National U18 Clubs Cup - Update to RFU Regulation 15...

The National U18 Clubs Cup (or National Colts Cup) is run over seven Sundays in the season.  There is an overall cap on the number of entries, and typically less than ten clubs from this region enter.  The early phases are regional, so after the first round typically no more than five North West clubs remain involved, and only two or three remain involved after the second round.

The MOTiQ North West Colts League have always been reluctant to keep these seven Sundays free of fixtures, conscious that it would mean no rugby for hundreds of boys on seven Sundays, whilst a small number compete in a national competition.

We recognise that this has made it difficult for those clubs wishing to compete in both competitions, but we have been, and remain, keen to provide meaningful playing opportunities for the majority.

This season we deliberately ensured that, with one exception on 21 March for any clubs that progress to the quarter finals of the National Cup, there are no league games scheduled on the same date as National Cup competitions. This was intended to make it easier for clubs to compete in both competitions.

We then scheduled a League Cup competition, which wasn’t run at all last season, specifically for those clubs that are not entering the National Cup competition, so that they are not left with seven weeks with no meaningful matches.

It is not possible under our current schedule for clubs to enter the National Cup and the MOTiQ North West Colts League Cup*.

RFU Regulation 15 has now been revised, effective from 1 August 2026, and now states that where a player has a competitive fixture clash, the RFU National Competitions listed in Regulation 15.15.3 (in this case the National U18 Clubs Cup) will take priority.

As a consequence the MOTiQ North West Colts League can confirm that in accordance with revised RFU Regulations, the National Cup fixtures will now take priority over our scheduled league fixtures. We are therefore adding the evening of Wednesday 7 April to our scheduled season, which is the date that Conference Week 13 will be rescheduled to in the event that there is a clash on Sunday 21 March as a result of any clubs reaching the quarter final stage of the National Cup.  We would expect this to impact two fixtures maximum.

MOTiQ Colts League Rules and Regulations will be updated accordingly.

The League Cup competition being run for teams who have not entered the National Cup will have automatic entry for all clubs in the league, but it is not compulsory.  If your club would rather have the weeks off, please let Your LeagueSec know.  To assist us in planning future seasons, we would also welcome feedback as to whether creating a competition for clubs not entering the National Cup is welcome, or whether the weeks off would be preferred.

*Clubs who are large enough to run two teams at U18 (minimum of 40 registered players in their U18 squad) can enter both the National Cup competition and the MOTiQ League Cup competition, subject to a separation of the squads, such that players who have played in the National Cup competition would be ineligible for the League Cup.

Regards in Colts Rugby.
 
Jon Kitchen - Chairman.
MOTiQ NorthWest Colts League.