These procedures have been drawn up by the GRFU Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the RFU’s requirements.
Club Secretaries must:
• Familiarise themselves with RFU Disciplinary Regulations as set out in the current edition of the RFU Handbook. An up to date version can be found on the RFU website.
• Ensure that all team captains know they must report dismissals to you or any other designated officer who deals with matters of discipline.
• Report the name and address of a player dismissed from the field to the Secretary of the GRFU Disciplinary Committee within 48 hours of the dismissal.
N.B. This is a RFU requirement and failure to comply will incur an additional administrative cost to the club
• Produce any video (made by or on behalf of the Club) at any game in which a player is dismissed or cited or a Rule 5.12 case arises. This requirement applies even if the player concerned is a member of the opposition.
• Respond fully and quickly to any correspondence.
• Ensure the player is advised of the time, date and venue of the disciplinary hearing and is provided with copies of the disciplinary papers relating to that hearing.
• Advise the GRFU Disciplinary Secretary if the player is unable to attend the hearing.
• Advise the GRFU Disciplinary Secretary whether the attendance of the Referee is requested where it is intended to question the sending off report.
• Where a player has been offered a ‘postal plea’ and wishes to plead guilty and have the case heard in his absence, ensure that the GRFU Disciplinary Secretary is so advised within 14 days and that all of the requested information is provided.
• Ensure all sanctions are correctly applied and disciplinary costs are paid within 21 days of the receipt of the Judgment. If the costs are not paid the player shall remain suspended until such time as they are paid.
Club Disciplinary Committees must:
• Be appointed, with a Chairman, and charged with the responsibility of maintaining the standards of discipline within the Club.
• Meet within 7 days of a dismissal, ensuring that disciplinary procedures are formally complied with (including those for players under 18 years of age) and any actions and sanctions decided upon are applied correctly.
• Ensure that the GRFU Disciplinary Secretary is advised of any action taken.
• Ensure that the support/defence of a player at a disciplinary hearing is consistent with the Club’s own disciplinary action.
Note: ANY PLAYER SENT OFF IS SUSPENDED UNTIL THEIR CASE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY EITHER THE RFU OR GRFU DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
Match Officials must:
• Report all players dismissed by them or cases of abuse, taking care to record the correct name of the accused and ensure the report is accurate and complete. Use the current RFU form for reporting (a copy can be downloaded from the RFU web site).
• Sign the completed form and send it (by Email if possible) to the Secretary of the Constituent Body Disciplinary Committee to which the player’s club belongs within 48 hours of the match, with a copy to his/her own Referees’ Society. In the case of players dismissed in Schools/Club Youth matches a copy of the report should also be sent to the Head Teacher/Club Secretary.
Schools and Club Youth Rugby
• Guidelines for Discipline in Schools and Club Youth Rugby are detailed in the Disciplinary Regulations set out in the RFU/ERSFU Handbook 2015/2016. The procedures described are applicable to Schools and Club Youth Rugby up to and including U18 teams. It should be noted that the various sanctions applicable have been brought more into line with those introduced by the International Rugby Board and are tiered to reflect the different age groups involved. Those responsible for schools and youth rugby are advised to have a full understanding of the procedures and, as set out in those procedures, are required to report the outcome of disciplinary cases to the Schools & Youth Disciplinary Secretaries. Club youth cases should be cross referenced to the Schools Secretary, Keith Gee, so that Head teachers can be informed; some players have been known to be banned via club action but schools have not been aware. Schools cases should be cross referenced to the Youth Secretary, Mark Knight, so that Clubs can be made aware.
• Where a player is age 17 or over and is playing in an U19 or an adult team, he is subject to the RFU rules which apply to all adult players.
Note: Any player sent off by the referee WILL NOT be permitted to play under any circumstances until their case has been considered by either the School or Club Disciplinary Process.
Club Disciplinary Record
Please note that if a Club has a bad disciplinary record they are required by the RFU to be called before the County Disciplinary Committee. Such things as the nature or number and type of offence and the actions of Club officials when reporting, confirming and supporting the disciplinary offences will be taken into account in considering the appropriate punishment. In addition to suspension(s) etc. the punishment may be financial and/or the deduction of league points.
Disciplinary Hearings
The date, time and venue for the Disciplinary Committee meetings will be advised as soon as arrangements have been finalised.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Chairman GRFU Disciplinary Committee
Mark Elton, 23 King Edwards Avenue, Gloucester, GL1 5DB
discipline@gloucestershirerfu.co.uk
Vice Chairman GRFU Disciplinary Committee (South)
Lyn Smith, Abbanley, 7 Queens Road, Pucklechurch, Bristol BS16 9QB
01179 372030 Mobile 07799 432656
Email toot@btinternet.com
GRFU Disciplinary Secretary
David Parry-Jones, 29 Malvern Drive, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2HY
01454 417521 Mobile 07850 774993 [Only calls between 09.00-21.00 please]
davepj43@hotmail.com
GRFU Youth Disciplinary Secretary
Mark Knight, 14B Canterbury Walk, Warden Hill, Cheltenham, GL51 3HG
0771985771 stiggy35@hotmail.co.uk
GRFU Schools Secretary
Keith Gee, 88 Stackpool Road, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1NW
0117 966 9978 Mobile 07854 191584 Email Keith.Gee@btinternet.com
SOMERSET Disciplinary Secretary
Steve Mead, 10 Ludlow Close, Willbridge, Bristol BS30 6EA.Tel No 0117 932 8616 Mobile 07854 290290 Email stevemead@bristolhome.fsnet.co.uk.