HALF GAME RULE SANCTION TABLE (Clubs)
This sanction table relates to an entry point for breaches of the RFU Half Game Rules. The sanction may be increased to reflect aggravating features or reduced to reflect mitigating factors.
“Available Playing Time” means the time allocated to the particular match (or matches) by the RFU Regulations, any specific competition or by the coaches of the teams (should they decide to play a shortened match) and that any stoppages which may occur during a match are not to be taken into account when calculating the Available Playing Time (i.e. if a match is 70 minutes long, the Available Playing Time is 70 minutes and the minimum playing time for each player to comply with the Half Game Rule is 35 minutes).
| Classification of Breach | Description of Classification | Sanction |
| Warning | The first instance in the current season that at least 1 player has not played half a game. |
Warning issued to the Club and Coach / person responsible for the team. Requirement to keep accurate records for all future Age-grade matches. Warning recorded by the CBAGDS. |
| Low Level Breach | The second instance in the current season that at least 1 player has not played half a game. |
Formal warning issued to the Club and Coach / person responsible for the team. Suspension of the Coach / person responsible for the team (possibly suspended). Warning recorded by the CBAGDS. NAGDS notified. |
| Mid-Level Breach | The third instance in the current season that at least 1 player has not played half a game. |
Suspension of the Coach / person responsible for the team. Points deducted from the 1st Team (possibly suspended). RFU National Player Pipeline Manager notified. |
| Top End Breach |
The 4th instance in the current season that at least 1 player has not played half a game. Evidence that a coach / person responsible has deliberately colluded with the other team to not play players for at least half a game.
|
Suspension of the Coach/ person responsible for the team. Points deducted from the 1st Team equating to 4 wins. RFU Discipline Department notified. |
| Cup Competition Breach | At least 1 player does not play at least a half of a match in a knockout cup competition. |
If the team won the match, the team must be removed from the Cup competition for the current season.
If the team lost the match, sanction guidelines aggravated by at least 1 level. RFU National Player Pipeline Manager notified. |
