2020 Prepared By: Mat Vowles – Competitions & Rugby Services Manager Date: July 2020 Revision: 2020/03 ACTRU RULES OF COMPETITION TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1: Key Terms & Dictionary ..................................................................................................... 5 Part 2: Introduction to the Rules of Competition ......................................................................... 9 1. Preamble ..................................................................................................................... 9 2. Examples and Notes .................................................................................................... 9 3. Application of World Rugby Laws ............................................................................... 9 4. Application of Former Competition Rules to Decisions Made Prior to Commencement of these Rules .................................................................................. 9 5. Retrospective Application of Rules ........................................................................... 10 6. Alteration of Rules of Competition ........................................................................... 10 7. Protests into Breaches of Rules of Competition ....................................................... 10 Part 3: The Competition .............................................................................................................. 12 8. How the Competition Works..................................................................................... 12 1. Competition Structure: ............................................................................................. 12 2. Competition Format: ................................................................................................. 12 3. Club Eligibility: ........................................................................................................... 12 4. Club Affiliation: .......................................................................................................... 12 5. Application for Entry into Competition: .................................................................... 13 9. Player Participation ................................................................................................... 13 1. Eligibility .................................................................................................................... 13 2. Registration ............................................................................................................... 14 3. Payment of Players .................................................................................................... 14 4. Breach of Payments to Players .................................................................................. 15 5. Contracted Players at Club Level ............................................................................... 15 6. Eligibility of Players for Home and Away Matches ................................................... 17 7. Playing Ineligible Players ........................................................................................... 18 10. Dispensations ............................................................................................................ 18 1. Dispensation Committee ........................................................................................... 18 2. Dispensation Committee Decision Making ............................................................... 18 3. Application for Dispensation ..................................................................................... 18 4. Dispensation – Under 18 Male Players ..................................................................... 19 5. Dispensation – Under 18 Female Players .................................................................. 19 2. Dispensation – Participation in Colts Grade .............................................................. 20 1 Revision: 2020/03 ACTRU RULES OF COMPETITION 11. Matches ..................................................................................................................... 21 1. Match Balls ................................................................................................................ 21 2. Ground Allocations .................................................................................................... 21 3. Match Day Date & Kick-off Time ............................................................................... 21 4. Match Duration ......................................................................................................... 22 5. Competition Points .................................................................................................... 22 6. Alternate Venue / Wet Weather – Ground Closures ................................................ 23 7. Air Quality Concerns – Proceeding/Continuing with a Match .................................. 24 8. Threat of Lightning Strikes ........................................................................................ 24 9. Non-Fulfilment of Matches ....................................................................................... 24 10. Cancelled, Delayed or Suspended Matches ........................................................ 24 11. Abandoned Matches ........................................................................................... 25 12. Forfeiture of Match ............................................................................................. 26 13. Withdrawal of Forfeiting Club from Competition ............................................... 26 14. Match Sheets – Home-and-Away Rounds ........................................................... 27 15. Non-Contested Scrums........................................................................................ 28 12. Premierships and Finals ............................................................................................ 28 1. Grade Minor Premierships ........................................................................................ 28 2. Club Championship ................................................................................................... 29 13. Match Officials .......................................................................................................... 29 1. Appointment of Referees - Appointment for Matches ............................................. 29 2. Appointed Referees not Showing ............................................................................. 29 3. Referee Unable to Continue Refereeing ................................................................... 29 4. Appointment of Touch Judges and Ball People ........................................................ 30 14. Match Day ................................................................................................................. 30 1. Player Clothing .......................................................................................................... 30 2. Playing Field .............................................................................................................. 31 3. Playing Enclosure ...................................................................................................... 31 4. Reserve Bench ........................................................................................................... 31 5. Technical Zones ......................................................................................................... 32 6. Replacement Bench Designated a Technical Zone ................................................... 32 7. Role of Personnel in the Technical Zone and Replacement Bench ........................... 32 8. Ground Marshalls – Appointment ............................................................................. 33 9. Ground Marshalls’ – Responsibilities ........................................................................ 33 2 Revision: 2020/03 ACTRU RULES OF COMPETITION 10. Injuries, Replacements and Reserves .................................................................. 35 11. Illegal and Foul Play ............................................................................................. 36 12. Concussion .......................................................................................................... 37 Part 4: Judiciary ........................................................................................................................... 38 15. On-Field and Off-Field Discipline ............................................................................... 38 1. Rugby Australia National Disciplinary Rules .............................................................. 38 2. Place and Time of Judicial Committee Hearing ......................................................... 38 3. Notification of Hearing of a Disciplinary Matter ....................................................... 38 4. Judicial Committee Meetings .................................................................................... 38 5. Citings ........................................................................................................................ 38 6. Appeals Against Decisions of the Judicial Committee .............................................. 40 7. Alleged Breaches of Rugby Australia’s Code of Conduct .......................................... 40 Part 5: The Final Series ...............................................................................................................