Matchday Regulations...

Issue 9 - 21st February 2013

1. Confirming Fixtures / Times

(1). Fixtures are published on the Colts League WebSite (and on Rugby First) and must be confirmed between Teams by phone at least one week in advance of the match.

(2). The League's eMail Contact System is a convenient method of Teams contacting each other BUT should not be relied upon as a failsafe method. Contact must be made by phone.

(3). Home Teams must arrange and confirm appointments with their Society Referee in accordance with the Referee Protocol Regulations.

(4). Regulation Match Day and Kick-Off Times for Junior Colts are Sunday at 12.30pm and for Senior Colts are Sunday at 2.00pm. Kick-Off times can be varied by mutual agreement between Teams, but only with the agreement of the Referee, who must be asked well in advance and must not be inconvenienced.

(5). Postponed or abandoned games must be notified to your League Secretary immediately.

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2. On MATCHDAY

(1). Teams should always ensure they know the Referee's Name and Mobile Number - for emergency contact - just in case things go pear shaped on the day of the game or before.

(2). Ensure you Meet & Greet your Referee, who should be welcomed and offered his expenses (on arrival). He should then be shown to his changing room where changing and showering facilities should be separate from the players.

(3). Your Referee is a Guest of your Club and should be afforded the best courtesy and hospitality.
NB: Assigning a responsible adult helper to look after your Referee can pay dividends...

(4). Touch Judges should not be "spare players". It is helpful if the Home Team is prepared to provide two Adults to act as Touch Judges should your Visitors not be able to fulfil this commitment.

(5). Touch Judges MUST have room to operate between the touchline and the spectators.

(6). Spectators MUST be back from the field of play at all times, as per the Code of Conduct, preferably behind a suitable barrier.

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3. Player Selection / Numbers / Shortages / Replacements / Substitutions

(1). Only Players properly registered in accordance with the Squad Registration Regulations may be selected to play in any League Match.

(2). Up to 22 players may be selected (15, plus 7 replacements). Only 22 Players (Max) may be changed ready to play all of whom must be listed on the Match Card which must be handed to the Referee before the game.

(3). RFU photo I/D's Cards MUST be made up and carried by the Team Manager or Head Coach RP's for every Player and MUST be available for inspection between Teams before each game. Checking of opponents RFU I/D Cards must be in line with RFU Guidelines and should be done at least 30 minutes before the scheduled Kick Off time.

(4). Teams failing to make their RFU I/D Cards and their Players available for checking in line with the Regulations are liable to be sanctioned by the League and may forfeit the game.

(5). Team Managers & Coaches have a duty of care and must not allow or encourage players to play in a front row position if they do not have suitable training and experience.

(6). If due to non-availability of suitably trained players at the start of or during a match the Referee has to order uncontested scrummages the match will continue as a competitive match save for the scrummages which when uncontested will simply be a method of restarting the game.

(7). Teams nominating 22 players must have at least six players in their Matchday Squad who can play in the front row in order there is replacement cover for the loose head prop, hooker and tight head prop.

(8) All Front Row Players must be clearly identified FR on the Match Card which must be handed to the Referee before the game.

(9). Teams who know they will be short of the full compliment of 3 Front Row players for a match should have the courtesy to give advance notice to their opponents to enable them to prepare accordingly.

(10). Should the minimum number of Six trained front row players not be available a match can proceed but with a reduced number of replacements on the bench, as follows:~

Numbers in the Scrum - must be the same for both teams.

(11). Uncontested Scrums - Matches may start or continue with uncontested scrums, however the Man-Off Rule per RFU Regulation 13.5.11 applies...

(11a). Man-Off Rule: If uncontested scrums are ordered by the Referee due to injury or consequent to a player being temporarily suspended or ordered off, and there being no Front Row Replacement available, the team concerned shall not be entitled to replace the player whose departure caused the uncontested scrums. On the return to the field of a front row player who has been temporarily excluded the Match shall continue with contested scrums provided it is safe to do so.

(12). Managers Coaches and Replacements must remain within a Marked Technical Area, other than when bringing on water. Replacements must wear HI-VIZ Tabards at all times, both per the Code of Conduct.

(13). Rolling Substitutions shall be permitted in all Colts League games - interchanges must be through the Referee, and only at a breakdown in play.

(13a). Rolling Substitutions are limited to the maximum number of Permitted Player Interchanges, per RFU Regulation 13.5.14, set out in the table below:~

(13b). After the Permitted Player Interchanges have been made no other replacements substitutions or Player Interchanges will be permitted for any reason including injuries and in the event that a player is injured the team will play with one less player and with uncontested scrums in the event that this involves a front row player and the game cannot continue safely with contested scrums.

(13c). Player Interchanges replace the blood bin. If a player has an open wound and thus has to leave the field, and the team has used all of its Player Interchanges, that player may not be replaced and the team shall continue with a maximum of fourteen players. The player is permitted to return once the wound has been treated and the bleeding stopped.

(13d). Not more than two Player Interchanges per team may occur at any one time and may only occur during a stoppage in play and with the knowledge of the Referee who is entitled in his sole opinion to refuse to allow or postpone a Player Interchange if he believes either that the Player Interchange would prevent the opposition from restarting the game quickly or where a player has been injured or that it would not be safe for the replacement player who has been previously injured to play in the match.

(13e). A player who is a replacement shall not be entitled to take a kick at goal until a passage of play has taken place since he has taken the field of play.

(13f). A player who suffers two injuries in a match which has necessitated his being replaced on each occasion is not permitted to act as a replacement following his second injury.

(14). As Senior Colts matches may involve Under 18 or Under 17 players squeeze ball is not permitted.

(15). Per the Duty of Care Team RP's (Managers & Coaches) must ensure no Youth Player participates in more than one game or more than 70 minutes of rugby per matchday (including School games) per RFU Regulations.

(16). Teams should make all attempts to ensure fixtures go ahead in spite of a shortage of Players. Games may be played with a minimum of 9 players per Team. If a Team is short and their opponents are not prepared to lend them players games can proceed with not more than a one-player advantage to any side. ie : turn up with 9 players and your opposition can only field 10.

(17). Should any Team have less than 9 players the game & points will be forfeit.

(18). Should a reduced numbers game be necessary ~ Only 7 replacements may be used by the Team who are not short on numbers.

(18a). Playing time may be reduced by 5 minutes per half, by agreement.

(18b). The offside line at the scrummage will be the centre-line of the scrum, and the scrum-half cannot follow the ball around the scrum.

(18c). In any match where one Team starts with one less player the difference of one must be maintained if the lesser side loses a player(s) through injury; the objective being to maintain a competitive game.

(18d). This also applies in any match where Teams start with level numbers but one team loses two players through injury and have no replacements; their opponents must reduce their numbers to a difference of "plus one".

(18e). In the event of a sin-bin or sending off there will be no requirement for the non-offending side to reduce numbers, however the Referee can use his judgement to request the non-offending side reduce their number if he considers continuing without would be dangerous.

(19).  Teams should have a copy of these MatchDay Regulations to hand at all times to enable them to point out these variations to the Referee, but only prior to the start of the game, not whilst play it taking place.

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4. Post Match and Match Results Cards 

(1). Results must be reported immediately after each game per the Post-Match Regulations (by 6pm Sun).

(2). It is good practice to check the score with the Referee - you could even text the result in as you leave the field of play - Many Managers do !!

(3). Match Cards must be completed in accordance with the Post-Match Regulations and must be signed by the Referee and then submitted to the League.

(4). If any Player or Coach is Red Carded before during or after a League match they will be subject to a Disciplinary Hearing and possibly a ban. Referees are obliged to submit a Sending off Report and Colts Team Managers must report Red Card offenders on the Match Card, PLUS you should notify your own Senior Club Secretary.

(5). The Disciplinary Regulations will assist Managers with further information.

(6). Always look after your Referee, who is a guest of your Club, and you might meet him again !!. Ask him to complete & sign your Match Card, and follow the additional advise is given in the Referee Protocol Regulations.

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