Regulation 19 – Appendix 6, Subsection 3 - Half Game Rule Sanctions (Schools)
HALF GAME RULE SANCTION TABLE (Schools and Colleges)
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 one player has not played half a game. |
Formal / Verbal warning to the School / College and Teacher / Coach / person responsible for the team.
Requirement to keep accurate records of all future Age-Grade matches this season.
Warning recorded by CBAGDS and ERFSU / ECRFU AGDS. |
| Low Level Breach | The second instance in the current season that at least one player has not played half a game. |
Formal warning issued to the School / College and Teacher / Coach / person responsible for the team.
Removal of International Ticket entitlement for one season.
NAGDS and ERFSU / ECRFU AGDS notified. |
| Mid-Level Breach | The third instance in the current season that at least one player has not played half a game. |
The School / College cannot enter ERFSU / ECRFU AGDS and / or CSU Competitions for one season.
The School / College cannot host a rugby Festival.
NAGDS and ERFSU / ECRFU AGDS notified. |
| Top End Breach |
The fourth 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. |
In addition to Level 3 sanction[s], the School / College cannot enter ERFSU / ECRFU and or CSU Competitions for 2 or more years.
The School / College cannot host a rugby Festival for 2 or more years; remove permission to tour for a specified period.
RFU Discipline Department informed. |
| Cup Competition Breach | At least one player does not play half 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 aggravated to reflect severity of breaching Regulations in a National School / College Competition.
RFU Discipline Department informed. |
