Women's Club : Rules

EPRU Club Divisional Play Rules and Regulations - Women's Division

Go to the MARFU Web site www.marfu.org/marfuw15s.html for the latest MARFU women's competition rules and regulations for Division 1 and Division 2.
Divisional games will be played in the Fall season with the schedule provided by the MARFU Coordinator and approved by the Coordinator of EPRU Women's Clubs (the "Coordinator").
The top team(s) will represent the EPRU in any further competitions to determine a territorial/regional/national champion. All teams must be Full Members, current with all financial obligations and in good standing with both the EPRU and the Referees Society to take part in any competition. All teams in divisional play must be fully enrolled in USA Rugby's Club & Individual Participant Program (CIPP) as per the EPRU CIPP Policy. Teams who are not fully enrolled in the current CIPP Program by April 1st will not have their divisional play matches count in the standings and may be dropped from the divisional play schedule. Enrollment of the club and its players in the previous year's CIPP Program does not fulfill the requirements. (see CIPP Policy for further details)
Players must have medical insurance in order to participate in any rugby activity. Players should supply copies of their medical cards to their club as proof of coverage. All clubs must also be in compliance with the EPRU Player Transfer Policy, MARFU and USA Eligibility Requirements.
Determination of winner and standings:
1. Win - Loss - Tie Record
2. Head to Head competition
3. Point differential
4. A forfeited match will be credited with a score of 60-0. There is NO overtime in divisional play. Ties are entered into the standings.
Field Requirements
1. Field must be AT LEAST 65 yards X 100 yards - try line to try line - 110 yards overall - minimum 5 yard in-goal area
2. Field must be properly lined and goal posts padded as set forth by the Referees Society.
3. Spectator Ropes must be erected goal line to goal line on AT LEAST ONE SIDE of field. Only touch judges and trainer will be permitted inside rope.
4. If extenuating circumstances prevent a club from playing on a field with required minimum dimensions (see a), the club MUST SUBMIT IN WRITING to the Coordinator the exact dimensions of the field to be used and an explanation of the circumstances preventing the use of a larger field. The Coordinator will review the situation and make a recommendation to the EPRU Executive Committee. If the situation warrants, the club may be dropped from divisional play. This letter must be submitted no later than September 1.
5. Unless a waiver is granted by Coordinator, failure to comply with the Field Requirements are grounds for protest and may result in forfeit by the offending team (see Protest Procedure).
Kit Requirements (see "Kit Requirements")
1. Below is only a brief outline
  1. All players must play in matching jerseys, shorts and socks whose colors AND style have been registered with the EPRU. Jerseys must be clean, free from holes and tears.
  2. Jerseys may be short-sleeved but must not be "cut offs" or sleeveless. Short-sleeved, hemmed jerseys must cover the bicep.
  3. Shorts must be clean and free from holes and tears. Socks must be clean and free from holes and tears.
  4. Numbers on jerseys (for the correct positions) are mandatory for all teams.
  5. In the event of a lack of contract in jersey colors, the home team is responsible for providing alternate kit to the satisfaction of the referee.
  6. Failure to comply with the Kit Requirements is grounds for protest and may result in forfeit by the offending team (see Protest Procedure).
Reporting Requirements
1. Reporting may be done via EPRU Match-Reporting Form, or via e-mail.
2. Forms for reporting scores are distributed at the September EPRU meeting. If email isn't accessible to your team, it is YOUR responsibility to see that your team gets these forms.
3. Reporting information must include Name of Teams, score results, number of tries scored, conversions, penalty kicks, and kicks for points).
4. Completed reports must be returned to the Coordinator NO LATER THAN THREE DAYS FOLLOWING THE GAME.
5. Each team shall be responsible to report game scores at http://www.marfu.org/marfumatchrep.php
Rostered Players
1. Forfeit proceedings will be brought against any club that willfully substitutes players who are not official members of their club. Repeated disregard of this rule will result in that club being dropped from divisional play. The Coordinator may request team rosters at any time.
2. Teams must be prepared to show proof that application for CIPP for all members was submitted no later than the day before the match.
3. Any players registered as "At-Large" will have to prove their affiliation with the club to the satisfaction of the Coordinator.
Minimum Number of Players
1. A club must field a minimum of 15 players from their own roster at kick-off for a division match to count in the standings.
2. In the case of injury during play (after kick-off) of a division match, so long as the club is able to field no less than 12 players from their own roster for a division match to count in the standings.
3. If, due to extenuating circumstances, a club can foresee being unable to field 15 players from their own roster for the kick-off of a division match, the club must inform the Coordinator no less than 48 hours before match, and provide adequate explanation of the cause. The Coordinator will then contact the challenging club to see if that club agrees to allow the club that is short to play with less than 15 players at kick-off. The Coordinator reserves the right to accept or reject the reason given for a club who cannot field a full side.
Length of Division Matches

All Division Matches shall be 80-minute games.
Protest Procedure
1. The Team Captain must advise the referee BEFORE KICKOFF that his team wishes to register a protest and give the reason. The referee must notify the opposing Team Captain that a protest has been lodged and for what reason.
2. The referee should give the offending team a reasonable amount of time to correct the circumstances of the protest.
3. If the circumstances are not corrected, the referee and protesting team MUST notify the EPRU Executive Committee (through the Coordinator), in writing, within 72 hours of the circumstances of the protest. The protest will be reviewed and the teams involved will be notified of the Committee's decision.
Failure to Play Match

This is to be determined.
Match Dates
1. Matches must be played on the dates set by the Coordinator (or subject to the approval by Coordinator, the match secretaries of teams involved). If there are extenuating circumstances which preclude either team from playing on that set date, then a mutually agreeable alternate date AND reason for the change shall be submitted, IN WRITING to Coordinator for consideration.
2. NO CHANGES SHALL BE PERMITTED WITHOUT APPROVAL OF THE COORDINATOR. No changes will be considered within two (2) weeks of the match unless it is required by the referee's society.
Match Locations
1. Locations of division matches are assigned by the Coordinator or, subject to Coordinator's approval, by the match secretaries of Clubs involved.
  
  The EPRU recommends that you alternate home and away from wherever you played your opponent last. If no agreement can be reached, the Coordinator will render a decision.
2. All divisional matches, must have a completed Match Contract issued by the home team, signed by both teams and be kept on file by each team. An e-mail that clearly expresses accord between the teams regarding the time/date/location of the division match will suffice. Failure to comply with this contract is subject to EPRU disciplinary procedures.
  
  If a team refuses to return a completed Match Contract, please advise the Coordinator accordingly.
Referees
1. All division matches shall be officiated by a referee assigned by the Referees Society. Such referee should be of a B-3 rating or higher; certainly no lower than a C-1 rating.
2. If no referee has been assigned by the Referees Society, then the home team must supply a qualified referee that meets the approval of the visiting team. Union referees and referees who have attended the Union referee clinic are automatically approved.
3. If the home team cannot supply a referee, the visiting team may provide one by prior agreement of both teams.
4. If the assigned referee does not show, or the teams cannot agree on a replacement referee, then the match is to be rescheduled and played before the start of playoffs. Home teams must notify the Coordinator within 24 hours of the originally scheduled match date.
Forfeits
1. Teams who fail to field and eligible side or who fail to provide a referee for home games must forfeit the game.
2. A match report indicating the reason for the forfeit must be submitted to the Coordinator by the team who forfeited.
3. For purposes of calculating point differential, the score will be 60-0
MARFU Championship - Rules & Regulations
1. Consideration for the MARFU Women's Division 2 playoff takes into account the smaller number of the Women's Division clubs. Therefore, the MARFU Women's Division Championship will be a 4-team tournament to be held in the fall.
2. The top teams from the EPRU, PRU and VRU will be entered as follow:
  1. The top two seeds from D2 North
  2. The top two seeds from the D2 South
  3. There shall be no entry fee.
  4. Saturday Semi-Final Matches and Sunday Final and Consolation Matches shall be 80-minute games;
  5. The location of the event must be bid through the MARFU Event Bidding Process and approved by the MARFU Board of Directors.
3. The regional or MARFU referees association will assign the referees for the event. Referees should be of nothing less than of a B-3 rating.

EPRU Rugby Women's Club

Women's Club : Rules