1.     COMPETITIONS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (“CMC”)

The CMC shall decide:-

(a)   the dates on which matches, including replays, shall be played
(b)   the venues of matches
(c)   whether or not extra time if necessary shall be played

2     FIXTURES

Fixtures shall be arranged at meetings of club representatives convened for the purpose and shall be placed before the CMC for its approval.  In case the representatives of any 2 clubs cannot agree in regard to the date on which any match shall be played, the CMC shall decide the same.

3     DURATION OF GAMES

(a)   The duration of a match shall normally be 80 minutes (except in the case of Schools Cup matches) subject to the Laws of the Game.

(b)  In all Cup Competitions, (except Schools Cup matches) extra time of 10 minutes each way will be played in the case of a draw at full time.  Extra time will also be played in all play-off matches for promotion or relegation. 

4     REFEREES

(a) The Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees shall (whenever possible) appoint  Referees for all League and Cup matches, except for the finals of Cup or League Competitions, when the Society,   through its representative, shall, at a Committee meeting held prior to the date of the final of each Cup Competition, recommend the name of a Referee to the Branch Committee for its approval.

(b) In relation to Law  6 (Laws of the Game) if a referee, having been duly appointed for a Cup or League game, is not in attendance, or if such appointment was not made, or if a referee who was appointed for a Cup or League game is unable to officiate for the whole period  of a match, the game as scheduled may be postponed or in the latter case may be abandoned and reported to the CMC

(c) If either Club offers an alternative person to referee (including a referee spectating at the ground) in circumstances covered by (b) to enable the match to be played or concluded, agreement to the arrangements should be confirmed by both Captains signing the team lists submitted to the Referee before the game or before the game is concluded.

(d) Save as provided in (c) above, changes of a referee’s appointment after arrival at a ground can only take place with the approval of a Referee’s Selector.

(e)  Referees may refuse to permit players to take part in a game if not wearing the  registered Club jersey.  If the registered colours of teams in a match are of such  similarity as would present playing or refereeing difficulties, it is the responsibility of the home team to make the necessary change  and to notify the Branch and opponents of such change.

5     POINTS

(a)    The team winning a league match shall be awarded 2 points. In the case of a drawn league game, each team shall receive 1 point.  Any team  failing to fulfil a league fixture shall have 3 points deducted from its league points scored and their opponents shall receive 2 points.  In the case of 2 or more teams having an equal number of points, a deciding match or matches may be arranged as the CMC may determine.

(b)   Any team scratching an away league fixture will forfeit home advantage in the return fixture. (If circumstances permit ,this may be carried forward to the next season at the discretion of the CMC.)

(c)   Any team scratching more than 2 league matches in a season may, at the discretion of the CMC, be debarred from entering a particular league competition in the following season.

6     NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

(a)   The referee shall forward the result of each match in writing to the Branch within 48 hours of the conclusion of the match.  He should also report on any other matter of importance affecting the game, including serious injury.

(b)   Each Club shall forward the result of all Cup and League matches played during each week on the special forms provided.  Such forms must be submitted weekly so that they reach the Branch not later than the Wednesday following the matches for the preceding week.

7.  REGISTRATION, ELIGIBILITY AND MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS, AND PAYMENTS TO PLAYERS

(a)  All Clubs are subject to the provisions of the IRFU Regulations Governing Rugby at Club Level in Ireland (in this regulation referred to as “the Club Rugby Regulations”) – see Annex A.

(b)  In addition the following provisions shall apply:-

(i) Clubs playing in Division Two of the Qualifying League, or in any division or league below Division Two of the Qualifying League, shall be permitted to register with the Branch, before 1 September in each year or one week prior to the official commencement of the league programme whichever is the earlier, no more than one overseas player to play 1st XV rugby.  In determining the eligibility of players to register under this provision the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (e) regarding the “Eligibility of Players” for Qualifying League Division One (see Annex C) shall be deemed to apply for this purpose as they apply to clubs playing in Division One  of the Qualifying League.

(ii) A player must be a member of the Club for which he plays and in the case of knock-out Cup Competitions he shall be ineligible to take part in any Competition unless he shall have been a member of his Club before the commencement of the particular Competition.

(iii) A player who has ceased to be member of a Club owing to his subscription being in arrears shall, on rejoining such club, be considered a new member thereof.

(iv) A player may transfer as a playing member from one Club to another provided he is free from any financial obligations with the Club he is leaving, has given at least one month’s written notice to that Club, and the CMC has approved the transfer.

(v) A player whose transfer has been completed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 4.4 of the Club Rugby Regulations after the 31 January in any year will not be eligible to play for his new Club in Branch League or Cup Competitions.   

8.  QUALIFICATION OF PLAYER – AIB LEAGUE AND QUALIFYING LEAGUE DIVISION 1

(a)  Clubs playing in the AIB League :-

(i) are subject to the provisions regarding the registration and eligibility of players set down in Regulations13 and 14 of the AIB League Regulations 2003-2004 – See Annex B, and

(ii) shall, on or before 1st June in any year , submit to the Branch a copy of the list of players submitted to the Union under the provisions of Regulation 13.1 of the AIB League Regulations 2003-2004.

(b)  Clubs playing in Division One of the Qualifying League are subject to the  provisions regarding the registration and eligibility of players set down in the IRFU Guidelines for Qualifying Leagues – See Annex C.

9     NAMES OF PLAYERS

The registration numbers and full names of the players  of each team must be given to the referee before the start of each match and he shall forward same to the Branch within 48 hours of the match.  The names may be examined by the CMC.

10     REINSTATEMENTS

(a) The CMC shall have the power to reinstate players who have become disqualified from league or cup competitions, provided that application is made in writing to the Branch on the form provided for this purpose and same is received by the Branch by 10am 3 working days before the match in which the player seeks to play.

(b) A player becomes disqualified if, during the current season, he has played, in aggregate, four or more cup and league matches for a team in the Club playing in the next highest grade of League , or once for a team in a  higher grade of League than the next highest grade, or has ever played international or senior representative rugby football. Also, a player joining the Club from another Club becomes disqualified until reinstated.  For the purposes of this regulation the grades of League shall be AIL/Ulster Senior, 2nd XV, Qualifying, Junior and Minor.  

(c) The provisions at (b) above shall not apply to a player in the Under 20 League,
 (see Under 20 League Regulation 47 (g))

11     UNQUALIFIED PLAYERS

If any Club includes in its team, any player who is not duly qualified to represent it, the team shall be deemed to have lost the match and, in the case of a league match will also have one point deducted from its league total to date and may at the discretion of the CMC be excluded therefrom for the remainder of the season.

12     THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND THE REPLACEMENT AND SUBSTITUTION
          OF PLAYERS

(a) A  team must comply with Law 3 of the Game in respect of the nomination and
      replacement/substitution of players. 
(b) Subject to (a) above the following provisions shall apply:-

(a)   A player may play for only one team in any particular Cup Competition.

(b)  A Club may not select a player from a higher team to play in the semi-final or final of any cup unless the player has played in a previous round of the competition.  For the purposes of this provision a player from a higher team shall be deemed to be a player who, during the current season, has played four or more matches in aggregate for a higher team or teams in cup and league competitions.

(c)   (i) Exceptionally, the CMC may approve an application to play in the Crawford Cup made on behalf of a player who, having played in previous rounds of that competition, has subsequently been called upon to play on a one off basis in the semi-final or final of the Towns or McCrea Cup. 

(ii) Application shall be made in writing to the Branch Office and be received, three working days before the match in respect of which the application is made.

14     CLOSED DATES

League, Cup or Friendly matches must not be arranged for the afternoon, in Belfast and within a radius of 25 miles of Belfast, on dates closed by the Branch Committee.

15     STARTING TIMES OF MATCHES

(a) Normal kick-off time for all Saturday matches whether League, Cup or Friendly will be 2.30 pm.  For matches on 'closed dates' the kick-off time will be 12 noon or earlier.

(b) Application to vary these kick-off  times must be made in writing to the Branch Office 10 days before date of match.

16    POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION OF MATCHES

(a) Any Club postponing or cancelling a match for any reason must immediately notify:-
(i)  The Honorary Secretary or an authorised official of the opposing Club
(ii) The Branch in writing eg Fax or e-mail (Branch will notify Referee if cancellation is more than 24 hours before kick-off).
(iii) The Referee, if postponement or cancellation is within 24 hours of kick-off.

(b)     Any Club failing to comply with (a) above shall be liable to a fine of £100 in respect of the expenses of a referee who travels, and may, at the discretion of the CMC, be held liable to pay the travelling expenses of the visiting Club.

(c)     Any Club postponing or cancelling a match within 24 hours of the fixture shall also be liable to:-
(i) A fine of £50 if notification of such postponement or cancellation is given under the provisions of (a) above on the day preceding the fixture, or
(ii) A fine of £100 if such notification is given within 12 hours of the fixture, or in the event that no such notification is given. 

(d) Any Club failing to fulfil a Cup fixture will be fined £100

(e) All postponed or cancelled League or Cup matches must be reported by both Clubs
on the Weekly Results Report Form. The offending Club should confirm forfeiture of points if appropriate, or both Clubs should confirm match rearrangement if this has been mutually agreed, giving date, venue etc.
 
(f)  If agreement cannot be reached on forfeiture or rearrangement this should be reported by both Clubs and the decision will stand referred to the CMC.  The offending side MUST immediately inform the CMC of the reasons why they failed to fulfil the fixture and why the CMC should not award points to the non offending side.

17     ORDER OF CANCELLATION

(a) Clubs must cancel League and Cup matches from the lowest team upwards. 
 
(b) Cup games within their designated sections  take precedence over league games.

(c) The penalty for violation of the above is:
(i) If a team plays a Cup or League match on the same day as the Club has   cancelled a Cup or League match of a higher team then the result will be declared null and void and its opponents will be declared the winners
(ii) Teams lose 1 point for each match played in a league at a lower level and their opponents receive 2 points.

(d) When cancellation in the order prescribed above is impracticable (eg because of late cancellation or difficulties arising from an assigned pitch being declared unplayable) full details must be sent to the Branch in writing by the Club responsible for the cancellation within 72 hours of the cancellation.  The CMC will then decide whether or not the above penalty will be imposed.

18     CHANGE OF DATES

When the date and time of any match has been approved by the CMC, the same shall not be changed without the permission of the CMC and any Club or Clubs contravening this regulation shall be deemed to have lost the match unless the CMC rules otherwise.  Any postponed game must be re-arranged, and notification sent to the Branch by the Home club, within 14 days of the original date, in default of which the game may be re-arranged by the CMC.

19     REFUSAL TO PLAY

(a)  League and Cup matches must be completed by the date specified by the CMC

(b)  In the event of a Club failing to play off a match or replay on the stipulated date or refusing to play extra time if ordered to do so by the CMC having control of the competition, it shall be adjudged to have lost the match unless the CMC considers there was a reasonable and proper cause for  the refusal and, if the match is a Cup match, shall be liable to a fine of £100.  

20    PROTESTS OR APPEALS

(a)  A Club wishing to make an official protest or appeal to the CMC in relation to a fixture must do so in writing on Club note paper signed by the Honorary Secretary or a senior office-bearer of the club to reach the Branch Office within 96 hours after the end of the match to which it relates.

(b)   Whether at the instigation of a Club under (a) or otherwise, the CMC may at any time scrutinise team lists, reinstatements, referees’ reports or other relevant material, and apply competition regulations as appropriate.

21     FITNESS OF GROUND

Prior to kick-off the Home Club shall be the sole judge of the fitness of the ground for the playing of a League or Cup match.  In the case of a public ground the decision shall lie with the groundsman in charge. Once a match starts the referee is the sole judge of the fitness of the ground.

22     TROPHY OWNERSHIP & RESPONSIBILITY

(a)   The Trustees of the Branch for the time being shall be for all intents and purposes the legal owners of all cups and shields in trust for the Branch.

(b)    Cups and shields shall be presented to winning Clubs at the final or conclusion of the competitions.   Clubs winning a cup or shield shall, when the presentation has taken place, give to the Honorary Secretary of the Branch, a written guarantee for its safe custody and return when directed by the Branch.

23     ENTRY TO COMPETITIONS

Applications for all competitions must be made to the Branch on the appropriate form in accordance with Branch regulations.

24     CUP DRAWS

The CMC shall arrange to make the draws for all knock-out cup competitions. Each competing Club shall be notified of the result of the draw, dates and venues of each round, and of the instructions to referees regarding whether extra time should be played in the event of a draw. (See 3 (b))

25  DECISIONS OF THE CMC

The Clubs Committee, at its regular monthly meeting, shall be the arbiter of any decision of the CMC which is disputed by a Club, provided that where reference to a monthly meeting of the Clubs Committee is impractical a Club may appeal direct to the Branch Committee in writing on Club note paper signed by the Honorary Secretary or a senior office-bearer of the Club.  

26  REPORTED PLAYERS

Players sent off the field of play, or cited in domestic rugby are subject to the provisions set down in Section 5 of the Regulations of the Irish Rugby Football Union (Regulation 5) – See Annex D.

27 USE OF DRUGS
 
The use of drugs by players is subject to the provisions set down in the Irish Rugby Football Union  Regulations Governing the Use of Drugs – See Annex E.

28 MATCHES AGAINST TEAMS FROM OTHER UNIONS

Matches against teams from other Unions are subject to the provisions set down in Section 5 of the Regulations of the Irish Rugby Football Union (Regulation 2) – See Annex F.

29 “SCRATCH” TEAMS

“Scratch”  teams are subject to the provisions set down in Section 5 of the Regulations of the Irish Rugby Football Union (Regulation 3). – See Annex G.

30 MOVEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN UNIONS

The movement of individuals between Unions is subject to the provisions set down in Section 5 of the Regulations  of the Irish Rugby Football Union (Regulation 4) – See Annex H.