General Regulations and Procedures

Men's Division I and II Club Championships
Women's Club Championships
Men's Division I and II Collegiate Championships
Women's Collegiate Championships
Senior and Collegiate Men's All Star Championships
Round of Twelve Matches
Challenge Matches
Boy's High School Championships
Men's Club Sevens Championships

(Revised 2/10/00; Approved by the Board 2.06/00)

It is Western RFU policy to adopt the rules and regulations approved and published by USA Rugby as the minimum standard for application in all Western RFU competitions.

1. All players and clubs must be in good standing with their LAU, the West, and USA Rugby. Players must provide proof of dues payment compliance with their LAU, the West, and USA Rugby, valid medical insurance, citizenship/residency status (except collegiate players). Players must be free of any disciplinary action by any rugby organization. Players claiming eligibility under the USA Rugby "Three Year Residents" rule must provide proof that USA Rugby has approved such status.

Collegiate players are required to present a completed Western RFU Collegiate Eligibility Form as proof of their eligibility to compete in collegiate competitions (see additional documentation), and collegiate teams are required to present certification that they are in good-standing with their college/university and are authorized to represent the school (see collegiate team form).

NOTE: ALL participants must have all dues paid to their LAU, the West, and USA Rugby by the schedule that appears below. As per Western RFU policy, only players enrolled in USA Rugby and Western RFU CIPP at least 15-days before the event are eligible to represent their club in that competition.

Player and team check ins will be scheduled as part of each Western event. Details of the procedure and the time allocated to each team will be published in the Participant Packet provided to each team before the event.

2. A squad of 28 players (for the Men's All Star and any Collegiate or High School event the roster size is open) is the maximum allowed for a club in any Western RFU club competition. Four players who are not either US citizens, permanent residents, or three year residents of the United States may be included in a 28-person squad. Only two of these players may represent a club in any one match over the weekend. Roster size for Club Sevens is ten players.

3. Teams must identify a player roster for each match in the Western competition. The player roster must identify front row alternates to meet the regulations below. The squad must meet all the requirements of the Laws regarding qualified substitutes. To wit:

• No more than six players may be replaced in a match due to injury and/or tactical substitutions. Only five players may be replaced for tactical substitution.
• A 28-player squad must have at least five players who can play in the front row. The match roster must clearly identify the two qualified front row players who are NOT the starting front row.
• See Law #3 for additional information. Questions on the use of replacement players should be addressed to the assigned referee at the Captains' meeting which is scheduled the night before the competition begins

4. All matches will be played under the Laws of the Game. All matches will have 40 halves. With the exception of the final, sevens matches have seven minute halves. The final has ten minute halves with a two minute rest period. Exceptions to the 40 minutes half rule will be noted in the schedule of the specific event. The length of High School matches is detailed in the event packet, but will never be more than regulations.

5. Players concussed during any match will not be eligible to participate further in the weekend's competition. Such a player may be replaced on his team's squad by another eligible player. The event medical staff will determine whether a player has been concussed. Their decision is final and not subject to appeal. Definitely concussed players are not allowed to participate in rugby matches or training sessions for three weeks from the date of the concussion and then subject to being cleared by proper neurological examination.

6. All matches will be played using the "sin bin." Any player ordered off in a match will not be eligible to participate further during the weekend's competition. A club may NOT replace a player who has been so disciplined.

7. Tie matches will be allowed to stand except in matches that lead to advancement in the event or to places in USA Rugby's Sweet 16 Round. Specifics of which matches must be resolved on the field will be discussed during the Captains' meeting. Ties that are allowed to stand will be resolved for order of finish/seeding purposes as follows:

- the highest number of tries in the tied match, then
- the highest number of tries in all preceding matches, then
- the highest number of points in all matches, then
- the team giving up the least point in all matches, then
- a flip of a coin.

In matches that require resolution, except sevens and high school events, the following will occur after full time:

- a five minute rest period, then
- a ten minute period (coin toss for KO or receive), then
- a two minute rest period, then
- a ten minute period (reverse KO of first overtime), then if still tied
- a two minute rest period, then
- a sudden death period not to exceed 15 minutes (with a new coin toss) to determine KO or receive), then if no score
- a two minute rest period, then
- a sudden death period not to exceed 15 minutes. If still no score continue 15 minute sudden death periods until a score occurs.

For High School matches that require resolution on the field, the following tie breaker procedures will be used (in sudden death the first team to score wins and the match ends):

- a five minute rest period
- a sudden death period not to exceed five minute (coin toss for KO/receive), then
- a two minute rest period, then
- a sudden death period not to exceed five minute (reverse KO of first sudden death period)
- a five minute rest period, then
- a sudden death period not to exceed five minutes (reverse KO of second sudden death period), then
- a two minute rest period, then
- a continuation of sudden death periods as above until one team scores.

For Sevens matches the following regulations from USA Rugby will be used:

- Pool matches take place before the knock out round. The win/loss records after the pool matches will determine the order of finish in each pool. Ties in pool matches will stand and NO extra time will be played in pool matches to resolve ties.

- The tie breaker process for teams with the same win/loss records in pool matches will be:

1. Total number of tries in ALL pool matches, then
2. Total number of converted tries in ALL pool matches, then
3. The total point differential in ALL pool matches, then
4. A coin toss

Championship matches may not end in a tie. At the conclusion of regulation time there will be a two minute rest period. Extra time will be played until a winner is determined. Five minute sudden death overtime periods will be played. The first team to score will immediately be declared the winner. The team that first kicked off will do so again in the first period of extra time, and subsequent kick offs will alternate.

8. Clubs will adhere to the usage of the Number Four Official for all player exchanges.

9. Clubs will submit their playing roster for each match 30 minutes before scheduled KO. Forms and directions for the submission of the match roster will be available in the Participant Packets.

10. All players will wear numbered jerseys matching the submitted roster. Clubs must provide jerseys numbered #1 through #21 with the usual positional assignments worn by #1 through #15. Sevens jersies must be numbered #1 through #10. All jerseys, shorts, and socks must match and be clean and free from holes, tears, rips, etc. Any padding must meet the standards adopted by USA Rugby and the IRB.

Conflicts in kit color will be resolved by the Western representative at the event. If it is ruled that competing club playing kits are too close to allow the match to start, the team traveling the least distance to the event will be required to change their playing kit

11. All players and club officials will remain in the stands if available. If no stands are available, all players and club officials will remain behind the 5 meter rope barriers provided. Club members on the sidelines are subject to disciplinary action and may be removed from the playing area and suspended from further participation in the competition. Upon agreement of the participating teams at the Captains meeting, a coach and trainer may be on the side lines during their team's matches.

12. Teams which do not fulfill their match commitments at the Western events will be subject to disciplinary action by the Western Discipline Committee under the regulations of USA Rugby. Disciplinary action may include suspension from future events, loss of slots in subsequent competition by the offending team's LAU, and/or other actions deemed appropriate by the Committee.

13. Kick off schedules have been planned with the host and have been scheduled to maximize and, where ever possible, equalize time between matches. Maintaining the schedule is important for these reasons as well as courtesy to all participants. Clubs failing to field a team within 10 minutes from the published schedule are subject to a forfeit loss by a score of 14 to 0.

14. For Collegiate and High School Matches and Events - The use of alcoholic beverages by any participating player under the legal drinking age established by state authorities is strictly prohibited. This prohibition is in effect from time of departure from the player's campus to their return to that campus. Infractions of this regulation will be addressed by the Western RFU Discipline Committee under the guidelines in effect by USA Rugby. On site infractions of this regulation may result in criminal action by local authorities.