1. Applicability and Overriding Objective

2. Discipline in Schools and Colleges

3. Discipline in Clubs and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG)

4. Representative Teams, County and Divisional Teams

5. Cross-Border Fixtures and Tours – Clubs, Schools, Colleges and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG)

6. Tournaments, Festivals and Competitions

7. Reporting

8. RFU Rule 5.12 Cases

9. Citing

10. Provisional Suspension

11. Sanctions

12. Appeals

Sanction Entry Points

Appendices

AGE GRADE RUGBY DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

The Constituent Body Age Grade Discipline Secretary (CBAGDS) is the person appointed by the CB who has experience dealing with Age Grade matters.

*Constituent Body Age Grade Discipline Secretary (CBAGDS) contact details available from local Constituent Body, England Rugby Football Schools Union (ERFSU) or England Colleges Rugby Football Union (ECRFU).

N.B. In all cases guidance can be obtained from the National Age Grade Discipline Secretary (NAGDS) agegradediscipline@rfu.com

1. Applicability and Overriding Objective

• 1.1. The following disciplinary procedures (“the procedures”) shall apply to Age Grade Rugby, save where specific arrangements, that have been agreed in advance with the RFU Discipline department, are put in place in relation to discipline for a particular match/competition/tournament.
• 1.2. Any playing sanction should be consistent for all Age Grade players, irrespective of if they are sent off or cited playing for a Club, School, College or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG). All disciplinary hearings must be in accordance with RFU Regulation 19 and must be in adherence with the RFU Age Grade sanction table. Any sanction applies to all matches, irrespective of what match the player was sent off or cited in.
• 1.3. If a Player is playing outside their age grade, they will be dealt with according to the age grade in which they are playing. For the avoidance of doubt, any U19 Player playing in an U18 match must be treated in accordance with RFU Regulation 19, Appendix 6.
• 1.4. Where a 17 or 18-year-old is playing in an U19, U20 or an adult match, where permitted by RFU Regulations, they shall be dealt with as an adult in accordance with RFU Regulation 19
• 1.5. The overriding objective of the procedures is that they are ‘child-centric’ and based on both the RFU Core Values and the following key principles:
  • a) those who know an Age Grade Player best should be the ones who discipline, mentor, guide and educate the Age Grade Player as part of their development;
  • b) the disciplinary procedure should be simple, easy to understand and conducted more informally than the adult procedure;
  • c) there should be minimal delay;
  • d) the welfare of Age Grade Players is paramount and any arrangements around hearings should take into account their educational commitments and family life. Thus, hearings will be conducted locally and by those with experience in dealing with young people;
  • e) the details of a case involving an Age Grade Player should not normally be publicised and RFU Safeguarding policies and guidance should be adhered to at all times;
  • f) playing suspensions should not normally be so severe as to discourage Age Grade Players from continuing to play rugby and should be tiered in severity to their age, responsibility and culpability. They should normally be less than adults receive and should be given in matches not weeks because of the more complex playing programmes in Age Grade Rugby;
  • g) there will be no financial penalties or costs imposed on an Age Grade Player;
  • h) Any sanction imposed should be in accordance with these regulations and the associated sanction table. In the event that the appropriate sanctions are not applied, the NAGDS or the RFU Head of Discipline may review the sanction in accordance with 7.4.
• 1.6. Each Constituent Body shall appoint a CBAGDS, who shall be someone with experience in dealing with Age Grade matters. Advice and assistance in Age Grade Rugby disciplinary matters shall be available to a Club, School, College or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) from the CBAGDS.
• 1.7. The RFU shall appoint a NAGDS, who shall be someone with experience in dealing with Age Grade matters. Advice and assistance in Age Grade Rugby disciplinary matters shall be available to a CBAGDS, Club, College, School or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) from the NAGDS.
• 1.8. The RFU Head of Discipline or the NAGDS has the power to deal with any case or to direct how a case is to be dealt with. This could also include the requirement to complete any judgment in the form prescribed by the RFU.
• 1.9. All Disciplinary Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the framework set out in RFU Regulation 19, adapted as appropriate to meet the needs of the Age Grade Player as per the key principles set out in paragraph 1.5.
• 1.10. In exceptional circumstances, the NAGDS can review any sanction issued by a Club, School, College or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) and may, in accordance with the principles of 1.5, revise any sanction.
• 1.11. Clubs, Schools, Colleges and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG) are required to cooperate with all disciplinary matters in accordance with RFU Regulation 19.2.4.
• 1.12. Where the RFU receives a complaint or information regarding the conduct of a Club’s players, officials, members, spectators or employees and the RFU Head of Discipline or NAGDS determines that the individuals or club in question would benefit from training in relation to the RFU’s core values, expected standards of behaviour, or any other form of education, then they may, irrespective of whether disciplinary action is taken by the RFU or CB or not, direct that to occur. Failure to comply with any direction may result in disciplinary charges against the individual and/or club.

2. Discipline in Schools and Colleges

• 2.1. Schools and Colleges must apply the sanction table set out in RFU Regulation 19, Appendix 6.
• 2.2. Age Grade Rugby disciplinary issues, or breaches of any other RFU Regulations, in Schools and Colleges shall be dealt with by Head Teachers and Principals respectively (or by a person(s) with delegated authority) in accordance with these procedures.
• 2.3. The CBAGDS must be notified of the finding from any hearing within 48 hours of the hearing taking place.
• 2.4. The CBAGDS has the ability to ask the NAGDS to review any finding, in accordance with 7.4.
• 2.5. If a School or a College fails to follow the regulatory process and/or fails to involve the CBAGDS, they may be subject to disciplinary procedures, including referral to a CB or RFU Disciplinary Panel.

3. Discipline in Clubs and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG)

a) U12 and below

• 3.1. Any rugby disciplinary matter arising in an U12 match and below in a Club shall be dealt with in person by the Age Grade Player’s Coach.

b) U13 to U18

• 3.2. Any rugby disciplinary matter arising in an U13 to U18 match in a Club or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) shall be dealt with by the Club Disciplinary Officer or Panel (of no more than three persons), or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) Manager, with experience in dealing with young people in accordance with these procedures and the sanction table.
• 3.3. Cases covered by RFU Regulation 19.2.18(e) (serious injury), 19.2.18(f) (cases under police investigation), 19.2.18(g) (racial abuse cases) shall be referred to the NAGDS who shall determine whether the Club, the Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG), the CB or the RFU (if agreed by the RFU Head of Discipline) should deal with the matter.
• 3.4. If a Club or a Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) fails to follow the regulatory process and/or fails to involve the CBAGDS, they may be subject to disciplinary procedures, including referral to a CB or RFU Disciplinary Panel.

4. Representative Teams, County and Divisional Teams

• 4.1. Disciplinary matters involving an Age Grade Player of a Representative Team shall be dealt with by the NAGDS who can issue directions on how the matter should be dealt with.
• 4.2. Where an Age Grade Player of a visiting Representative Team is ordered-off the playing enclosure, the Referee shall provide a report to the RFU Head of Discipline, who shall send it to the Age Grade Player’s Home Union to be dealt with.
• 4.3. Those Age Grade Players representing their County or playing in Divisional matches shall have any disciplinary matter dealt with by the NAGDS, unless the NAGDS determines that the CBAGDS or the Age Grade Player’s Club, School, College or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) would be best placed to deal with the matter.

5. Cross-Border Fixtures and Tours – Clubs, Schools, Colleges and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG)

• 5.1. Where a visiting Age Grade Player is ordered-off the playing enclosure, the Referee shall provide a report to the CBAGDS (where the match was played), who shall send it to the visiting Age Grade Player’s Club, School, College or Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG) to be dealt with.
• 5.2. If an Age Grade Player is ordered-off the playing enclosure whilst playing in a Cross-Border Fixture or Tour Match, then the matter shall be dealt with by the Age Grade Player’s Club Disciplinary Officer/Panel, Head Teacher, Principal, Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) Manager or by a person(s) with delegated authority, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of these procedures.
• 5.3. If an Age Grade Player is cited after playing in a Cross-Border Fixture or Tour Match, then the matter shall be dealt with by the Player’s Home Union. The Age Grade Player’s Club Disciplinary Officer/Panel, Head Teacher, Principal or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) Manager should send the citing complaint to the NAGDS who will then inform the other Union.

6. Tournaments, Festivals and Competitions

• 6.1. If an Age Grade Player is ordered-off in a Tournament, Festival or Competition, the matter shall be dealt with as soon as possible (and in any event before the Age Grade Player’s next match) by their Coach. The Age Grade Player will be provisionally suspended until their case has been dealt with in accordance with paragraph 10.1.

7. Reporting

• 7.1. In all cases where the Referee has ordered-off an Age Grade Player, the Referee shall as soon as practicable, and in any event within 48 hours of the end of the match, provide a copy of their report to the CBAGDS. The CBAGDS will then inform all the teams where the Player plays (Club, School, College or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG)) of the red card issued.
• 7.2. Any rugby disciplinary incident including red cards, that arises in a Club, School, College or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) match shall be reported to the CBAGDS within 48 hours by the School, College, Club disciplinary officer, Coach or person(s) with delegated authority.
• 7.3. Thereafter, any finding and/or sanction imposed in relation to the disciplinary incident shall be reported to the CBAGDS within 48 hours.
• 7.4. The CBAGDS or the RFU Head of Discipline shall have the power to review any finding and/or sanction imposed by a Club, College, School, Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) or Coach and, if they are of the view that the finding and/or sanction imposed was unreasonable in all the circumstances, will refer the matter to the NAGDS for consideration. The NAGDS may direct that the Club, School, College, Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) or Coach review the matter and report back to the NAGDS, who, if it is still necessary, may convene a suitably qualified Disciplinary Panel to deal with the matter and it may vary the sanction imposed if considered appropriate to do so.

8. RFU Rule 5.12 Cases

• 8.1. A CBAGDS shall have the power to investigate and institute disciplinary proceedings in relation to an alleged breach of RFU Rule 5.12 and may require an Age Grade Player to whom the allegations relate to attend before a CB Disciplinary Panel, with experience of dealing with young people.
• 8.2. Any complaint regarding an adult involved in Age Grade Rugby in relation to an alleged breach of RFU Rule 5.12 shall be referred to the Constituent Body Disciplinary Secretary in accordance with RFU Regulation 19 to be dealt with.
• 8.3. The RFU Head of Discipline may delegate any RFU 5.12 Cases in Schools or Colleges to the ERFSU or the ECRFU.

9. Citing

• 9.1. Save for where there are any specific citing procedures applicable to a particular match, tournament or competition as approved by the RFU the following procedures in relation to the commencement of a Citing complaint shall apply.
• 9.2. The power to bring a Citing complaint applies to U13 to U18 matches only and there will be no costs associated with such a Citing.
• 9.3. Any Citing complaint arising out of a Club match shall only be made by the Chair or Secretary of the Citing Club. The notice of intention to cite shall be lodged with the cited Age Grade Player’s CBAGDS not later than the 7th day following the match. All other supporting paperwork should be lodged with the CBAGDS not later than the 14th day following the match. The CBAGDS shall, subject to paragraph 3.3, refer the matter to a CB Disciplinary Panel with experience of dealing with young people; unless the Citing complaint is admitted in which case they may refer the matter to the Age Grade Player’s Club to deal with if considered appropriate to do so.
• 9.4. A Citing complaint arising out of a School or College match shall only be made by the Citing School’s Head Teacher or College’s Principal and shall be lodged not later than the 7th day following the match with the cited Age Grade Player’s School or College. All other supporting paperwork should be lodged not later than the 14th day following the match. The complaint shall be dealt with by the cited Age Grade Player’s Head Teacher or Principal (or a person(s) with delegated authority) as appropriate. The outcome of the hearing shall be reported to the CBAGDS within 7 days.
• 9.5. Any Citing complaint arising out of a Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) match shall only be made by the Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) Manager of the Citing Club. The notice of intention to cite shall be lodged with the cited Age Grade Player’s CBAGDS not later than the 7th day following the match. All other supporting paperwork should be lodged with the CBAGDS not later than the 14th day following the match. The CBAGDS shall, subject to paragraph 3.3, refer the matter to a CB Disciplinary Panel with experience of dealing with young people; unless the Citing complaint is admitted in which case they may refer the matter to the Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) Player’s Club to deal with if considered appropriate to do so.
• 9.6. A Citing may be initiated where there is an allegation that an Age Grade Player committed an act of Foul Play but has not been awarded a red card for that act. The Citing must be in writing, stating:
  • a) the date, venue and teams participating in the match;
  • b) details of the alleged act of Foul Play, including as accurately as possible, the point of time in the match, score at the time and position on the field when and where the incident is alleged to have occurred;
  • c) the identity of (or means of identifying) the Age Grade Player(s) alleged to be guilty of Foul Play; and
  • d) sufficient evidence to establish a case to answer.
• 9.7. A Citing may be made whether or not the alleged act of Foul Play was seen by the Referee. Where the Referee did not detect the act of Foul Play cited, then it must be proved by the Citing party that had the Referee seen the act, a red card would have been awarded. However, where a Referee, having detected the alleged act, decided that it was either not Foul Play, or that it was, but they took action other than sending off, the Citing party must prove on the balance of probabilities that the Referee was wrong in not sending the Age Grade Player off.
• 9.8. The RFU Head of Discipline has the power to take over any Citing complaint where they believe that it is necessary in the interests of the Game and/or the Union to do so.

10. Provisional Suspension

• 10.1. An Age Grade Player ordered-off the field of play shall not take part or be selected for any further match until their disciplinary case has been dealt with in accordance with these procedures.
• 10.2. A suspended Age Grade Player who elects to appeal a finding and/or sanction that has been imposed shall not take part or be selected for any further match until their appeal has been dealt with and it has been directed that they may play again, unless their suspension has already expired.
• 10.3. If a Referee abandons any Age Grade match, then the RFU Head of Discipline or the NAGDS can mandate that both the teams involved in the abandoned match be provisionally suspended from playing matches whilst an investigation is conducted.

11. Sanctions

• 11.1. Playing suspensions imposed on an Age Grade Player are to be in accordance with the framework set out in RFU Regulation 19 and the Age Grade Rugby sanctions table and shall apply to all of the Age Grade Player’s forthcoming matches, irrespective of whether they are scheduled to play for their School, College, Club, Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) or any other team.
• 11.2. Playing suspensions for Age Grade Players apply to individual matches except for when the suspension includes a Festival, whereby each individual Festival Day should be considered equal to 1 match.

12. Appeals

• 12.1. Appeals in a School or College setting in relation to a rugby disciplinary incident shall be in accordance with the School’s or College’s internal disciplinary procedures. There is no right of appeal from a decision of the School or College to a CB or the RFU.
• 12.2. Appeals from a decision of a Club Disciplinary Officer/Panel or Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) Manager shall be dealt with by the CB Disciplinary Panel. Any appeal shall be lodged with the CBAGDS by the Age Grade Player concerned not later than the 14th day following written notification of the decision. The decision of the CB is final and binding and there is no further right of appeal.
• 12.3. Appeals from a first-instance decision of a CB shall be dealt with by the RFU in accordance with RFU Regulation 19. Any appeal shall be lodged by the Age Grade Player concerned with the RFU Head of Discipline not later than the 14th day following written notification of the decision. The decision of the RFU Judicial Officer or Panel is final and binding and there is no further right of appeal.
• 12.4. Appeals from a first-instance decision of the RFU shall be dealt with by an RFU Judicial Officer or Appeal Panel in accordance with RFU Regulation 19. Any appeal shall be lodged by the Age Grade Player concerned with the RFU Head of Discipline not later than the 14th day following written notification of the decision. The decision of the RFU Judicial Officer or Appeal Panel is final and binding and there is no further right of appeal.

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

9.11. Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.

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.

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 sternum, even if the tackle starts below the line of the sternum.

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

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

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 non-Rugby sanction must be in addition to any playing sanction

• • Where ‘+’ is denoted, Clubs, Schools, Colleges, Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG) and CB/RFU Disciplinary Panels have the power to apply, up the maximum sanction indicated, increased sanctions for very serious breaches of conduct.
• • Please note that in respect of any offence(s) not referred to above, appropriate sanctions may be imposed at the discretion of the Club, School, College, Regional Academy / Player Development Group (PDG) or CB/RFU Disciplinary Panel.
• • A Warning shall form part of the Players disciplinary record while at Age Grade level but shall not extend into their senior disciplinary record.

Two Yellow Cards in a Match

• 2. A Player that receives two yellow cards in a match (whether for Foul Play or technical offences) and is ordered off after the second yellow card (i.e. awarded a red card), will have their case heard by the relevant person as outlined in these regulations.

Non-Completion 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 or the NAGDS, in accordance with Regulation 19.3.21 or regulation 19, appendix 6 paragraph 1.12, the RFU Head of Discipline may provisionally suspend the individual or club until its completion.

Additional Sanction Tables

For breaches of RFU Regulation RFU Regulation 15.12 (Half Game Rule):

• • In Clubs and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG), please see Regulation 19 Appendix 6, Subsection 2 on the RFU Regulation page.
• • in Schools and Colleges, please see Regulation 19 Appendix 6, Subsection 3 on the RFU Regulation page.

For breaches of RFU Regulation 15.2 (Combining of Age Grades), RFU Regulation 15.3 (Playing Up), 15.4 (Playing Down) and 15.5 (Playing Out of Age Grade Table):

• • in Clubs, please see Regulation 19 Appendix 6, Subsection 4 on the RFU Regulation page.
• • in Schools, Colleges and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG), please see Regulation 19 Appendix 6, Subsection 5 on the RFU Regulation page.

For breaches of RFU Regulation 15.6 (Playing Adult Rugby):

• • in Clubs and Regional Academies / Player Development Group (PDG), please see Regulation 19 Appendix 2 on the RFU Regulation page.

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: 9.11 (Reckless or Dangerous play), 9.12 (biting, contact with eye(s)/eye area and striking with head), 9.18 and 9.27 (hair pulling).

^{2, 3 & 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.

^{, 3& 4}The “eye” involves all tissues including the eye lids within and covering the orbital cavity and the “eye area” is anywhere in close p

Back to top of the page