Competition Playing Conditions and Rules and Regulations of Wellington Rugby League Spirit and Intent The spirit and intent of the Competition Playing Conditions and the Rules and Regulations of Wellington Rugby League (WRL) is to create a competition playing environment that is: • Fair to all affiliated clubs; • Recognises the input of volunteers; • Contributes to the growth and development of the game in the Greater Wellington region; • Contributes to the enjoyment of all participants – players, referees, coaches, managers, administrators, supporters, sponsors and funding partners. The intent of WRL is to have players playing the game so where possible WRL and Clubs should work closely together to make this happen. 1. Registration and Identification 1.1 ALL players, coaches, managers, trainers and volunteers playing and participating in the WRL competition must be registered in the LeagueNet database as active within a Wellington Club or Affiliate. 1.2 It is the responsibility and requirement of each Club or Affiliate to ensure such registrations are kept up to date. 1.3 The LeagueNet database management system shall be the WRL preferred system until further notice. 1.4 Registrations for membership must be made through the Club or Affiliate following the LeagueNet Online registration process provided by WRL. 1.5 The role of WRL is to satisfy itself to a player’s age. LeagueNet registration, especially in relation to representative football, must be accompanied by a Birth Certificate, passport or other accepted photo ID. WRL, acting in the spirit of goodwill, will look at age grade registration on a case by case basis where no Birth Certificate, Passport or other accepted form of photo ID is readily available but where there is other evidence to support the stated age. 1.6 LeagueNet registration must be completed, including photo ID two business days prior to the player taking the field. Failure to comply may result in a fine of $250.00 (senior) or $50.00 (Junior) per week (or part thereof) for their club and loss of any competition points gained (This does not apply to any preseason 9’s tournaments, or trial games arranged between clubs). Fines money received by WRL shall be tagged for reinvestment in community football programmes that also benefit clubs. 1 | P a g e 2020 W R L B y l a w s 1.7 No person shall be a playing member of more than one club unless a club cannot provide Premier football for a player who is eligible for senior football and age grade football. In this case an application can be made to the General Manager to allow the player to play age grade for one club and premier for another. 1.8 If an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player (including but not limited to over aged juniors, non-transferred players, under aged seniors, suspended players etc) is brought to the attention of WRL via a misconduct report or official protest, that is upheld, the following action will be taken: 1.8.1 The offending team will forfeit any points gained from the games that the ineligible player/s are involved in. The opposing club will be credited with a 30-0 win. 1.8.2 A fine of $250.00 (Senior) or $50.00 (Junior) per offending player shall be imposed on the club. 1.8.3 If both clubs are found to be in breach, the match result shall be cancelled, and the fines as per above shall be imposed on the clubs concerned. 1.8.4 Payment of fines for Unregistered and other Ineligible players must be paid prior to the offending team taking the field for their next game. Failure to comply may result in a further fine of $250.00 (senior) or $50.00 (Junior) per week, or part thereof, for the club and the loss of any competition points gained. 1.8.5 Three infringements from any one team of playing unregistered or ineligible players may result in that team being withdrawn from the competition in addition to the fines already imposed. 1.9 All players must be registered with the club or affiliate for which they are playing. Any player once registered with a club or affiliate, regardless of inactive playing period, shall remain so until a transfer is requested, approved and completed by all parties involved. 1.10 Each club or affiliate is responsible for the identification and discipline of its players. However, when resolving a protest/query on the identity of a player for disciplinary purposes, the General Manager will recognise that a club or affiliate can only be expected to trace the identification of a player within reasonable bounds. 1.11 In the event of name controversy, the General Manager may require three nominated officers of the club or affiliate to verify the details on the appropriate form as understood at the time of acceptance. 1.12 Players can be registered at any time during the year however to be eligible for playoffs, a player must play a minimum of three competition games for the team in question prior to the playoffs. 1.13 There is no restriction on the number of players registered for Senior grade teams including Women’s. 2 | P a g e 2020 W R L B y l a w s 1.14 When a club or Affiliate enters two or more teams in the same grade, at the discretion of WRL, the players in each team must be individually identified through separate team sheets, and all players are subject to transfer and regrading rules i.e. players cannot play for two teams within any one grade. 2. Player Transfers 2.1 If a player is registered with one club and wishes to transfer to another, a Transfer request must be submitted by the receiving club following the LeagueNet Transfer process found on the WRL website. This applies to ALL age grades. Depending on grade, this may incur a transfer fee. Refer to clause 2.8. 2.2 A player may not take the field until the transfer is requested, approved and completed by all parties involved including WRL. 2.3 Should a player take the field prior to the transfer being completed and approved or without a transfer being actioned the following may occur to the offending club/team, 2.3.1 The offending team will forfeit any points gained from the games that the ineligible player/s are involved in. The opposing club shall be credited with a 30-0 win. 2.3.2 A fine of $250.00 (Senior) or $50.00 (Junior) per offending player shall be imposed on the club. 2.3.3 Payment of fines must be paid prior to the offending team taking the field for their next game. Failure to comply may result in a further fine of $250.00 (senior) or $50.00 (Junior) per week, or part thereof, for the club and the loss of any competition points gained. 2.4 A legitimate reason must be given for a club to decline a Transfer request. For example, subs owed from the previous season etc. Declined transfer requests should be resolved between the clubs and the player. 2.5 It is the responsibility of each club to monitor Transfer requests, received and submitted. These must be actioned within the stipulated timeframe. If not actioned by the club within the required timeframe, WRL has the authority to override the transfer and clear the player. 2.6 A maximum number of transfers of three players in and three players out per grade, per club is allowed per season. 2.7 Transfer cut off dates for each season will be stated on the WRL website. 3 | P a g e 2020 W R L B y l a w s 2.8 Transfer fees as per below chart Grade Club WRL Rep National Rep (3 or more games (In preceding 2 including NZ Maori in preceding years) & NZRL Resident season) (In preceding 2 years) 15s $200 $150 16s $200 $150 17s $200 $150 18, 19, 20s $250 $500 Women $100 $1000 Senior 1st & 2nd $150 Premier/Reserve **$200 $300 $1000 **Please note club transfer fees ONLY apply to the previous season 3. Regrading The intention of regrading a player is to ensure that neither he/she nor his/her club or affiliate are unduly penalised when the player is substituting in a higher grade because of representative commitments, or a prolonged injury to a player in a specialist position in a higher grade. Any other reason should be discouraged. 3.1 The interpretation of a player’s “registered” grade is that in which his/her name appears on the applicable team sheet, and if for any reason this is not conclusive then his/her registration grade will be the most senior grade in which he/she has played in the previous three weeks taken from team cards. 3.1.1 Any age group player who elects to play in any higher grade may be registered in the grade to which they qualify by age. That player may then play for both grades during the season including Grand Final playoffs. 3.1.2 Outside of his/her registered grade, a senior player is permitted to play in his/her club or affiliates team immediately below that in which he/she is registered, with a maximum of two players in any relevant weekly draw. 3.2 Players registered in the two highest graded teams of a club or affiliate will be permitted to play in either grade without regrading, except when the higher team has a bye, then no more than three players registered in that team are permitted to play in the lower grade.