GRFU Development League

Gloucestershire RFU Under 18s Development League Regulations

1. NAME

a. The competition shall be called the GRFU Under 18 Development League (the
Competition).

2. ADMINISTRATION

a. The league tables shall be supervised by Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union
("supervising constituent body") via its Competitions Sub-Committee (the Committee),
who shall appoint a League Co-ordinator who will be responsible for the
League.
b. The League Co-ordinator shall administer the league and make such decisions as they
deem appropriate to run an efficient and fair competition.
c. Decisions of the League Co-ordinator are subject to review under the GRFU protests
procedure.
d. The Committee shall have the power to alter or amend these regulations, as it deems
appropriate.
e. A copy of these regulations MUST be available at the HOME club should clarification need
to be sought by the referee.

3. BEHAVIOUR

Clubs are responsible for the behaviour of their players, coaches and spectators at all
times. Incidents involving bad behaviour and/or referee abuse are at variance from the
core values of our game. Failure to comply with the core values and expectations of the
GRFU could result in the offending club being referred to another GRFU body outside of
the competitions committee remit for review.

4. CLUB ELIGIBILITY

a. The competition is open to all GRFU Combination clubs ("eligible clubs").
b. Any other clubs or teams may enter only with the express permission of the committee.
c. All clubs confirming entry into the U18s Development League must pay the sum of 50.00
per team (payable to the GRFU).




GRFU Development League


5. STRUCTURE and FIXTURES

a. The number of leagues and the size of each will be determined by the Committee and
depend on the number of teams participating.
b. The League Co-ordinator shall draw up the fixtures for the season.
c. Upon receipt of the fixture lists participating clubs may rearrange the fixture dates if
necessary, and must notify the Competition Administrator of any changes by September 1
st
.
d. Any matches in the county-wide leagues unavoidably cancelled or un-played for whatever
reason shall be played on the next available date that may be agreed by both clubs and
approved by the League Co-ordinator. In the area leagues such games should be
rescheduled if practicable REGULATIONS.
e. In the event of a dispute between clubs as to when a game should be played, the game
shall be played on the date originally specified by the League Co-ordinator or any other date
that the League Co-ordinator deems suitable.
f. Games must be played between 1
st
September 2014 and 15
th
March 2015

6. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

a. Players need to be registered, with their clubs.
b. A club in the competition may only play or select as a replacement, players who are
Under 18 at midnight on the 31st August/1
st
September at the beginning of the current
season.
c. A maximum of Four U19 players are allowed in the squad, but only two are allowed on
the pitch at any one time. All U19 players will need to be identified to the opposition
coach/GRFU Age Group Administrator before the start of any match. They may not be a
regular first XV player, in a EPDG or have played in the AASE league.
d. A maximum of four U17/18 EPDG players are allowed in the squad, but only two are
allowed on the pitch at any one time.

7. MATCH ORGANISATION
a. The home side shall use its best endeavours to secure the services of a referee supplied
from the Gloucestershire Federation of Rugby Union Referees ("GFRUR") or the Bristol
Referee Society (BRS).
b. In the event of the GFRUR/BRS being unable to appoint a referee the home side shall be
responsible for providing the referee.
c. The home side shall be responsible for informing the referee of these regulations.
d. If in the opinion of the referee there is a colour clash the home side shall change its
shirts.
e. Matches shall be played on Sunday afternoons unless mutually agreed between the
participating clubs concerned.
GRFU Development League

f. All other match arrangements shall be made as for usual club fixtures.

8. REPLACEMENTS

a. An open number of replacements can be agreed by both captains and referee before the
commencement of the game with an unlimited number of substitutes on the bench.
b. If a team has less than 15 players, every effort must be made to even up the numbers
before the game starts, which may include loaning players to the opposition. Initially a
team may not have more than a one man advantage, any extra players being available
as reserves. Subsequently a team may only increase its numbers with the agreement of
the opposition.
c. All games in all League will start with a minimum of TEN men per side. Every effort should
be made to play the game even if as few as 20 players are available between the two teams.
In such cases, the duration of the game may be shortened to a minimum of 20 minutes each
way.
d. Should there at any time be insufficient suitably trained and experienced front row
players on the field, the match shall continue with uncontested scrums. (See Regulation
9 b). If necessary, a match may be played throughout with uncontested scrums. Where
possible the opposition should be notified well in advance.

9. DETERMINATION OF RESULT

a. If the referee abandons a game, for whatever reason, before three-quarters of the time
has been played, then the game shall be void. Otherwise the result shall stand as though the
game had been completed normally.
b. In the event of uncontested scrums for all or part of the game the result will stand as
though contested scrums had taken place throughout.

10. NOTIFICATION OF RESULT

a. Both sides will be responsible for sending in results. Scores must be checked with the
referee and submitted to the appropriate League Co-ordinator by Monday 12 noon.
b. If a club regularly fails to report results, they will be warned, and if it continues, the
Committee will take action, possible penalties including loss of points and/or expulsion
from the league.

11. UNPLAYED MATCHES

a. Where a club declines or refuses to fulfil a fixture for reasons unacceptable to the League
Co-ordinator it will (subject to its right to appeal) have competition points deducted
or other penalty or sanction as is deemed appropriate.
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b. In the event that the Committee become aware that a member club has materially misled
or deceived them to gain an advantage. The Committee reserves the right to impose such
disciplinary action as they deem fit including expulsion from the league.

12. DETERMINATION OF WINNER OF LEAGUE

a. 4 points shall be awarded for a win. 2 points for a draw and 1 point for a loss. 1 bonus
point will be awarded for four tries scored, 1 point for playing the fixture and 1 bonus point
shall be awarded for losing by 7 or less points.
b. In the event of any team failing to fulfil any fixture they shall forfeit the game. The
offending side shall be deducted 2 points, and their opposition shall receive 4 points. If a
team scratches on the day of the match, the deduction will be 4 points.
c. The winner of each League shall be the team with the highest no of points. Depending on
the clubs final position in the league they will then enter the league play offs to decide the
overall league winner.
d. In the event of two clubs having the same number of points the club having scored the
most points during their head to head games shall take the higher position. If there is still
a tie, the club having scored the greatest number of points against common opponents
shall be the higher. If there is still a tie, the organising committee shall draw lots.
e. If a club plays less than half its scheduled fixtures, the Competitions Committee may, at
its discretion, discount all that team's matches in determining the winner of the League.

13. DISPUTES

a. There is a three stage process for resolving disputes (timescales for club action in
brackets):
i. Formal statement of the details emailed to the League Co-ordinator or Competition
manager, who will try to resolve the issue. There is no fee for this. (1 week).
ii. If that is not possible or not acceptable a club may send a formal Protest to the
Committee. The fee is 50, which may be refunded if appropriate. (1 month).
iii. If the matter is still not resolved, the final GRFU stage is a formal Appeal to the
supervising constituent body.
b. These procedures are in accordance with Appendix 8 and 9 of the GRFU Operating
Procedures.

Operating procedure Appendix 8: Competitions Rules Breaches

The procedure for dealing with breaches of competitions rules shall be dealt with following
the principles of natural justice. (See Appendix 9). To that end all procedural and technical
GRFU Development League

considerations must take second place to the paramount object of being as just and fair to
all parties as is consistent with a duty to the Game. The Competitions Committee is
delegated the authority by the GRFU Management Board to deal with such matters

If a club has been deemed to have breached the Competitions Rules the following
procedures should be adopted:

League Co-ordinator shall inform the club of the breach and that a hearing will
take place.

the relevant information and be invited to attend.
l shall consist of the Chairman and two other members of the Competitions
Committee, who, through their own club affiliation, do not have an interest in the
outcome of the case other than to see that the decision is fair and just.
mittee shall state the case to be answered.



put in writing to them normally within 7 days of the hearing.

The written judgment should include:





ted at the Hearing.




the right to appeal to the GRFU See Appendix 9.

Operating procedure Appendix 9: Appeals Process and Procedures

Appeals against the GRFU or its Committees & sub Committees

Appeals against the GRFU or its Committee or sub Committee shall be dealt with by the
Appeals, Awards and Advisory Panel which is appointed as stated in A5.1. In the case of a
decision by a Committee or sub Committee, the Appeal must be lodged by the Club
Secretary within 72 hours of being informed of the decision the Committee or sub
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Committee. The Panel will comprise members who have no declared involvement in the
case or the appellant parties. The Panel will be chaired by the President, an Officer or a
senior member of the GRFU. An administration fee for the Appeal of 100 is to be paid by
the appellant at the time of lodging the Appeal. Failure to meet the requirements for
submitting an Appeal will render the Appeal void. The principles of natural justice will be
followed. The appellant shall be notified of the arrangements for the Appeal meeting and
invited to attend, with a representative if required, and provide, in advance of the meeting,
such submissions in support of the Appeal as may be considered relevant. The GRFU, the
Committee or sub Committee shall provide all relevant documentation and be invited to
attend to present their case. The Panel will inform the appellant of the result of the Appeal
and also in writing through the County Administrator and the rationale behind the decision.
The written judgment is normally to be sent to the appellant within 7 days of the hearing. If
the Appeal is upheld then the administration fee will be refunded. In the event that the
appellant is not satisfied with the decision taken by the GRFU Appeals, Awards and Advisory
Panel, the appellant has the right to make a final Appeal to the RFU as set out in the
RFU Handbook. (Currently as of September 2010 stated in Regulation 13.10.10).

Natural Justice and Fairness

The overriding consideration in the conduct of appeals and hearings is that they should be
just and fair. The panel must at all times observe the rules of natural justice relating the
conduct of the hearing process
The panel must be:
1. Impartial, that is free of prejudice or bias and not has an interest in the
outcome other than to see that the decision is fair.
2. Careful and thorough in their consideration of the procedures and
evidence.

All decisions together with the reasons for those decisions should be recorded in writing