WOMEN S CHAMPIONSHIP REGULATIONS

Transcription

1 WOMEN S CHAMPIONSHIP REGULATIONS COMPOSITION OF THE WOMEN S CHAMPIONSHIP 1.1. The Women s Championship for Season will comprise: the Premier League, to be contested as one division, the formation of which to be defined by the Championship Committee; the National League, to be contested in two divisions (1 and 2), the formation of which to be defined by the Championship Committee; and the National Development League (the NDL ), to be contested by Clubs/Teams not in the Premier League or National League Any Club with two or more Teams playing in the Championship cannot have more than one Team participating in any division The final placings in the divisions in the Women s Championship, the Teams to be promoted to and relegated from those divisions, and the composition of those divisions in the succeeding Season shall be in accordance with lists issued on behalf of Scottish Rugby by the Championship Secretary at a time as soon after the end of the season as practicable A Club or Team wishing admission to the Women s Championship may apply at any time to do so. Such application must be made to the Championship Secretary, and admission will be subject to such approvals as may be required by the Championship Committee. If admission is granted, that Club or Team shall be placed in the NDL or, at the Championship Committee's sole discretion, in a higher division. Direct admission to a division higher than the NDL shall not normally be granted if the application to join the Championship is received by the Championship Secretary after 31 March The NDL is for new teams and those teams who have not yet demonstrated their capability to participate in the full league structure. Participation is on a voluntary basis and will consist of a series of competition days, dates and times of which shall be determined by Scottish Rugby. 2. REGISTRATION, TRANSFER DEADLINE AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 2.1. National Competition Rules 5.1 (Transfer Deadline), 5.2 (Player Registration), 5.3 (Dual Registration), 5.4 (Team Sheets), 5.5 (Ineligible Players), 5.7 (Under 18 Players in National Competitions), and 5.8 (Emergency Player Loan Scheme) apply to Women s Premier and National Leagues subject to Regulations 2.3 to 2.5 below National Competition Rule 5.6 (Scottish Rugby Contracted Players) does not apply to the Women s League Regulations Any player who has been selected in the current season for Scotland Women or another nation's equivalent is ineligible to be Dual Registered unless an application for dispensation has been approved by the Championship Committee The team sheet required under National Competition Rule 5.4 must be returned to the Championship Secretary no later than 48 hours after the commencement of the Match. Any dual-registered Player fielded by her Secondary Club shall be indicated as such on the team sheet together with the name of the Player s Primary Club Failure to comply with Regulations 2.3 or 2.4 may result in a Club being referred to the Championship Committee, who shall have the right to apply sanctions to the Club, including a formal reprimand and warning as to future conduct or deduction of up to five league points and/or disqualification from the relevant competition and/or forfeit a proportion of the Club s participation money, as appropriate.

2 3. MATCHES AND SEASON 3.1 In the Premier League and the National League s Division 1 every Club will play each other Club in two Matches on a home-and-away basis. The National League s Division 2 shall normally be played on a home-and-away basis. 3.2 In each division of the Premier and National Leagues the Club which has most league points at the end of the season will be that division s champions. In the event that two or more Clubs are level on league points in any division the champions will be decided by the process defined in Regulation In Matches in the Premier League and in the National League divisions, four points shall be awarded for a win, two points shall be awarded for a draw, and no point shall be awarded for a loss ( Match Points ). In addition, one bonus point shall be awarded to a Club/Team scoring four or more tries and one bonus point shall be awarded to a losing Club/Team which finishes within seven points or fewer of the points scored by the winning Club ( Bonus Points ). 4. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION 4.1. At the end of each Season Clubs/Teams will be promoted or relegated between the Premier League and National League Division 1 and between the National League s Divisions 1 and 2 depending on the outcome of the League matches per Regulation 3. Promotion and relegation will be on the basis of one up, one down. There is no relegation from National League 2 unless requested by a Team wishing go into the NDL A Club which finishes first in the NDL will not automatically be promoted to the National League. Any Club in the NDL wishing to be included in the National League the following Season must request such promotion by applying to the Championship Committee in writing before the Scottish Rugby annual general meeting A Club which has gained promotion but does not wish to play in the higher division must apply to the Championship Committee before the Scottish Rugby annual general meeting for dispensation to remain in the current division. In the event that the Championship Committee grant a Club such dispensation, Regulation 4.4 below shall apply In the event of either the number of Clubs in any division falling short, because of voluntary or enforced demotion, or any revision of the Women s Championship structure, right is reserved to the Championship Committee to adjust promotion and relegation in order to restore the number of Teams in each division to an appropriate level. Normally, within the Women s Championship, any vacancy arising before the Scottish Rugby annual general meeting immediately preceding the Season in question shall be filled by an additional Team being promoted before one Team fewer is relegated. 5. METHODS OF DECIDING PLACINGS IN A DIVISION, PROMOTION OR RELEGATION IN CASE OF POINTS EQUALITY 5.1. In the event of Clubs in a division being equal in points gained, placings shall be determined ranked on a descending basis according to their respective differences between points for and points against with the Club with the greater or greatest such difference being placed higher or highest Should Regulation 5.1 above fail to separate Clubs then the aggregate score over the Women s Championship fixtures between the Clubs that Season shall decide between them In the event that Regulations 5.1 and 5.2 cannot determine which of the Clubs should be placed higher or highest and no question of championship-winning or promotion or relegation arises then the Clubs shall share the final League position In the event that Regulations 5.1 and 5.2 cannot determine which of the Clubs/Teams should be

3 placed higher or highest and an issue of championship-winning or promotion or relegation arises, the number of Matches in which a Club has defaulted shall be taken into account with the Club having the lesser or least number of defaults being placed higher or highest In the event that Regulation 5.4 does not determine which of two Teams should be placed the higher, a play-off Match at a neutral venue agreed by the two Teams shall be played to decide between them including, where necessary, periods of extra time of 10 minutes each way, with a one minute interval, as required (the direction of play first being decided by the toss of a coin) during which the Team which scores first shall be the winner. 6. NON-FULFILMENT OF FIXTURES AND DEDUCTION OF CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS 6.1. In the event of a Club not fulfilling a fixture on a date notified (including a Match that has been postponed or rescheduled or a Match that has had its kick-off time and/or date and/or its venue altered pursuant to the National Competition Rules): The result of the Match will be deemed to be a 28-0 (four-try) loss by that Club, with the opposition being awarded five Match Points and the defaulting Club being awarded no Match Point unless a friendly Match is played, in which case one Match Point will be awarded to the defaulting Club. Regulation does not apply in the Premier League The Championship Committee reserves the right to apply sanctions on the defaulting Club, including a reprimand and formal warning as to future conduct or deduction of up to five league points and/or disqualification from the relevant competition and/or forfeiture of a proportion of the Club s participation money, as appropriate Further sanctions may be brought against that Club in accordance with Regulations 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 below In the event that a Match is postponed in accordance with National Competition Rule 8 (Fitness of Grounds or Condition of Play), it shall be played off on a date and time notified by the Championship Secretary, which may or may not be the first available Sunday free of Women s Championship fixtures In the event of a Club defaulting in accordance with Regulation 7 below, the defaulting Club must inform the Championship Secretary before or within 24 hours of the scheduled kick-off for the Match and must provide a written explanation for the default. Failure by a Club to provide the required information may result in the matter being brought before the Championship Committee and sanctions imposed as defined in Regulation above The Championship Committee reserves the right to relegate or disqualify any Club which, in the same Season, fails to fulfil more than one fixture in the Women s Championship In the event of Regulation 6.4 above applying to a Club for a second consecutive Season, the Club may be suspended from participation in any or all National Competitions and remain so suspended until the Championship Committee determines otherwise The Championship Committee shall have absolute discretion in regard to the imposing sanctions. 7. NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN MATCHES 7.1 In all Matches in the Premier League and National League Division 1: Clubs should start the match with 15 players and each Club must include in its side at kick-off a suitably experienced front row If a Club competes in a Match with fewer than 15 players, subject to compliance with IRB Law 3.3, but with at least 12 players for the full Match, the Match shall be declared as fulfilled.

4 In the event that a Club has fewer than 15 players at the start of a match, there shall be no obligation on the other Club to start the match with an equal number of players. However, in the event that a Club in the first Season in National League Division 1 after promotion has fewer than 15 players at the start of a Match then the teams in that Match must start with an equal number of players subject to Regulation In the event that an injury or the dismissal of a Player from the field of play (red or yellow card) results in a Club having fewer than 12 players then the Match shall be stopped at that point. Such Match shall be declared defaulted if less than 60 minutes have been played and Regulation 6.1 shall be applied. If 60 or more minutes have been played the Match shall be declared fulfilled and the result at that point shall stand. 7.2 In all Matches in the National League Division 2: Clubs should start the match with 15 players and each Club/Team should include in its side at kick-off a suitably experienced front row If a Club competes in a Match with fewer than 15 players, subject to compliance with IRB Law 3.3, but with at least 10 players for the full Match, the Match shall be declared as fulfilled In the event that a Club has fewer than 15 players at the start of a match, both Clubs must start the match with an equal number of players ( Player Matching ) In the event that an injury or the dismissal of a Player from the field of play (red or yellow card) results in a Club having fewer than 10 players then the Match shall be stopped. Such Match shall be declared defaulted if less than 60 minutes have been played and Regulation 6.1 shall be applied. If 60 or more minutes have been played the Match shall be declared fulfilled and the result at that point shall stand. 7.3 In the NDL, a Club shall be entitled to start a match with between 7 and 15 players. In the event that a Club has fewer than 15 players at the start of a match, both Clubs must start the match with an equal number of players ( Player Matching ). 7.4 Where a Club does not have suitably trained front-row players before the Match such that contested scrums cannot take place, the referee will order uncontested scrums in accordance with IRB Law 3.13(g). Where this occurs in any Match in the Premier League or National League Division 1, the Match shall be deemed defaulted by the team which cannot field a suitably trained front row at the start of the Match, and Regulations to shall apply. Where this occurs in a Match in National League Division 2 or the NDL, the Match shall be deemed fulfilled if all other Regulations are adhered to. 7.5 Any match in which a Club does not comply with Regulations 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 above shall not count as a Match, and it shall be played off on the date and time notified by the Championship Secretary, which may or may not be the first available Sunday free of Women s Championship fixtures. 7.6 For the purpose of this Regulation 7, a Club may request to the Match referee a delay to the kick-off to enable it to achieve the required number of players at kick-off, where some or all of the Players have been unavoidably delayed, but no Match may be delayed by such time as would mean the Match not being able to be completed in good time, the match referee being the sole judge in this regard. 8. REPLACEMENTS/SUBSTITUTES/UNDER 19 VARIATIONS 8.1. In all Matches in the Premier League and National League the maximum permitted number of replacements shall be five. In all Matches in the NDL the maximum number of replacements shall be seven The requirements of IRB Laws 3.5 (Suitably Trained and Experienced Players in the Front Row)

5 and 3.13 (Front row forward sent off or temporarily suspended or injured) shall apply when naming replacements/substitutes. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirement for suitably trained front-row players will be deemed to have been complied with notwithstanding that those suitably trained front-row players may have commenced the match playing in different positions IRB Law 3.14 (a) (Rolling Substitutions) also shall apply The Championship Committee will have the authority to penalise a Club up to five championship points for any infringement of Regulations 8.1, 8.2 and PLAYERS IN INTERNATIONAL SQUADS AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAMMES 9.1. As exceptions to Regulations 7.1.1, and 7.2.1, where three or more players from a Club are selected for a Scotland performance squad (Scotland Women or Scotland Women U20), therefore being unavailable to play for their Club on a weekend where there is a club league or Cup fixture, that Club can apply to the Championship Committee for dispensation to play the Match using Player Matching (as defined in Regulation 7.2.3) down to 12-a-side As exceptions to Regulations 7.1.1, and 7.2.1, where five or more players from a Club are selected for a Scotland performance squad (Scotland Women or Scotland Women U20), therefore being unavailable to play for their Club on a weekend where there is a club league or Cup fixture, that Club can apply to the Championship Committee either for dispensation to play the Match using Player Matching (as defined in Regulation 7.2.3) down to 12-a-side or for the fixture to be rearrange to the next available stand-by date in accordance with National Competition Rule UNDER 19 SCRUMMAGE LAW VARIATIONS The Under 19 Variations to the scrum (IRB Laws 20.1 (f), 20.9 (j) and (k), (a)) shall apply to all Matches in National League Division 2 and the NDL. 11. REFEREES The appointment of referees for the Women s Championship matches shall be carried out by the home Club s local referee society. For all these matches each of the two Clubs must provide one touch judge. Responsibility for confirmation of the Match referee shall lie with the home Club.

6 WOMEN S CUP COMPETITIONS REGULATIONS DESCRIPTION AND FORM 1.1. The competitions shall be called The Women's Cup Competitions (the Cups ) and shall be contested by the Clubs qualified to play in the Women s Championship including any other member Clubs or composite member Clubs approved by the Championship Committee before the registration closing date, which will be defined annually by the Scottish Rugby Women s Forum The Cups shall consist of The Sarah Beaney Cup, National Plate and National Bowl competitions The dates for all Cup fixtures shall be defined in the Women s Season Structure each year The Cups shall be a seeded competition held over three dates, including Finals Day. The exact structure of the competition shall be defined by the Women s Forum Management Group and Scottish Rugby each season after entries have been received from the Clubs. 2. REGISTRATION, TRANSFER DEADLINE and PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 2.1. The Cups shall be open to the all Clubs as specified in Regulation 1 above and who enter by the deadline defined by Scottish Rugby. Entry to the Cups can be by either a club-specific Team or a composite Team comprising players from two or more Clubs. The Clubs comprising a composite Team must be named on the entry form National Competition Rules 5.1 (Transfer Deadline), 5.2 (Player Registration), 5.4 (Team Sheets), 5.5 (Ineligible Players), 5.7 (Under 18 Players in National Competitions) and 5.8 (Emergency Player Loan) shall apply to Women s Cup competitions subject to Regulations 2.4 to 2.6 below National Competition Rule 5.6 (Scottish Rugby Contracted Players) shall not apply to the Women s Cup Regulations A Player cannot transfer to a Club which has five or fewer League matches remaining. Nor can a Player transfer to a Club which has played at least one match in the Cup competition Any Player who has been selected in the current or previous Season for the senior Scotland performance squads (Scotland Women, Scotland Women A, or Scotland Women U20) or another nation s equivalent can play in the Cup competitions only for the Club with which she is registered The team sheet required under National Competition Rule 5.4 must be handed to the Championship Secretary (or his representative) before the commencement of each qualifying Match. Any dual-registered Player fielded by her Secondary Club shall be indicated as such on the team sheet together with the name of the Player s Primary Club. Any Player dual-registered to two Clubs engaged in a composite Team shall not be counted as dual-registered for the purposes of Regulations 2.6 and No Player is permitted to play for more than one Club or composite Team in the Cup competitions Any Player being a member of a Club not entered in the Cup competitions can play for another Club or for a composite Team in the Cup competitions without the need to be dual-registered. Any Club borrowing a Player under the terms of this Regulation 2.8 must declare that Player to the Championship Secretary (or his representative) before the Club plays its first Match in the Cup competitions A Club infringing any of Regulations 2.1 to 2.8 above may be disqualified from the Cup for that Season. The Championship Committee shall also have the power to reinstate a Club in the Cup if it has been eliminated by a Club in breach of any of Regulations 2.1 to 2.8. This power will cease to apply 24 hours before the kick-off of the next round of the Cup following the round in which

7 the breach occurred. 3. DRAW AND DATES 3.1. The Cup will be a seeded competition The draw for the initial stages or day one of the Cup shall be made after the deadline for entries All Teams entering the Cup will be expected to be available to play on the three scheduled dates. If a Team defaults a cup-tie without adequate reason that Team shall be subject to sanction by the Championship Committee, and the tie shall be awarded to the opponents of the Team responsible for the non-fulfilment. 4. VENUES FOR CUP MATCHES The venues for all dates of the Cups shall be determined by Scottish Rugby. 5. DATES OF ROUNDS Rounds shall be played on dates as advised by the Championship Secretary at the start of the Season. 6. POSTPONEMENT OR ABANDONMENT OF CUP COMPETITION In the event of the Cup rounds being abandoned or postponed the Championship Committee shall have the power to arrange a date on which the fixtures can be played. 7. CUP FORMAT 7.1. In all matches during the initial pool stages, four points shall be awarded for a win, two points shall be awarded for a draw, and no point shall be awarded for a loss ( Match Points ). In addition, one bonus point shall be awarded to a Team scoring four or more tries and one bonus point shall be awarded to a losing Team which finishes within seven points or fewer of the points scored by the winning Team ( Bonus Points ). No extra time will be required to be played to determine a winner In the event of Clubs in a pool being equal in points gained, placings shall be determined ranked on a descending basis according to their respective differences between points for and points against with the Club with the greater or greatest such difference being placed higher or highest In the event that Regulation 7.2 cannot determine which of the Clubs should be placed higher or highest the team that has scored more tries shall be the winner. If this still does not produce a result, the team that has scored more conversions shall be the winner. If this still does not produce a result, the team that has scored more drop goals shall be the winner. If this does not produce a result the winner will be determined by the number of red cards received and/or yellow cards (the loser will have been deemed to have received more). Finally, if this still does not produce a winner this will be determined by a cut of cards. 7.4 In a semi -final Match, if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level, there shall be an immediate period of extra time of 10 minutes each way, with a one-minute half-time interval. Before the start of extra time the referee shall toss a coin with the two captains to determine the direction of play. If the scores are still equal after extra time, the team that has scored more tries (including in extra time) shall be the winner. If this still does not produce a result, the team that has scored more conversions (including in extra time) shall be the winner. If this still does not produce a result, the team that has scored more drop goals (including in extra time) shall be the winner. If this does not produce a result the winner shall be decided by the toss of a coin by the referee with the two captains. 7.5 In the final Match, if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level, there shall be an

8 immediate period of extra time of 10 minutes each way, with a one-minute half-time interval. Before the start of extra time the referee shall toss a coin with the two captains to determine the direction of play. If the scores are still equal after extra time, the team that has scored more tries (including in extra time) shall be the winner. If this still does not produce a result, the team that has scored more conversions (including in extra time) shall be the winner. If this still does not produce a result, the team that has scored more drop goals (including in extra time) shall be the winner. If this does not produce a result the Cup shall be shared between the two finalists. 8. NON-FULFILMENT OF FIXTURES Any Club not fulfilling a fixture on a date notified by the Championship Secretary may be disqualified from the tournament, including any relevant subsidiary competition for that Season. 9. NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN MATCHES 9.1. In the Cup: Clubs must start the match with 15 players, and each Club must include in its side at kick-off a suitably experienced front row If a Club competes in a Match with fewer than 15 players, subject to compliance with IRB Law 3.3, but with at least 12 players for the full Match, the Match shall be declared as fulfilled In the event that a Team has fewer than 15 players at the start of a match, other than in respect of any Match between two Premier League Clubs, the Teams must start the Match with an equal number of players ( Player Matching ). In any Match between two Premier League Clubs, player matching shall not apply In the event that an injury or the dismissal of a Player from the field of play (red or yellow card) results in a Club having fewer than 12 players then the Match shall be stopped at that point. Such Match shall be declared defaulted if less than 75% of the total match time (not including stoppage time) has been played and Regulation 8 shall apply. If more than 75% has been played the Match shall be declared fulfilled and the result at that point shall stand 9.2. Where a Club does not have suitably trained front-row Players before the Match such that contested scrums cannot take place, the referee will order uncontested scrums in accordance with IRB Law 3.13(g) subject to 10.2 below. If this occurs in a Match contested by at least one National League or NDL Club the Match shall be deemed fulfilled if all other Regulations are adhered to Any match played in which either Club does not comply with Regulation 9.1 or 9.2 shall not count as a Match. Such Match shall be declared non-fulfilled, and Regulation 8 above in relation to non-fulfilment of fixtures shall apply. 10. REPLACEMENTS/SUBSTITUTES In Matches in the Cup, the maximum permitted number of replacements shall be seven The requirements of IRB Laws 3.5 (Suitably Trained and Experienced Players in the Front Row) and 3.13 (Front row forward sent off or temporarily suspended or injured) shall apply when naming substitutes/replacements. For the avoidance of doubt, the requirement for suitably trained front-row players will be deemed to have been complied with notwithstanding that those suitably trained front-row players may have commenced the match playing in different positions.

9 10.3 IRB Law 3.14 (a) (rolling substitutions) also shall apply The Championship Committee will have the authority to penalise a Club up to five championship points for any infringement of Regulations 10.1, 10.2 and UNDER 19 SCRUMMAGE LAW VARIATIONS Cup Matches between Clubs in the Premiership and National League Division 1 will be played with full scrummaging per IRB Law 20 (except 20.13). For all other Cup Matches, the IRB Under 19 Variations for Law 20.1(f), 20.9(j) and (k), and 20.11(a) will apply. 12. REFEREES, ASSISTANT REFEREES AND TOUCH JUDGES Referees for the match days and the Final Match shall be appointed by Scottish Rugby, who shall also appoint assistant referees for the Final. For all Matches except the Final, each Club shall provide a touch judge.