Contents:
Sanctions
For the purposes of the sanction table, any references to League Matches will mean matches at Men’s National League and below (formerly Level 3 and below), and Women’s Level 2 and below.
Fixed Sanctions
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.
| Breach | Sanction |
|---|---|
|
Ineligible player(s) – selecting or playing an ineligible player (including replacement and substitutes). and/or Player not authorised to enter the field of play. |
Minimum deduction of 5 League points IN RESPECT OF EACH MATCH IN WHICH ANY INELIGBLE PLAYER(S) PARTICIPATES. Note: Where any alleged breach is brought to the attention of the Committee more than 7 days after the end of the Season, the points deduction is discretionary and may be in substitution for or in addition to any other penalty. Play-Offs - in addition to and in substitution for any other powers of sanction, the Organising Committee may reverse the result of the Play-Off Match and/or deduct up to 15 League points for following Season. |
| Match Result Card – Deliberately false of misleading information | Deduction of 20 League points on each occasion (in addition to any points deducted for a player being ineligible). |
Sanction Guidelines
The RFU has set out below Sanction Guidelines based on penalties incorporated in regulations in the past. This is not an exhaustive list and, in accordance with RFU Regulation 6, the Organising Committee (or its delegate) may impose any sanction which it considers appropriate in all the circumstances
| Breach | Sanction Guideline (not exclusive) |
|---|---|
| Abandonment – for any reason other than Weather or Pitch Conditions. |
Irrespective of the number of minutes played, the result of that match may be determined by the Organising Committee of the League concerned. The Organising Committee may order the match to be replayed. Play-Offs - the reason for such abandonment shall be reviewed by the Organising Committee and the result of that match determined by the Organising Committee of the League concerned. (This may include the reversal of the result). The Organising Committee may in addition or in the alternative order the Play-Off Match to be replayed and/or impose a sanction of a fine compensatory payment or deduction of up to six League points for the forthcoming season. Note: If a match is abandoned because a team does not have sufficient suitably trained and experienced front row players of at least eighteen years of age and one of the causes for such insufficiency is that a front row forward has been ordered off by the referee the Organising Committee should have regard to such fact when determining the result of the match or ordering a replay. |
| Expulsion/suspension/withdrawal of Club from any RFU Competition or from membership of any RFU Competition. | results of all matches shall be deleted for all purposes unless Committee exceptionally decides otherwise. |
| Financial sanction – non-payment. | deduction of 5 League points on each occasion in current or following season as appropriate. |
| Official’s Log – failure to complete correctly | NLR - £50 for first offence, and deduction of points for second or subsequent offence. |
| Front Row – insufficient suitable players. | may include fine, and/or payment of compensation and/or removal of result from League tables, and/or requiring match to be replayed, and/or deduction of League points from any offending Club in current or following Season, and/or award of 1 or more League points to the non-offending Club. |
| Ground and match management – failure to comply with requirements (including report by Referee). | impose such penalty as deemed appropriate by Organising Committee, including deduction of 5 or more League points. |
| In respect of online Player registrations, failure to provide a completed Player Registration Form in accordance with RFU Regulation 14. | impose such penalty as deemed appropriate by the Organising Committee, which may include deduction of League points on each occasion (in addition to any points deducted for a player being ineligible). |
| Kick-off time – delay. | may lead to match being awarded to nonoffending Club. |
|
Match Result Card (and player registration certificates) – not provided to Referee and/or not notified as required - information not accurate or legible and/or Failing to telephone notification of match result as required |
Monetary fines and/or deduction of League points NLR - £50 on first occasion, and £100 and/or deduction of League points on each subsequent occasion during Season. Other - £25 on first occasion liable to increase and/or deduction of League points on each subsequent occasion during Season. |
| Postponement – procedure for postponement not followed and/or the fixture is postponed because the pitch is unplayable after the away team have travelled. | where procedure not followed, may be deducted 5 League points and match will be re-arranged. |
| Postponement – reason other than Weather or Pitch Conditions without prior approval. Unable to fulfil fixtures or obligations (such as the lack of players or insufficient front row players with Effective Registration). Unplayed match (or request received for postponement or rearrangement). | deduction of League points in current or following Season and/or order match to be replayed (having had regard to promotion/relegation issues, commitments of Clubs concerned, and giving priority to arguments of Club not at fault) and/or reversal of return fixture to ground of nonoffending Club - NB no power to award match points. |
| Strongest possible team – failure to play. | may include Club being placed at the bottom of its league, deduction of League points (in the current or following Season), or a fine or compensatory payment to the RFU, any sponsor or other Club or third party which suffers loss. |
