6. Rules

League Rules...

COMPETITION RULES" of the NAMS Rugby Competition (NRC)

Note :
1. These Competition Rules have been developed and modified for the benefit of all competing Medics Rugby Union Players. They should be read in conjunction with the "Constitution" of the NAMS Rugby Competition (NRC).

Conditions of Entry to the NAMS RUGBY COMPETITION (NRC)
2. Entry into the NAMS RUGBY COMPETITION is open to individual ‘Medics Rugby Teams’ from all Medics Rugby Union Clubs affiliated to their Local County RFU (CB), and thereby to the RFU. This CB membership, when paid-up, gives the mandatory minimum insurance requirements.

3. All participating Clubs shall have the Mandatory Minimum Insurance cover, as laid down by the RFU, in place for their Teams participating in the NRC.

4. Applications for Membership shall be made to the NAMS Rugby Competition (NRC) Secretary on the appropriate ‘Entry Form’, and shall be subject to such joining or ‘entry fee’ as may be deemed appropriate by the NAMS RUGBY Organising Committee (NROC). The entry fee shall be determined annually by the NROC, and shall be published in advance on the Entry Form for the relevant year.

5. Only Teams duly registered with the NROC, and paid up by 1st June of the relevant year, will be considered as “Members” for the following season, and thereby eligible to be included in the process which produces the NRC fixtures.

Player Eligibility & Player Registration
6. Players must be bona-fide paid up Members of their Medics Rugby Club.

7. Teams playing in the NRC should mainly consist of students studying a course within the Faculty of Medicine at their respective Universities.

8. A maximum of 5 non-medics will be allowed in a matchday squad.

9. Captains and Coaches should realise; to field a “ringer” who is not a paid-up member of their Medics Rugby Club is not only contrary to the ethos of the Competition, but also leaves them personally open to litigation should a serious injury occur involving said Player.
The NROC shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of any injuries incidents or consequences which may arise from any match or competition organised by the NROC.

10. Each Member Team shall confirm by signing and submitting the Entry Form it’s acknowledgement of, and agreement to adhere to the NRC Constitution, and to these NRC - Competition Rules & Regulations (as amended from time to time), particularly in relation to honouring all fixtures arranged by the NROC.

Competition Structure
11. The Competition will consist of 4 Regional Leagues or Divisions with Teams playing each other home and away for League Position. This shall be followed by a “Cross League” Cup and a Plate Competition.

12. For season 2007 / 2008 the four “Regional Leagues” shall be :~
 North...   Midlands...   South East...   South West...

League Tables
13. Points towards the League Tables will be awarded as follows :
 Win - 3 Points
 Draw - 2 Points
 Loss - 1 Point

14. If there is a tie on equal points in the table, positions will be decided as follows :~
 1st - Points Difference 2nd - Tries Scored.
(please note – it is now therefore important tries are reported back to the NRC Secretary)

15. At the end of the League Competitions points difference alone may not be the final deciding criteria between two Teams tied on equal points. The results of matches between the two Teams concerned will also be taken into account, as will issues such as un-played or void games, forfeits, and points deductions.
Final table positions may be determined by the NROC.

NRC “CUP & PLATE” Competitions
16. The Cup and Plate Competitions are designed as Cross-League Knockout Competitions. The NAMS CUP ultimately determines the NRC NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, whilst the NAMS PLATE underpins the cup and ensures meaningful fixtures for the developing Teams.

NRC “CUP & PLATE” Rules
17. There are additional “Cup & Plate Competition Rules” which form an appendix to these NRC - League Competition Rules & Regulations.

League Fixtures
18. Fixtures will be arranged by the NRC Secretary and will be published as soon as the number of Teams entering are known. Fixture lists should be available in July to allow Medics Rugby Clubs time to give advance notification to their respective Referees’ Society, and to their own Fixtures Secretary.

Confirming Fixtures
19. Fixtures must be confirmed, at least one week in advance, by the Away Team with the Home Team’s Fixtures Secretary. The Home Team must then confirm the game with their Local Referees’ Society.

Regulation Days / Kick-Off Times
20. Regulation Matches are played on Saturdays at : 3pm / 2.30pm / 2.15pm  dependant on the time of year.

21. Regional kick-off time variations may vary dependant on the CB. These should be checked when confirming fixtures. Kick-off time may also be varied by mutual agreement between Team’s Fixtures Secretaries. Mutual agreement is literal – the NROC will not intervene if variations cannot be agreed, in which event the above defaults must apply. Do not forget to confirm kick-off times with your Referee.

Conceded Games
22. There will be no conceded games. Any Team failing to honour or fulfil a scheduled fixture will have the game classified as void and the points will be awarded to the non-offending Team. The Offending Team will also be deducted 1 point.

Venues
23. If the Home Team’s pitches are unavailable or unfit they should explore the possibility of finding another pitch locally. Should no local pitch be available then the possibility of playing at the away Team’s venue should be explored, in which case the status of each Team is reversed accordingly. Do not forget to inform both the NRC Secretary and the Referees Society immediately.

Postponements
24. Fixtures may only be postponed because of inclement weather conditions. In the first instance this can be agreed between Managers / Coaches / Captains over the ‘phone (to avoid travelling costs). Do not forget to inform your Referee and the NRC Secretary immediately.

25. If either Team’s Manager / Coach / Captain cannot agree on the suitability of a pitch then the Referee’s decision should be sought as to whether a match may start or continue.

26. Should a Team renege on an away fixture the next fixture between the two sides will be reversed and will be played at the original away Team’s home ground. This may be carried over from season to season to protect the integrity of those who are prepared to travel to honour fixtures.

27. As soon as a fixture is postponed, or abandoned needing re-arranging, both Team Managers must contact the NRC Secretary, on the date of postponement, who will inform you of a revised date for the fixture. This revised date cannot be reneged upon, and should be notified immediately to the Referees Society by the home Team. Failure to inform the NRC Secretary on or before the originally scheduled date will result in the game and points being treated as void, applicable to both Teams, and the deduction of 1 point each.

Results Reporting
28. Both Team’s Managers / Coaches / Captains should report the result, by text, to the NROC Secretary on 07890-579801 (text only - no calls) by 18.00 Hours on the Saturday of the game.
The Results TEXT should state...

HomeTeam / Score (? tries)  vs  AwayTeam / Score (? tries)
from - Your Name – of - YourTeam

Example Text Reads :~
Sheffield Meds 21(3)  vs  Hull-York Meds12(2) - from: Joe Bloggs of Sheffield
Remember to insert the TRY COUNT (in brackets).

Why not save your first text as a template for future weeks. This makes it easy to edit and send in the result as soon as the game is over - BUT - check the score with the Referee first.

Remember Postponed Games !!
29. Postponed games MUST also be reported in - by TEXT – by 18.00 Hours on the Saturday of the game. Subsequently an explanation must be given to the NRC Secretary

Late Results
30. Late or non-texted Match Results cause extra work for your volunteer NRC Secretary. Late results will therefore incur a 1 point penalty deduction for the offenders.

Tables & WebSite
31. It is hoped, with the co-operation of all Team Captains / Fixtures Secretaries in submitting results, up to date tables and results will be available every week on the NRC WebSite at  http://www.namsrugby.co.uk

Law
32. All games will be played in accordance with the iRB ‘Laws of the Game’, which are available on the iRB WebSite, or by clicking "here".

Time
33. The duration of each match shall be two periods of 40 minutes each.
The Referee is the sole judge of Time.

34. Should a game be abandoned for any reason the score at the time shall stand provided 60 minutes have been played, otherwise the NROC may order the game to be replayed on the next available weekend. In exceptional circumstances the NROC may determine the result or award the game.

Abandoned Games
35. If the Referee finds it necessary to abandon a match for any reason other than the weather conditions, then, irrespective of the number of minutes played the result of the match may be determined by the NROC at their discretion. Matches abandoned because of the Weather must be replayed on the following weekend.

Referees
36. All NRC Matches should be Refereed by an “Officially Appointed” Society Referee from the home Team’s Local Referees’ Society. The Home Team is responsible for arranging for the Referee’s appointment. All avenues must be explored to ensure games go ahead on the scheduled date with a proper Independent Society Referee as there are very few opportunities to re-arrange fixtures.

37. The Home Team is obliged to cover the Referee’s expenses.

Playing Kit / Shirts
38. For the benefit of the Referee shirts must be numbered with appropriately sized numbers (not letters). Do not forget to check kit colours; it is the Home Team’s responsibility to change kit in the event of a colour clash.

Player Numbers / Replacements / Substitutions
39. Up to 22 players may be selected (15, plus 7 replacements).

40. Only 22 Players (Max) may be changed ready to play.

41. The Squad of 22 should contain four Players able to play in the front row; ie: a full front row and at least one front row replacement.

42. In the event of a Team being unable to field a full front row for a game, or is unable to provide at least one front row replacement then the NAMS Secretary should be informed to arbitrate on how the fixture should proceed.

Carry These Rules with You...
43. The Manager / Coach / Captain must carry a copy of these NRC Competition Rules & Regulations at all times to enable clarification on any matters concerning NRC Rules with the Referee prior to the start of any game.

Revolving Substitutions
44. Revolving substitutions are not permitted, although a front row Player who has been replaced may return to the field to replace an injured front row Player.

45. Replacements must only be made when the ball is dead, and must be through the Referee at all times.

Uncontested Scrums
46. Managers / Coaches / Captains must not allow or encourage Players to play in a front row position if they do not have suitable training and experience. If, due to the injury of suitably trained Players 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.

Code of Conduct
47. The NROC expects an exemplary code of conduct from all Teams, Managers, Coaches, Players, and their Spectators before, during, and following matches.

48. Managers, Coaches, and Replacements should remain within their technical area, which should be clearly marked out at all times.

49. Spectators must be outside the playing enclosure & back from the touchlines, preferably behind a barrier or rope, and must never enter the field of play.

It is the Team Manager’s / Coach’s / Captain’s responsibility to ensure their Spectators conduct themselves in line with the acknowledged 'Ethos of Medics Rugby', refraining from inciting players from the touchline, or abusing Referees before, during, and after games. Any Player or Coach dismissed from the field in a NRC match will be subject to a County Disciplinary hearing.

Arbitration
50. The NROC shall be the sole arbiter in all cases of dispute or complaint, and from their decision there shall be no appeal at law or otherwise.

Posted by Webmaster 9 October 2007