Sussex Rugby Football Union
Frequently asked questions and General Information
 Rugby for all - in all of Sussex

Sussex RFU make every effort to publish correct information but does not accept any liability caused by errors on Site                         

If you have a question of general interest about Rugby  -
e-mail us on sussexrugby@hotmail.com - and we will do our best to find an answer

Replacements Cancelling Games Foul Play Insurance
Kick-off Times Postponed Games
 - Replay dates		 International Tickets RFU Week Numbers
County Membership Protective Clothing  

Kick-off
Times

Recommended times are
                           August/September/October 3.00 pm                November 2.30pm
                           December/January 2.15pm                               February 2.30 pm
                            March/April/May 3.00 pm
Knock-out Competition games should start half an hour earlier to allow for extra time.
Don't forget to tell the Referee if you change a kick-off time

RFU Week
Numbers		 This is a long-standing system used by the RFU and by all Club Fixtures Secretaries to identify exactly which date a match is to be made.   Every Saturday has a 'RFU Week No', starting with Number 0 as the last Saturday in August, running through to the last Saturday in May as No. 36.  Where there is a fifth Saturday in a month, it is called an 'X' week and numbered from 1 (September). Thus, in Season 2006/7, the fifth Saturday in December is called 'Week X4' and the fifth Saturday in March is called 'Week X7

Cancellations
 Playing of
Postponed games

There are new regulations relating to cancellations and postponements of League games.  Postponed Cup games must be referred to the Organiser.
 Dates for all postponed matches will be published on the London Competitions Organising committee website - www.rfulondon.com  -
Clubs can, by advising the Competitions Committee 3 months in advance, set aside one Saturday each Season, and will not then be required to play on this Saturday.
 Clubs must notify the Results service of cancellations before the scheduled kick-off times.

Foul
Play

The County Disciplinary system deals with offences against the Laws of Rugby but Players must be aware that instances of foul play are also subject to Common Law and an assault is not justified just because it occurs during a Rugby match, and could be a cause for civil action.
 See also 'Discipline' and note the very severe penalties imposed for verbsal or physical abuse of a match Official.

Protective
Clothing

The regulations relating to protective clothing are sent to every Club and must be adhered to. They are for the protection of both the wearer and the other players, and apply to all levels and ages.  This especially applies to Juniors & Minis.
 Only IRB-approved items are permitted.

Insurance

The RFU now automatically provides basic insurance for all Players, Officials and Club Officers.   However this provides for compensation for death or serious injury only and does not cover the loss of income, or medical expenses.   Players are strongly advised to take out their own loss of Income Insurance.
RFU Insurance also covers Public, Product and employers' Liability and protects Club Officers.

Replacements

These regulations cause more problems than most, since they differ for each type of
Competition, Cup or League

THE REPLACEMENT JUNGLE –
IF IN DOUBT – AGREE WITH YOUR OPPOSITION AND THE REFEREE BEFORE THE MATCH STARTS.

Competition

Maximum

Front Row

Uncontested

Result of Match

RFU Leagues
LEVEL  4

4

(3) + 2

Game continues

Result stands

RFU Leagues
Levels  5 - 9

3

(3) + 1

Note 4 a

Game abandoned

RFU Knockouts

Early rounds – 4

(3) + 1

Game continues

Result stands

RFU Knockouts

Semis & Final  - 7

(3) + 2

Sussex
CluB & Team Knockouts

Early rounds – 3

 

Early rounds – Note 2 a

Game continues

Note 2 a

Sussex
 Club & Team Knockouts

Semis & Final  7

 

Semis & Final -
Note 2 b

Game continues

Note 2 b

Sx Intermediate
League

3
(Note 1)

(3) + 2
Note 3

Note 3

Note 3

Sx Leagues
Two & Three

7

3 + 2

Note 3

Note 3


Note 1 – Or any number by prior agreement and notification to Referee before the kick-off.

Note 2 – (Sussex Club and Team Knockouts) 

a)  In rounds other than a Semi-final or final, A team must be able to replace a Front row player on the  first occasion,  If unable to do so they lose the match.  If on a second occasion they cannot, and opt to go uncontested, the game continues with no penalty and the final score stands.

b)  In a Semi-final or final, a team must be able to replace a Front row player on the first occasion,  If unable to do so they lose the match.  If on a third occasion they cannot, and opt to go uncontested, the game continues with no penalty and the final score stands

 Note 3 – (Sussex Team Leagues)
a) A team opting to go uncontested from the kick-off, starts with a 10pt penalty.

b) A team with no replacements having to go uncontested does so without penalty if reduced to 14 men, but has a 10pt penalty if he
remains on the field.

c) A team with 3 replacements, must be able to replace a Front row player on the first occasion, 
 If unable to do so – 10pt penalty applies.  If on a second occasion they cannot, and opt to go uncontested, the game continues
with no penalty and the final score stands.

d)    A team with more than 3 replacements must be able to replace a Front row player on the first and second  occasion, If unable to do so – 10pt penalty applies.  If on a third occasion  they cannot and opt to go uncontested, the game continues with no penalty and the final score stands.

Note 4 – RFU Leagues Levels 5 – 9
 a) A team must able to replace a front row on the first occasion, if unable to do so, the scrums will go uncontested and the team will be deemed to have lost the game (see also note 5).  If unable to do so on the second occasion, the game will be abandoned   RFU Rule 18.2.2 will apply..

 TO BE SAFE - CHECK THE LATEST RFU COMPETITIONS OR SUSSEX RFU HANDBOOK AND AGREE WITH YOUR OP[POSITION AND THE REFEREE BEFOREHAND
 

International Tickets Such is the demand for International tickets, (for the 6 Nations matches, around 250,000 apply for 82,000 tickets, that apart from around 5% for corporate hospitality, the vast majority are distributed through Clubs and Counties.  In this way those involved in the game, either as a Player or Administrator, have a chance of getting tickets.
Becoming a member of your local Club is the best way to obtain them, although you will have to go into a ballot.
If you sell legally obtained tickets at more than the face value,  for instance to touts, you risk your Club having their allocation stopped. The Rugby Union encourages people buying touted tickets to return them so they can be traced to the original purchasers Club.
County Membership At present, Sussex RFU has no category for Individual members, and Patrons are elected only from those whose work has been of significant service to Rugby in Sussex.  Subject to supply, a County Handbook can be obtained by sending £1.00 in stamps to the County Secretary.

A range of County Supporters Merchandise and Playing kit, is available from the County Shop............more
                                                

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