Sanction Entry Points

NOTE: ANY ACT OF FOUL PLAY WHICH RESULTS IN CONTACT WITH THE HEAD AND/OR NECK SHALL RESULT IN AT LEAST A MID-RANGE ENTRY-POINT¹

Note: Where a Player receives a mid-range or top end sanction, a Disciplinary Committee/Judicial Officer/Appeal Committee/Appeal Officer may, at its discretion, agree that one week of the sanction may be replaced by a “Coaching Intervention” that complies with the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme²

9.11 Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or forearm, or jumping into, or over, a tackler

9.12 A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to:

9.12 A player must not verbally abuse anyone. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, abuse based on: religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation.⁷

9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

9.14 A player must not tackle an opponent who is not in possession of the ball.

9.15 Except in a scrum, ruck or maul, a player who is not in possession of the ball must not hold, push, charge or obstruct an opponent not in possession of the ball.

9.16 A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp that player.

9.17 A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground.

9.18 A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground.

9.19 Dangerous play in a scrum.

• a. The front row of a scrum must not form at a distance from its opponents and rush against them.
• b. A front-row player must not pull an opponent.
• c. A front-row player must not intentionally lift an opponent off their feet or force the opponent upwards out of the scrum.
• d. A front-row player must not intentionally collapse a scrum.

9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul.

• a. A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.

• b. A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.
• c. A player must not intentionally collapse a ruck or a maul.

• d. A player may remove the jackler from the tackle area by pushing/driving them backwards (including by grabbing the knee/leg), but must not roll, pull or twist an opponent.
• e. Not roll, pull or twist an opponent who is on their feet and involved in the tackle drop their weight onto an opponent or target the lower limb.

9.25 A player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball.

9.27 A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship including but not limited to:

9.28 A player must not disrespect the authority of a Match Official^{8 9}

9.28 A player must not verbally abuse a Match Official. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, abuse based on: religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation.¹⁰

9.28 A player must not make physical contact with Match Officials.

9.28 A player must not use threatening actions or words towards Match Officials

9.28 A player must not physically abuse Match Officials.

Any offence committed under Law 9.28 which relates to a Young Match Official (YMO) or a Match Official under the age of 18, shall result in at least a mid-range entry point.

In respect of offences for breaches of law 9.12 (verbal abuse only) or law 9.28 or any offence not referred to in Appendix 2, appropriate sanctions may be imposed at the discretion of the relevant Judicial Officer, Disciplinary Committee, Appeal Officer and/or Appeal Committee (as the case may be).

Notwithstanding the Sanctions in Appendix 2 and/or the provisions of Regulation 19 in cases where the player’s actions constitute mid-range or top end offending for any type of offence which had the potential to result and, in fact, did result in serious/gross consequences to the health of the victim, the Judicial Officers and/or Disciplinary Committees may impose any period of suspension including a suspension for life.

Bad Disciplinary Record

When dealing with a Club under the bad disciplinary record provisions a Disciplinary Panel may impose any appropriate sanction, including (but not limited to) a reprimand, a financial penalty or deduction of league points or relegation, exclusion or disqualification from any competition, or a combination of the above. Sanctions may also be suspended if considered appropriate.

Under Age Players who train/play in Adult Rugby

This mandated sanction table relates to the sanctions for breaches of RFU Regulation 15, where a player under the age of 18 either plays or trains with adults without the required permissions.

All low or mid-range breaches shall be dealt with on a papers only basis unless otherwise directed by the Chair of the Panel.

Without prejudice to the RFU’s power to bring a disciplinary charge pursuant to RFU Rule 5.12, the RFU shall be entitled to impose fixed penalties in respect of any breach of any of the regulations set out below and anyone in breach of such regulations shall be bound by such penalty or penalties:

Where a club's 1st XV do not participate in a league, or a deduction of points would not be meaningful in the current season, the panel should consider any appropriate alternative sanction.

Any suspended sanction will be considered by any future panel for a breach of any element of regulation 15. It will be for that panel to determine if any or all of the suspended sanction should be activated.

For the avoidance of doubt, details of the required permission are set out in RFU regulation 15 and must be completed in full.

Only in cases where the panel consider the fixed sanction to be wholly disproportionate to the level of offending can it not be applied. In any such case a copy of the written judgment must be sent to the RFU Head of Discipline as soon as it is available.

Non-compliance of mandated education

Where an individual or a club fails to complete education or training that has been directed by the RFU Head of Discipline, in accordance with regulation 19.3.1, the RFU Head of Discipline may provisionally suspend the individual or club until its completion.

¹ The note does not apply to the following:

• i. Laws whose low-end entry points already take into account head contact being a potential feature or consequence of such breach reaching the red-card threshold: 9.12 (biting, contact with eye(s)/eye area and striking with head), 9.18 and 9.27 (hair pulling).
• ii. Where the Disciplinary Committee or Judicial Officer having completed the necessary steps under Regulations 19.11.8 – 19.11.13 inclusive and having taken into account the application of the Coaching Intervention Programme where relevant, considers that the sanction would be wholly disproportionate to the offending player’s fault and the consequences thereof.

² The World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme is only available for foul play offences occurring under the “Head Contact Process”

³ The “eye” involves all tissues including the eye lids within and covering the orbital cavity and the “eye area” is anywhere in close proximity to the eye.

⁴ The “eye” involves all tissues including the eye lids within and covering the orbital cavity and the “eye area” is anywhere in close proximity to the eye.

⁵ The “eye” involves all tissues including the eye lids within and covering the orbital cavity and the “eye area” is anywhere in close proximity to the eye.

⁶ Head-on-head contact arising out of a tackle situation should ordinarily be sanctioned under Law 9.13 below.

⁷ The Judicial Officer, Disciplinary Panel, Appeal Officer or Appeal Panel may in addition to the imposition of a sanction in weeks and/or matches impose any education/training, with any order of cost to be determined by the Panel, or additional off-field sanction requirement as deemed appropriate. The Panel may also suspend the effect of any sanction in accordance with Regulation 19.11.2

⁸ Any offence committed under Law 9.28 which relates to a Young Match Official (YMO) or a Match Official under the age of 18, shall result in at least a mid-range entry point.

⁹ The Judicial Officer, Disciplinary Panel, Appeal Officer or Appeal Panel may in addition to the imposition of a sanction in weeks and/or matches impose any education/training, with any order of cost to be determined by the Panel, or additional off-field sanction requirement as deemed appropriate. The Panel may also suspend the effect of any sanction in accordance with Regulation 19.11.2

¹⁰ The Judicial Officer, Disciplinary Panel, Appeal Officer or Appeal Panel may in addition to the imposition of a sanction in weeks and/or matches impose any education/training, with any order of cost to be determined by the Panel, or additional off-field sanction requirement as deemed appropriate. The Panel may also suspend the effect of any sanction in accordance with Regulation 19.11.2