Cup Regulations"
Appendix 4 - "Cock-o-the-North U19 Challenge Cup Regulations"

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