Introduction Victorian Schools Rugby Union Local Laws 2016 Victorian Schools Rugby Union These rules have been compiled for the advantage of those schools and players competing in the Victorian Schools Rugby Union Competition and as such are only applicable to this competition. As such: Matches will be played in accordance with the IRB Laws of Rugby and to the infinite extent that fair play and sportsmanship is possible. VSRU matches will be played adhering to the ARU U/19 Laws except Local Laws 4 and 5 regarding Sending Off and Law 3.4 regarding Rolling Substitutions. All VSRU matches must also adhere to the CURRENT ARU (2016) Game management guidelines that pertain to specific age groups. The VSRU shall conduct competition for teams based on Age. Where sufficient teams allow there may be divisions/pools within age groups. Where there are sufficient teams and a variation in skill level there may be divisions within age groups. In the absence of other polices the VSRU adheres to the policies of the ARU which can be located at: http://www.rugby.com.au/try-rugby/administration/policyregister.aspx The VSRU adheres to the policies of the ARU regarding Age Limits/Determination and the playing within a two year window. Refer to the following link for clarification: http://www.rugby.com.au/portals/18/files/administration/policies/age Grade and Senior Rugby/Age_Grade_Two_Year_Policy_Revised_2010.pd Players wishing to be granted dispensation to play DOWN one year in competition must adhere to the VSRU Age Grade Dispensation process available through their own Teacher in Charge of Rugby. Host/Home schools should contact the visiting school approximately three school days prior to the fixture to verify arrangements. Referee/Match Officials 1. The referee is always correct and is the sole judge of time and law. He/she will receive no intimidation from any persons. His/her decision is final and will not be disputed. 2. It is not the duty of the referee to record scoring during the match. This is the responsibility of the opposing coaches/managers. The coaches/managers may consult the referee at the completion of the match to clarify the score. 3. The appointed coaches/managers will be the only persons to have contact with the referee at the completion of the match for clarification of the final score. 4. Schools must appoint suitable persons to act as Assistant Referees for matches and it is mandatory that they have relevant qualifications for 1stXV fixtures payment by schools to such person is permitted. 5. Other than the players and match officials (assistant referees/touch judges), no person is permitted onto the field of play during a match, unless signalled by a referee at times of injury. 6. It is the duty of the Teacher in Charge of Rugby when in attendance and the appointed coaches to discourage their own supporters from using abusive or inappropriate language or actions. 7. In times of dispute, the appointed coach or school representative will deal with any incidents that may arise. 1
8. All players and supporters should be educated at training regarding the appropriate behaviour at Rugby fixtures and their own schools rule as well as the Code of Conduct of the ARU and VRU. A copy can be found at the following link : http://www.rugby.com.au/tryrugby/administration/expectationsof BehaviourGuidelines.aspx Altering Fixtures Mercy Rule 1. The referee will call half-time if the score reaches a difference of 35 points before the normal half-time. 2. The referee will call full-time if the score reaches a difference of 50 points before the normal full-time. 3. When the referee has called full-time after a points difference of 50 points before the normal full-time, the two opposing coaches, in consultation with the referee will decide if the game will continue in the same format, with no further addition to the score-line, in a modified format, or be ceased altogether. 4. The mercy rule is not applied to 1stXV Fixtures. 1. Schools may arrange for fixtures to be altered from the dates and times set out in the draw if BOTH Schools agree. 2. The VSRU Administrator and the VRU Referees Coordinator must immediately be informed of any change to a listed fixture. Recording and Reporting Results 1. On match day, the opposing coaches must agree on a correct final score before leaving the venue. This may be done in consultation with the referee however it is not the referee s responsibility to report results to the VSRU Administrator. The coaches must also agree on the number of tries scored by each team, as this has a bearing on the bonus points system. 2. The results of ALL fixture results are to be sent to the VSRU Administrator by 6:00pm on the Saturday of that Round. Results are to be emailed to the VSRU Administrator at Justin.carroll66@gmail.com. 1stXV Results must be sent by TEXT as soon as possible following the conclusion of the fixture. 0487 631 723. 2 Home Fixtures 1. Home Schools are to rope of the playing area from spectators by a minimum of 5M from the field of play. 2. Only Officials (Assistant Referees/Touch Judges and Coaches) are to be inside the roped areas. Competing players/ reserves and all supporters must remain outside the roped areas. 3. It is encouraged that home Schools provide some avenue for teams to socialise after the fixture, perhaps in the form of a post-match function. Teams Attending with less than Fifteen Players 1. Teachers in Charge of Rugby/Coaches must make every attempt to notify the opposing team if they intend to attend a fixture with fewer than 15 players. This is a courtesy that will allow the opposition coach to factor the reduced number of players into their match planning. 2. Matches will be played despite the number of available players. 3. The match result stands if there are 11 players or more on each side. 4. A forfeit will be recorded against the team that attends with fewer than 11 players. 5. Teams shall commence a fixture equal numbers; one team will reduce their numbers to match the team attending with less players. Once the match has commenced numbers may vary between teams based on Laws 4 and 5 regarding the sent off players. 6. If both teams attend with less than 11 players no points will be recorded for that fixture. Player Movements In order to maximise the exposure to the game and the optimum enjoyment for all under age teams the VSRU supports any law change that allows rolling player movements. This is done for the benefit of the players and to provide a worthwhile experience for new players to the game of Rugby.
1. The exact arrangements for rolling player movements are to be arranged between the two Schools representative coaches, prior to the match and in consultation with the match referee. 2. The VSRU has adopted unlimited player movements up to and including Under 15. Age Grade U16-U19 I. A maximum of twelve (12) player movements per team per match will be allowed for all fixtures governed by U19 Laws from Under 16 and above. II. Age Grade Pathway to Under 15 Unlimited player movements. III. Open Teams/1stXV are permitted to use 23 players for each fixture only unless agreed upon before the fixture begins following a discussion between opposing coaches. Please refer to Appendix 1 for details regarding the Player Movement Laws. Overseas Exchange Students I. Schools playing students who are enrolled on exchange and other similar temporary attendance are to inform the opposing schools in the competition via the Honorary Secretary. II. Short Term exchange students (9 weeks/1 Term or Less) are not permitted to play 1stXV Rugby. III. No short term exchange students are eligible to participate in any FINALS fixtures. This includes Semi-Finals Red Card Sending Off 1. A player sent from the field (red card) is no longer available to play in that match or any other fixture on the day. 2. Such players (red card) are to report immediately to their supervising teacher or school representative. 3. A player sent from the field (red card) may not be replaced. 4. A player serving a temporary suspension (yellow card) may not be replaced. 5. The expected temporary suspension time (sin bin) is 10 minutes for all age groups but is at the discretion of the referee. 6. A player sent off in a club fixture should let the Principal/Head of Sport/Head of Rugby know so that the suspension from a school fixture may be considered where appropriate. Front Row 1. There must be sufficient front row players in each squad to play hooker, tight head and loose head prop who are suitable trained and experienced to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement in any front row position is required, the team can continue to safely contest scrums. 2. Uncontested scrums will only take place in circumstances where there are not suitable numbers of trained (or experienced) front row players available. Coaches/teachers are expected to have sufficient numbers of suitably trained front row players in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the ARU Smart Rugby program. 3. Should a team not be able to meet this obligation for any reason during a game, then at that point in the match scrum will continue non-contested. 4. Compliance with the Smart Rugby program, which is compulsory for all coaches, requires the training of players in the contact skills applicable to the scrum. 5. Following an injury to a front row player, if no suitable replacement is available, non-contested scrums must occur. 6. A sent off player (red card) cannot replace an injured front row player. Ladder Positioning If teams finish the season on equal points, the final ladder position will be determined by: 3 1. The head to head match during the season (which counted for points) 2. Points for and Against during the season 3. Number of wins during the season 4. Number of tries scored during the season
Finals Eligibility 1. Players must have played more than 50% of the regular season fixtures to be eligible to represent that team in the final. Pre-season friendlies, tournaments and carnivals do not qualify as regular season fixtures and as such will not make up any part of the 50% of games need to represent a team in the final. This applies to 1stXV, 2ndXV and Under 16 Grand Finals (if played). 1stXV teams can select players from lower grades as long as all eligibility and Smart Rugby training has been covered. 2. No Under 16 player is permitted to play in a 2ndXV Grand Final 3. Where Schools (having both 1 st and 2 nd grade teams in the regular competition) are playing in the 2 nd Grade Grand Final, but not in 1stGrade, players must have played more than 50% of the season for the 2 nd XV Grade team. 4. Exemptions to items 1,2 and 3 above due to injury must be cleared by the VSRU Executive Committee. 5. Players from other sports are not to be brought into to play Grand Finals unless they have undergone the appropriate training to cover Smart Rugby safety procedures. The relevant School Principal, Director of Sport and VSRU Executive must be informed of such selections for their approval or otherwise. Drawn Grand Final 1. If a Grand Final is drawn at full time, then after a 3 minute break a further 5 minutes each way will be played with no break between a change of ends. A full 10 minutes will be played. 2. If following the extra 10 minutes the Grand Final is still drawn, another 3 minute break will be taken and a further 5 minutes each way will be played. This period of play will be golden point where the first team to score will be deemed the winner. The game will finish at that point. 3. If the game is still drawn after this period of play 90 minutes, then the Premiership will be awarded to the Grand Final team that finished the regular season higher on the ladder. Squads at Final Matches 1. A full squad at finals matches will consist of 23 players which must include a complete reserve front row. Match Duration Match duration for VSRU fixtures are: 1stXV Division 1 and 2 2 x 35 minute half with time off for injuries and other stoppages 2ndXV matches 2 x 30 minute halves with no added injury time Under 16 2 x 25 minute halves with no added injury time Under 15 2 x 25 minute halves with no added injury time Under 14 2 x 20 minute halves with no added injury time Under 13 2 x 20 minute halves with no added injury time Fixtures will not go beyond the prescribed time, regardless of the number of injuries/stoppages. Except 1stXV fixtures. The match will be called off at the discretion of the referee if an injured player needs sufficient time to be treated or removed from the field of play. No matches scheduled to start on the pitch after that match shall be held up by any number of injuries/stoppages. The winner will be the team leading at the time of the severe injury that caused a match to be suspended before full time. 4
Points Scoring System 4 points - Win 4 Points - Bye 2 points - Draw 0 points - Loss 5 points - Forfeit 4 points -Bye 1 point -Bonus point losing margin 7 points or less 1 point -Bonus point score four or more tries in match Teams which play twice during the season : The second fixture between the two schools will count towards the points table for the season. The first fixture between the two schools will be deemed a friendly Abbreviations: BGS Brighton Grammar School CGS Carey Grammar School GGS Geelong Grammar School HY Haileybury College IGS Ivanhoe Grammar School MC Marcellin College MGS Melbourne Grammar School SC Scotch College SFX St Francis Xavier College SKC St Kevin s College SPC St Patrick s College TGS Trinity Grammar School XC Xavier College WC Westall College STP St Peter s College BC Beaconhills College 5
Appendix 1 Rolling Player Movements Competition Rules 1. Player movements under Law 3.14(a) shall include any time one player substitutes another player from the same team, including for injury. Within the maximum number of team player movements, there is no restrictions on the number of times an individual player can be substituted or return to the field. Exceptions a. Substitution Blood If a player has a bleeding injury and is temporarily replaced by another player, that does NOT count as a substitution. I. If the player with a bleeding injury returns to the field of play within 15 minutes of actual time and the temporary replacement leaves the field that does NOT count as a substitution. II. If the player substituted due to a bleeding injury does not return to the field within 15 minutes of actual time then the replacement becomes permanent and IS recorded as a player movement. The player replaced due to a bleeding wound is considered now as an injury replaced. III. Should a team use up its allocated number of player movements while a player has been temporarily replaced under the blood rule and that player cannot return to the filed within the permitted time, the temporary replacement must leave the field at the end of the allocated time i.e. the team must now play one player short. b. Temporary Suspension Yellow Card I. When a player is temporarily suspended Yellow Card and leaves the field, that is NOT considered a player movement as he cannot be replaced. c. Temporary Suspension Yellow Card Front Row Player I. When a scrum is ordered during the temporary suspension of a front row player (Player A), and as a result a player(player B) is required to leave the field to allow another front row player (Player C) to come onto the field, that does NOT count as a player movement. II. If at the end of the temporary suspension, Player A resumes playing and Player C leaves the field, that does NOT count as a player movement. III. Player B returning to the field of play is also NOT a player movement unless the coach decides to leave player C on the field at the end of the temporary suspension, then that IS considered a player movement. IV. Player B returning to the field to replace another player during the period of temporary suspension IS considered a player movement. d. Send Off Red Card I. When a player is sent from the field (Red Card) that is NOT a player movement. e. Send Off Red Card Front Row I. When a scrum is ordered after the sending off of a front row player (Player A) and as a result a player (Player B) is required to leave the field to allow another front row player(player C) to come on that does NOT count as a player movement. II. Player B returning to the field to replace another player is counted as a player movement. 2. Any player substituted due to injury (except temporary blood) may not for any reason return to the field of play in the match or any subsequent matches on that day. At fixtures where there is no doctor available, the referee remains responsible for establishing if a player is leaving the field of play due to being so injured that it would be unwise for him to continue playing. 3. After the maximum number of player movements has been made, no other player movements will be allowed for any reason, except for injury to a front row player where a suitably trained front row replacement is available to ensure the game can continue with contested scrums. In this situation only an additional player movement may be made. 4. Any substitute who takes the field immediately following the awarding of a penalty kick to his team or after a try has been scored shall not be permitted to take the kick at goal until after the relevant kick has been taken. 5. It shall be for the Union to determine who shall be responsible for administering and counting the substitutions and how. 6
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