SCOTTISH RUGBY S SCHOOLS CUP COMPETITIONS RULES OF COMPETITION

Transcription

1 SCOTTISH RUGBY S SCHOOLS CUP COMPETITIONS RULES OF COMPETITION 1. COMPOSITION OF THE SCOTTISH SCHOOLS CUP COMPETITIONS The Scottish Schools Cup competitions (the Competitions ) are for school teams in under-18 and under-16 age groups. Each age group will have Cup, Shield, Plate and Bowl competitions. 2. ENTRY PROCESS 2.1. Teams from Tier 1-3 schools will be automatically accepted for the under-18 and under-16 competition Entry is also open to under-18 and under-16 teams from Tier 4 schools. Entries from Tier 4 schools must be submitted to Scottish Rugby no later than the deadline defined each year by the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee. If the number of entries from Tier 4 schools exceeds the capacity of the draw structure a selection will be made through assessment of information gathered during the application process Each school is eligible to enter only one team per age group within the Competitions, that is only first XV (for under-18) and under-16 A teams are eligible to enter the Competitions. 3. STRUCTURE OF COMPETITION 3.1. The Cup competitions will be played in knock-out format Eight teams will be seeded in each Cup competition based on results in the previous season s Schools Conference and Cup competitions. The eight seeded team will enter their respective competition at the fourth-round stage The first round will be contested by teams from Tiers 3 and 4. The draw will be made on a geographical basis where possible and will be structured to provide ties which allow schools from Tier 4 to challenge those from Tier The second round will be contested by the winners from the first round and unseeded teams from Tiers 1 and 2. The draw will be made on a geographical basis where possible and will be structured to allow schools from Tiers 3 and 4 to challenge teams from Tier 2. The teams losing in the Cup s second round will progress to the first round of the Schools Bowl competition The Cup s third round will be contested by the winners from the second round in an open draw. The teams losing in the Cup s third round will progress to the quarter-finals of the Schools Plate competition The Cup s fourth round will be contested by the winners of the third round and the eight seeded teams at each age group. The draw will be structured to provide opportunity for the eight seeded teams to meet in the Cup quarter-finals. The teams losing in the fourth round will progress to the quarter-finals of the Shield competition The dates for each round of all competitions will be drawn up annually by Scottish Rugby and will be advised in advance of the closing date for entries from the Tier 4 schools The finals of the Cup, Shield, Plate and Bowl competitions will be played at neutral grounds. All match arrangements for these finals will be communicated to the schools concerned by Scottish Rugby. A neutral venue is defined as a venue which is not the usual venue for either school and has no affiliation with either school. 1

2 4. COMPETITION DATES 4.1. All matches in the Cup, Shield, Plate and Bowl competitions, up to and including the semifinals, must be played no later than the dates advised by the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee before the start of the competitions However, a fixture can be played on an earlier date if both schools agree to such change(s) and if the Competition Organiser grants permission. 5. LAWS OF THE GAME World Rugby Laws, including the Under 19 Law Variations, will apply in the Competitions. 6. DURATION OF MATCHES 6.1. Every match (under 18 and under-16) shall last no more than 70 minutes playing time (two halves of 35 minutes each way) (World Rugby Law 5.1: Time (Under 19 Variation)) No extra time will be played at any stage of the Competitions In all matches except the finals, if after 70 minutes play the scores are level then the team which has scored the greater number of tries will be declared the winner. Should both teams score the same number of tries then the away team will be declared the winner In any final, if the scores are level after 70 minutes play then the trophy will be shared. 7. POINTS MARGIN (Under-16 Competitions Only) If a team attains a 50-point lead over the opposition in a first-round or second-round Cup under-16 match then the match will be deemed to be completed, and the referee shall blow the final whistle. On the mutual agreement of the two teams a friendly match may be played for the remainder of the playing time. 8. ARRANGING FIXTURES, PROVIDING TEAM SHEETS AND REPORTING RESULTS 8.1. Every match must be played on or before the date set for each round of the Competitions per Rule 4.1. The home team must offer the opposition three dates, one of which must be a Saturday and one a midweek day As soon as the date, kick-off time and venue have been agreed for each match these details must be communicated by the teacher in charge of the home team to the Competition Administrator In the event that a date for a match cannot be agreed by the two schools then the matter must be referred in the first instance to the Competition Administrator and then, if required, to Scottish Rugby s Schools and Youth Competitions Committee, who will make a final decision on the date of the match. That decision shall be binding and shall not be subject to appeal For all matches played within the Competitions each team must provide a completed team sheet to the referee and the opposition at least 30 minutes before kick-off. The team sheet must list each player s full name, registration number, date of birth and jersey number and must clearly identify the position (prop or hooker) of each suitably qualified front-row player Each school must submit a copy of the completed team sheet for each match to Scottish Rugby. That must be done before noon the day after that match The home school must report the result of each match to Scottish Rugby s results collection service at the end of each match, and before 10.00am on the day after that match at the 2

3 latest. 9. FITNESS OF THE GROUND 9.1 Where there is doubt, immediately before a match, determination of the fitness of a pitch or the conditions for play shall be by the joint decision of the teachers in charge of the teams. If the teachers disagree on the fitness of the ground then the match will not be played. The referee shall have no responsibility to arbitrate on any such disagreement. The circumstances regarding the non-fulfilment shall be referred to the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee by the home club not more than 48 hours after the match's scheduled kick-off time. 9.2 No later than 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off time, if it is considered possible that the match venue may be unplayable, the home school must give advance warning to the visiting school. The home school must also advise the visiting school if alternative arrangements may have to be set in place. At that same time the home school must advise the Competition Administrator so they can assist in arranging for a neutral venue to be on stand-by. 10. POSTPONED OR ABANDONED MATCHES Where a match is postponed or is abandoned after less than 55 minutes play (that is before 20 minutes of the second half has elapsed) it must be rearranged for a date as early as possible. If schools fail to agree a suitable new date the matter must in the first instance be referred to the Competition Administrator and then, if required, to the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee, who will make a final decision on the date of the match. That decision shall be binding and shall not be subject to appeal When a match is abandoned after more than 55 minutes play then the score at that time will be the match result. In the event that the scores are level after 55 minutes play then the winner will be decided under the terms of Rule For the avoidance of doubt, National Competition Rule 4.4 regarding red and yellow cards and other disciplinary matters will apply to every abandoned match. 11. TEAM COLOURS The teacher in charge of the home team must establish whether there might be a clash of colours (jersey and/or socks). In the event of such a clash, it shall be the responsibility of the home team to change. 12. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 12.1 To be eligible to play for a school in the Competitions, each player must be registered with that school on Scottish Rugby s online registration system No player can play for two schools in one season unless he has had reason to change schools. In such circumstance, permission to change teams must in the first instance be referred to the Competition Administrator and then, if required, to the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee. If permission is granted that player must be registered with that school on the online system before he can play for that school in the Competitions Schools may seek permission to field a player or players who are not currently enrolled with that school (i.e. players that are enrolled at another school) or who have left school but still comply with the Competitions age regulations. 3

4 12.4 Permission to field any player who is not currently on a school s register must be sought by submitting an External Player Application to the Competitions Administrator. The player must not play for the applying school until the application has been considered and approved by the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee. If permission is granted the player must then be registered with that school on Scottish Rugby s online registration system before he can play for that school Rule 12.3 must only be utilised if the school provides a player or players with the only competitive playing environment within their local area or facilitates a school s ability to participate in terms of meeting minimum player requirements. Schools must not utilise this rule in an effort to gain a competitive advantage. Permission to field an external player will not be granted if there is a perceived risk to the development of another school s rugby programme All teachers and coaches associated with school teams must be fully aware of and adhere to Scottish Rugby s Are You Ready to Play Rugby policies All players in the Competitions must be eligible in line with Scottish Rugby Age Eligibility and Are You Ready To Play Rugby? policies Apart from those with exemptions through the Scottish Rugby s Are You Ready To Play Rugby? policies: All players participating in the under-18 competitions must be under 18 on 1 September 2016 (born on 1 September 1998 or later) All players participating in the under-16 competitions must be under 16 on 1 September 2016 (born on 1 September 2000 or later) Full details of the above policies are published in the Are You Ready To Play Rugby? section of the Scottish Rugby website: PLAYER NUMBERS AND SUBSTITUTES The minimum number of players in a team for a fixture to go ahead is 13. Should a team have fewer than 15 players the match may go ahead, though each team must have at least five players in the scrum at all times (World Rugby Law 3.3). The result will stand providing each team has a suitable front row to start the match Up to seven substitutes per team may be used. The number of front-row players in each squad must conform to Law 3.5 (The Front Row replacements and substitutions) and Under 19 Law Variation 3.5 (c) Rolling substitutions are permitted (World Rugby Law 3.15), but the number of substitutions must not exceed All directives from Scottish Rugby regarding the use of replacements in matters of safety must be adhered to. 14. MATCH OFFICIALS Scottish Rugby will appoint match officials for all finals and the Cup semi-finals. For all other matches the home team must provide a suitably qualified referee, and each team must appoint a competent adult touch judge The home team must confirm match arrangements to the referee at least 72 hours before the kick-off. If any change is made to the date and/or venue and/or kick-off time for the match, the home team must inform the referee and Competition Administrator without delay. 4

5 14.3. It is advisable for the home team, where possible, to have a Level 1 qualified referee available to cover any late call-off by or injury to the referee. 15. COMBINED/COMPOSITE TEAMS Entry may be accepted from schools which have combined to form a composite team only in cases where the schools involved can demonstrate that they meet the following criteria: The composite team has been created solely for participation purposes and not to gain a competitive advantage, and The schools can demonstrate the need for a composite team based on the number of players available to each school at that age band Composite teams must clearly indicate on the entry form that they are entering the competition as a composite team It shall be the responsibility of the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee to decide whether a composite team satisfies the criteria defined in Rule INFRINGEMENT OF RULES 16.1 As provided in National Competition Rule 13 (Obligation), a school found to have infringed any of the above Competition Rules may be subject to sanction by the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee. Such sanctions include but are not restricted to a reprimand and warning as to future conduct and/or disqualification from the competition. A player found to have infringed any of these Competition Rules may also be subject to sanction The Schools and Youth Competitions Committee shall have the power to reinstate a school in the competition if it has been eliminated by a school which has been disqualified from the competition because of the breach of any National Competition Rule or any of the above rules. 17. RIGHT OF APPEAL In line with Scottish Rugby s Appeals Procedure, as defined in National Competition Rule 14, a school may have the right of appeal against a decision made by the Schools and Youth Competitions Committee. 18. DISCIPLINE AND CODE OF CONDUCT Scottish Rugby s Discipline Procedures apply to all matches. For the avoidance of doubt the procedures regarding yellow and/or red cards shown during an abandoned match and/or any incidents in an abandoned match that are the subject of citing or misconduct complaints will be the same as if the match had been completed Players, coaches, match officials, parents and spectators must abide by Scottish Rugby s Schools and Youth Playing Charter and all other Scottish Rugby policies, protocols and codes of conduct. 19. TRAVEL ASSISTANCE Where a school is required to fulfil a Scottish Schools Cup, Shield or Plate fixture with a return journey of either (a) 200 or more miles or (b) 400 or more miles, Scottish Rugby will make a travel contribution in respect of each of those trips. Where a school is required to travel to/from one of the Scottish Islands to fulfil a Scottish Schools Cup, Shield or Plate fixture, Scottish Rugby will make a 5

6 separate travel contribution in respect of each of those trips. 20. COMPETITION CONTACT DETAILS Competition Administrators School Fixtures Coordinator Sam Parlane Telephone: Address: Scottish Rugby, BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ Under-16 Competition David Stibbles Telephones: (landline) (mobile) Under-18 Competition Norman Anderson Telephones: (landline) (mobile) 6

7 APPENDIX A SCHOOLS CONFERENCE STRUCTURE (TIERS 1-3) TIER 1-2 National School Conferences Red Blue White Dollar Academy Bell Baxter High School George Heriot s School George Watson s College Fettes College High School of Glasgow Merchiston Castle School Glenalmond College Hutchesons Grammar School Stewart s Melville College High School of Dundee Kelvinside Academy Strathallan School Loretto School St Aloysius College The Edinburgh Academy Robert Gordon s College The Glasgow Academy TIER 3 Regional Schools Conferences Black Green Purple Carrick Academy Dunbar Grammar School Berwick Rugby Jordanhill College School George Watson s College B Boroughmuir High School Lenzie Academy North Berwick High School Knox Academy Lomond School Preston Lodge High School Lasswade Academy Marr College Stewart s Melville College B Linlithgow Academy Morrison s Academy The Royal High School Musselburgh Grammar School Queen Victoria School Trinity Academy Ross High School St Columba s, Kilmacolm Wellington School TIER 3 Border Schools (part of Borders Town v Town Conference) Berwickshire High School Earlston High School Galashiels Academy Hawick High School Jedburgh Grammar School Kelso High School Peebles High School Selkirk High School 7