League Rules
Miller Homes League Rules 2009/2010
Rule 1: All games to be played in accordance with the laws of the game as laid down by the R.F.U and as a condition of membership of Miller Homes Leagues all Clubs shall be required to sign a Code of Conduct at the beginning of each season.
Rule 2: All Clubs to use Society and Association referees. (Wherever possible)
Rule 3: A player changing clubs can represent his new club immediately.
Rule 4:
a. Premier and Division 1. A maximum of 3 NOMINATED replacements will be allowed in any match.
Division 2 downwards. An open number of replacements can be agreed by both captains and referee before the commencement of the game. If agreement cannot be agreed a maximum of 5 NOMINATED replacements will apply. The above will apply regardless of the number of players starting the game.
b. At levels Premier to Division 3 only front row players who have been substituted may return to the field of play, and then ONLY in the case of injury. Rolling Subs to be allowed from Division 4 and below.
Rule 5: The competition will be run as a league.
Rule 6: A trophy will be presented annually to each League Champion at the Presentation Meeting. This will be returned at the end of the next season. In addition all promoted teams will be presented with a trophy to keep.
Rule 7: Points awarded for a win will be FOUR.
Rule 8: TWO points to be awarded to each team for a draw.
Rule 9: ONE point to be awarded for a defeat.
Rule 10: Uncontested Scrums:
a. Before a game commences if there is a shortage of front row players, the game starts with uncontested scrums. Should a team unable to field a front row win the match they will receive 2 POINTS MAXIMUM. Should the team with a full front row win they will be awarded FULL POINTS as per Rule 7. The losing side receives ONE point as per Rule 9.
b. If a game goes into uncontested scrums after the start normal rules apply, winner takes FOUR points, loser takes ONE point.
c. A draw in a game with uncontested scrums from the start, TWO points each.
d. All games involved in uncontested scrums MUST be reported to the Relevant League Secretary.
Rule 11: All fixtures will be decided by the League Committee. All games to be rearranged if the grounds are unfit. The Leagues Secretary will dictate the date of the rearranged fixture. This will be the first available Saturday. In the case of a league game being brought forward, once the two fixture secretaries and Leagues Secretary have agreed the date then this becomes a binding contract and any failure to play the game by either side will result in that side conceding and receiving No points. The innocent party to receive 4 points.
Rule 12: Both sides will be responsible for sending in the results. Score must be checked with the referee. These must be supplied to the Secretary of that league by Saturday 6.00pm at the very latest. Can be done by text, telephone or e-mail. Failure to send in results by either side will involve a £10 penalty for the first offence. Second offence will involve a £20 penalty. Further offences could involve points deduction or expulsion from the league. Any fines must be paid direct to the treasurer, within 7 days of notification by the League Secretary of the imposition of the fine.
Rule 13: All teams to stay within the spirit of the game, ie. keeping the team at the level, 3rd, 2nd, or 1st that was originally started. (No bringing in players from higher teams). In addition the Senior fixture in a Club’s list MUST ALWAYS, UNLESS THE SENIOR MATCH IS NOT PLAYED FOR SOME VALID REASON, be honoured at the expense of a lower team’s fixture. Failure to do this will result in ALL teams from the offending Club losing ALL POINTS, (Winning or Losing) from their respective matches. In addition another TWO POINTS will be deducted from all the offending Club’s teams.
Rule 14: All games in all Divisions will start with a minimum of nine men per side. There will be no more than ONE man advantage to any team at the start of the game. The captains must agree the exchange of players before the game begins. Should there be a failure to agree then the team responsible for such failure to agree shall forfeit the game. The points awarded on such failure shall be 4 points for the innocent team and 0 points for the team responsible for the failure.A team supplying less than 9 players can only receive 2 points in the event of victory.
Rule 15: Any side unable to fulfil a fixture for any reason other than the weather forfeits the game, except under exceptional circumstances and agreed by the committee. Exceptional requests must be submitted to the Leagues Secretary at least one Calendar month in advance.
Rule 16: During the course of a season the position in the league will be based on the following:
a. League Points awarded.
b. Points difference.
At the end of the season in the event of a tie between teams involved in promotion or relegation, where the League points between teams are tied, and the tied teams have had Walkovers against some teams, then only the games against the teams who they had Walkovers against should be excluded from the fixtures of all the tied teams.
The points difference should be calculated with these fixtures excluded and the tied teams should then be put in order of these newly calculated points differences. If the points differences are then level then the head to head results should be the deciding factor.If a team is involved in a tie on League points but has also conceded some other games then these games are still included in the points difference calculation for the other tied teams. The concedes are their own fault so should still be included.
Rule 17: Any game abandoned or player given a red card must be referred to the relevant League Secretary within 48 hours of the event by both teams. The time, score and reason for abandonment to be reported. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £50 and any subsequent failure in the same season will incur a further fine of £75. If abandonment takes place after 60 minutes the result will stand unless the abandonment is due to foul play of one of the teams.
Rule 18: The Home team will change strip in the event of a colour clash.
Rule 19: In the Premier and Division 1, any team which concedes THREE games in the course of a season will be expelled from the league and their records expunged. In all other Divisions, any team that concedes FOUR games in the course of a season will be expelled immediately and their records expunged. Any team, down to and including Division 3, conceding a game in April will have TWO concedes added to its total. In addition any team excluded from the Leagues in April will not be allowed to apply for re-entry the following season.
Please Note: Cup games are now included in the total number of games allowed to be conceded.
Rule 20: Any team expelled from the League for failing to fulfil fixtures will not automatically be re-admitted the following season. If any team is expelled from the League then any lower teams from the same club will also be expelled. In the event of a side being expelled from the Leagues and then re-applying for the following season, they will then be introduced, if their application is accepted, in a league, one lower than their previous position.
Rule 21: After TWO consecutive expulsions then the team will not be allowed to re-apply for the following season.
Rule 22: In the event that the Committee become aware that a member club has materially mislead or deceived them to gain an advantage or that they are in breach of the Code of Conduct referred to in Rule 1 the Committee reserves the right to impose such disciplinary action as they deem fit including expulsion from the league.
Rule 23: (a). The Rules Committee (at present, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) are the sole interpreters of these rules.
b. Should a team wish to appeal against a decision of the Rules Committee notice of the appeal must be forwarded to the Leagues Secretary within 7 days of the Rule’s Committee’s decision (time being of the essence).The matter would then be considered by the full Committee (excluding Members of the Rules Committee) for their decision.
c. Should a team be dissatisfied with the decision of the Committee they may (on payment of the appropriate fee) appeal to a RFU Disciplinary Panel by written notice to the Disciplinary Manager, Twickenham.
d. All appeal costs to be borne by the team making the appeal.
Rule 24: Any team not having paid it’s membership fee by August 22nd will be deducted 4 points and for each subsequent week will be deducted a further 4 points per week.
Rule 25: No League games in the Miller Homes and Bateman BMW Leagues may double up with another League game. In addition none may double up with Cup games with either Raging Bull or other Cups, e.g. Lancashire or Cheshire.
Rule 26: That all complaints received by the Miller Homes Leagues Secretary re conduct of other teams/clubs MUST be in writing and received within 10 days of the incident/s occurring. Such complaints must be accompanied by documentary evidence including any referee’s report and written statements from officers of the complainant club. On receipt of the complaint the Secretary shall forward details of the complaint to the club the subject of the complaint, who shall respond within seven days. The Committee shall then issue their findings within 10 days. If the club is dissatisfied with the decision of the Committee they may then appeal against such decision in accordance with Rule 23.
Rule 27: Confirmation of fixtures should be made as per RFU competitions with the Away side confirming the game and KO time. It is suggested that times be as follows. 3.00pm Sept/Oct/Mar/Apr, 2.15pm Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb.
Rule 28: Where a Club does not fulfil its AWAY fixture in the first part of the season, then it must forego its HOME fixture and travel to play the opposition AWAY.
Note 1: All results and tables will be posted on the league website by Monday a.m. Clubs must take their own copies for publication on notice boards from the website. Remember PUBLICITY creates interest for all of us.Website address:- www.nowirul.org.uk
Note 2: Any team or Club with concerns or questions should address them to the appropriate League Secretary a.s.a.p.
Addendum. While it is not our intention to be too regulatory in respect of the leagues, it is important that we uphold the rules strictly, in order for the leagues to run smoothly and with the least instances of controversy. Because of the increase in numbers in the leagues it is essential that RESULTS are received on time. This is where the zero level of tolerance will be shown.
R Robinson
Leagues Secretary
Latest changes, 20th May 2009
