Competition - Corps Championship Rules

DESCRIPTION

1. The Competition shall be called the “The Army Rugby Union (ARU) Corps Rugby Union Championship,” hereafter referred to as the Corps Comp. Participation in the Corps Comp shall be for the Corps of the Regular Army. The aim of the Corps Comp is to provide a playing level above regimental for players considered to be talented enough and to provide a “breeding ground” and selection environment for the consideration of players for the elite Army sides . The Women’s Competition the aim is to provide a development playing level/stepping stone for players considered to be talented enough and to provide a “breeding ground” and selection environment for the consideration of players for the elite Army side.

2. The Competition will be played under the auspices of all existing RFU Laws and ARU Regulations.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

3. The Competition shall be organised under the direction of the Chairman of the Community Rugby whose decision shall be binding and final on any matter not provided for in these regulations. This will be conducted in liaison with the ARU(W) Chairman. The lead for the running of the Corps Comp will be the Chairman of Corps Rugby. The Womens Competition will be run by the ARU(W) Corps Secretary.

4. The competition shall be administered by the Coordinator of the Corps Rugby. The Womens Competition will be administered by the ARU(W) Corps Secretary.

TABLE POSITIONS

5. The Championship will comprise two Merit Leagues, one sitting above the other in seniority. Four points are awarded for a victory, two for a draw and zero for a loss. However, regardless of winning or losing, bonus points can also be awarded, either by losing by seven points or less in the final score line (one point) or a team scoring four or more tries in a match (one point). Where Table points are equal, position shall be determined by:

a. The greater difference in the aggregate member of points scored For and Against.
b. The greater aggregate number of points scored For.
c. The team which has won the greater number of Table matches.
d. The Winner of the match between the tied Corps.

Teams that forfeit a game will be deducted 2 points

6. The Women’s Competition will comprise of one league of 8 teams. Three points are awarded for a victory, one for a draw and zero for a loss. However, regardless of winning or losing, bonus points can also be awarded; three points will be awarded for teams providing at least fifteen players and one point awarded for teams providing ten to fourteen players. Teams who still wish to continue to compete for points regardless of the number of players, to gain the victory points, must confirm and agree with the opposing team and the Women’s’ Corp Secretary/representative prior to kick off. If the team providing between ten and fourteen players wins they will be awarded one point for a victory and one bonus point. Where Table points are equal, position shall be determined as above.

PROMOTION / RELEGATION AND FINALS DAY

7. Finals Day. The top two placed sides in each League at the end of the regular matches will play each other on a predetermined date each season in order to decide the winner of the Corp competition overall for both Merit League 1 and 2. Both the finals will be played at Aldershot in the Army Stadium. The Women’s Final will be between the top two teams in the League. This Final will be played either the evening before the Main Finals Day or during the Finals Day.

8. Relegation/Promotion. Relegation and Promotion within Leagues will take place as follows:

1. The Winner of the League 2 Final will be offered the option to be promoted to League 1 at the commencement of the next season, should they feel they wish to.
2. The bottom placed team in League 1 (at the end of regular matches) will be relegated to League 2 as long as the top placed team in League 2 decides to take up the offer of promotion to League 1.
3. If the Winner of League 2 does not wish to be promoted, the status quo remains.

FIXTURES

9. The dates for matches and the Finals Day will be circulated by the ARU in May/June each year. As a result of the agreed dates, the Secretary and Women’s Secretary will organise the fixtures on behalf of each Corps so that each season, teams swap home and away fixtures and move one team on in order of play. All Womens Matches will be played at Aldershot. The fixtures will dictate the date and location of each match. In doing so, the Secretaries of each Corps are to make final liaison with each other to confirm match details and specific location. Rescheduling may only take place with the agreement of the Chairman Corps Rugby. NO dispensation shall be given to Corps as a result of player unavailability. Rescheduling for the Womens matches will be coordinated by the ARU(W) Secretary.

ELIGIBILITY

10. The Championship is open to recognised Corps affiliated to the Army Rugby Union, for Season 2010 – 2011 these are:

11. The Women’s Championship is open to recognised Corps affiliated to the Army Rugby Union, for Season 2010 – 2011, in addition the RAF development team have been invited to participate in the competition.

12. Players are to be regular serving members of their Corps. Reservist / Territorial Army members may play as outlined under 2008DIN10-015. Teams fielding an ineligible player shall forfeit to their opponents any points won in the match concerned. For the Womens Competition, team affiliations must be strictly adhered to. Any request for players to play for other teams to ensure games go ahead must be confirmed by both team secretaries and the ARU(W) Secretary prior to the game.

13. Secretaries of Corps are to nominate their playing squad of no more than 22 players by no later than 30 mins before kick off, of which all 22 may take the field. Teams are only allowed to make seven (7) substitutions during the match. These lists are to be agreed upon by each secretary and team captain. Post match, copies of the team sheets with annotation of scores are to be e-mailed to the Secretary of Corps Rugby within 24 hrs. For the Womens Competition, nominal rolls must be given to the ARU(W) Secretary. There is no restriction on substitutions for the Womens matches, however teams can only play a maximum of 5 Army Capped players (Season 2009-10) on the pitch at any one time.

14. Teams in league 1 must start the match with at least two (2) other players that can play in the front row. These players may be a substitute or in the starting XV. If a series of injuries leads to a team being unable to field a front row, the fixture will continue with uncontested scrums and the result will stand. Teams in league 2 must start the match with at least one (1) other player that can play in the front row. The player may be a substitute or in the starting XV. If a series of injuries leads to a team being unable to field a front row, the fixture will continue with uncontested scrums and the result will stand. In both Leagues, if the referee feels that the opposition have feigned injury, the official will decide on the use of uncontested scrums accordingly.

UN-PLAYED, POSTPONED AND ABANDONED MATCHES

15. If a match is un-played on the first arranged date or abandoned within 60 minutes of playing time due to adverse weather conditions the match shall be rescheduled under the same arrangements on a date agreed by the relevant Corps, and the Coordinator of the Competition. If the match is abandoned after 60 minutes play then the score at the time of abandonment shall be deemed the final match score. The decision as to the time elapsed and the necessity to abandon shall be that of the Referee alone.

16. In the event of an abandoned match, the secretary of the home team shall provide to the secretary Corps rugby an e-mail containing a statement by the referee, the time of abandonment, the existing score and the reason for abandonment.

17. In the event of a match not being played because one Corps has failed to raise a team, the Chairman Community Rugby may award the points to the other side and will be a win of 24 – nil. This will mean bonus points will also be awarded.

18. For the Women’s Competition, in the event of a match not being played because one Corps has failed to raise a team, the team attending will be awarded the points for a win of 6 – nil (provided they had fifteen players), The team failing to raise a team will be deducted 2 points.

19. In the event of a match not being played for whatever reason, whether or not competition points are awarded to a Corps under this regulation, if that Corps is a contender for promotion or relegation at the end of the season or a contender for table champions, the difference between the match points For and Against of all Corps (other than the offending Corps) in the Merit Table shall be adjusted to exclude all match points scored in matches played against the offending corps before establishing the final position of each Corps in the table in accordance with Regulations (5, 6 and 7)

20. In the event of a Corps failing to fulfil its league fixtures for reasons unacceptable to the Committee, or if a Corps is suspended or expelled from the Competition, the results of all matches played by it shall be deleted.

KICK OFF AND DELAYED ARRIVALS

21. All matches will kick-off at 1400 hrs. Any variation to kick-off (e.g. for a flood light match) should be mutually agreed at least two weeks in advance of the match in which case the Secretary Corps Rugby and CSRR Appointments Secretary must also be informed. The Women’s matches will kick off at either 1730 or 1900 as directed in the Fixture List.

22. Any unreasonable delay must be reported to the Committee and may lead to the match being awarded to the non-offending Corps.

REPORTING OF RESULTS

23. The Secretary of the home Corps is to report the match result to the Secretary Corps Rugby by mobile phone text (TBC) or military e-mail within 24 hrs.

REFEREES AND TOUCH JUDGES

24. The Secretary Corps Rugby/ARU(W) Corps Secretary will book and liaise with the CSRR Secretary to make arrangements for all matches. Secretaries of individual Corps home teams are to contact the referee to arrange final match details. In the event of no Referee being appointed or the failure of the Referee to appear, the Senior Assistant Referree shall automatically be appointed Referee under these Regulations. The home Corps shall provide a replacement touch judge if no independent official is available.

GROUNDS

25. When a late decision on the fitness of the ground for playing of a match is necessary, it shall be made by the appointed Referee. A late decision is one made within 3 hours of the scheduled kick-off time.

26. If a change of location has to be made for a fixture, this should be agreed by the two Corps Secretaries at least 2 weeks in advance. Womens changes must be confirmed with the ARU(W) Corps Secretary. Any change under 2 weeks must be mutually agreed by the 2 Corps Secretaries concerned. In cases of disagreement, the decision will be made by the Corps Chairman.

DISCIPLINARY POWERS

27. The Committee shall have the power to recommend to the ARU Council the expulsion of any Corps from the Competition or impose such other penalty as is considered appropriate to these regulations.

COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS

28. Any complaint shall be notified to the Chairman of Corps rugby by telephone within 48 hrs and thereafter submitted in writing under the signatures of the Chairman of the complaining Corps within a further 48 hrs. The complaining Corps shall at the same time also send a copy of such complaint in writing to the Chairman and Secretary of other party to the complaint.

29. If either the complaining Corps or the other party to any complaint, or the Corps against whom the complaint is made, requires a hearing, it shall be requested in writing and the Corps Secretary shall, in consultation with the Chairman, appoint a time, date and place for such a hearing normally within 14 days of receipt of the written request.

30. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Competition Committee may, within 7 days of receipt of their decision, appeal in writing to the Chairman of Community Rugby and the Secretary ARU re-stating the grounds on which the original appeal was made. The Corps shall not be entitled to introduce any further grounds of objection not previously stated to the Committee, nor to loge a second objection arising from the circumstance on which the objection, is based.

31. The Secretary ARU shall on a playing matter refer the objection to the Director of Rugby (ARU) whose decision shall be final. On a Disciplinary matter, or other alleged irregularity, the Secretary ARU shall refer the complaint to the Chairman of Discipline.

32. Any party to an appeal under these Regulations shall provide such information or evidence and within such times as the Competition Committee or relevant Director ARU shall require. Should any party fail to provide such information or evidence within the time required the Competition Committee or Director as appropriate shall be entitled to refuse to hear that party when considering the appeal.

Download:   Championship Rules (pdf 18kb)