Sussex Rugby Football Union
 Discipline for Youth and Schools Players
 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                         

 Sendings-off in a Club match  

 Disciplinary Secretaries & Contacts

Procedure for Citing players

 Sendings-off in a Schools match

Club Disciplinary Committees

 Recommended Sanctions

This page refers to School or Club players under 18 year old - For Adult Disciplinary procedures , Click here

SUSSEX RFU DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

This is` the Senior County Discipline Committee, appointed under powers delegated by the Rugby Football Union, is chaired by Mr. Frank Edmonds, assisted by a panel drawn from of members of County Clubs, Youth and Schools Sections, most of whom have attended an RFU Disciplinary Training Seminar.   The Disciplinary Secretary, Mr. Kenny Gordon, is responsible for notifying Clubs and Players of the date of hearings.    The Referees Society provide an observer at the hearings, who does not participate in forming a verdict or assessing a penalty.

Discipline cases involving players under 18 years, playing in Schools matches, are dealt with by the Head Teacher - see below.
 
     CLUB DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEES      

 Extract from Sussex RFU Rule 10 ,
Each Club shall form a Disciplinary Committee and such Committees shall have the power to inflict appropriate punishment on any player, official or member of the Club for an infringement of any Laws of the Game provided that such powers are without prejudice to the powers of Sussex RFU to deal with such matters in accordance with the powers delegated to them by the Rugby Football Union. Each club shall notify, within 4 days, the County Disciplinary Committee Secretary of any disciplinary action taken for any infringement of the Laws.

A Player need not have been disciplined by an Official in order to appear before a Club Disciplinary Committee.
If a Player is punished by his own Club for a foul play offence, which was undetected by an Official, Clubs should inform the Secretary of the opposing Club of the verdict and action taken
 

CITING

   5.1    A citing can only take place when the incident has not been seen by the Officials.

   5.2   The citing must be in writing and it must be signed by the Head Teacher (School matches) 
             or Club Chairman (Club and Youth matches).

   5.3    The citing must be accompanied by a cheque for £100 and should be sent to the Schools and
             Youth Disciplinary Secretary, Dr. Roger Edmondson. (see above)

   5.4    The citing must be received by first post of the seventh day immediately after the match in
             which the incident occurred.

   5.5     The RFU Regulations regarding citing will be followed.
 

CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESSES  - DISCIPLINARY MATTERS


Secretary of the Youth and Schools Disciplinary Committee, 
 Dr.Roger Edmondson, 1 Ryefield Close, Eastbourne BN21 2XJ)    
Telephone 01323 501893 (P)  - e-mail  - cb-honsec-sussex@therfu.com  

Secretary of the Sussex RFU Disciplinary Committee
Mr. Kenny Gordon, 132 Kings Place, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5RD
 Telephone  - 01403 251091 (P)     email - disciplinesec@f2s.com

Secretary of the Sussex Referees Society
 Mr. Iain Mitchell. 26 Little Bridges Close, Southwater, Horsham Rh13 9HH
Telephone 01403 731716 (P) 07909 962085 (M) - e-mail - iainmitchell@tinyonline.co.uk
 

When a Player is dismissed the field of play  - Who does what - and when

The Referee

  Informs the Player that he is dismissing him/her from the field of play, and the offence    committed. Obtains details of the player immediately following the Match.
Within 48 hours, must complete and send  the 'Ordered off' form to the
Youth/Schools Disciplinary Secretary (address below),
 with a copy to the Secretary of the Sussex Referees Society  (address below).  
 For players from outside Sussex the form is to be sent to the Disciplinary Secretary
of the Constituent Body to which his Club or School is allocated.

The Player

  Must ensure that the Club Secretary or Teacher i/c Rugby is informed of the dismissal.

The Club Secretary

Within 72 hours of a dismissal, must inform the Youth/Schools Disciplinary Secretary of the full name and address of any Player who has been sent off. 
See note above about Club Disciplinary Committees, informing the Youth/Schools Disciplinary Secretary of any action taken by the Club, and the Player's right to continue to play until a hearing has been held.

The Youth/Schools Disciplinary Secretary

Will advise the Club and the Player of the Date, Time and Place of the Tribunal, and that it is their duty to have available any evidence t hey wish to call . 
In some instances, depending on the circumstances, and whether the player has been sent off before, a Player will be asked in the calling notice if he wishes to be dealt with in his absence. In this event, he will receive the norm for the offence, shown in the recommended penalties laid down by the RFU. (see below)

The Club Secretary

On receipt of the notification of a hearing, will
 Immediately inform the Youth/Schools Disciplinary Secretary
                      1. If the Player will be attending the meeting.
                      2. The names of any Club representatives attending.
                      3. Whether he wishes the referee to be present*
                      4. Forward the appropriate fee.
        FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN EXTRA COSTS OR FURTHER ACTION BEING TAKEN AGAINST THE CLUB

The Player

 * Where a player has not requested a Referee to be present, he will not be permitted to challenge his report. 

Rules for the conduct of Disciplinary Tribunals are laid down in the RFU Handbook
For details of procedures at Disciplinary Hearings click here...

PLAYERS SENT OFF IN SCHOOL MATCHES
1.1 It is accepted that discipline in Schools rugby is within the provenance of the Head Teacher
1.2 The completed sending-off form shall be sent to the Head teacher
and Youth/Schools Disciplinary Secretary within 48 hours.
1.3 The Head Teacher has three possible sanctions:
(a)   Sending off is sufficient punishment
(b)  A Caution is given, laying down expectations about future good conduct
(c)   A period of playing suspension from all rugby matches. 
3.4 The head teacher shall consult the CSUDS (Dr. Edmondson) before coming to a decision,
and then inform him in writing of the sanction. 

Youth players - Recommended Sanctions for Offences within the playing enclosure
The following range of recommended sanctions for offences in the playing enclosure is set down in the R.F.U. Handbook.    
However, they may be increased or decreased according to the individual circumstances of the offence
 and the previous disciplinary record of the Player.

Note that to use threatening actions or words at Match Officials can be punished by a ban of
12 - 24 months, and physically abusing Match Officials can attract a ban of 2 years to Life.     
Sussex RFU panels are mandated to take  a severe view in any case where such action is proved.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUTH PLAYERS MUST LEARN FROM THEIR ACTIONS.   
THE FIRST SANCTION IMPOSED WILL BE LESS THAN IN SENIOR RUGBY SINCE HOPEFULLY 
THE PLAYER WILL LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKE.

OFFENCE    SCHOOLS
  SANCTION
Striking another player with the hand, fist or arm,  including the elbow. 2 matches
Striking an opponent with the head 6 matches
Striking an opponent with the knee 2 matches
Stamping or trampling an opponent 4 matches
Kicking an opponent 6 matches
Tripping an opponent with the foot / leg 2 matches
 Dangerous tackling, including early or late and including the action known as a 'stiff arm tackle' 2 matches
Dangerously charging or obstructing or grabbing the opponent without the ball, including shouldering Caution

Playing an opponent without the ball.  To hold, pushcharge, obstruct an opponent not carrying the ball,
except in a scrum, ruck or maul.

 Caution
Dangerous charging or obstructing or grabbing of opponent carrying the ball, including shouldering,
without trying to grasp the player		 Caution
To cause a scrum, ruck or maul to collapse Caution
Biting an opponent 6 matches
Contact with eyes or eye area 4 matches
Testicle Grabbing or twisting or squeezing 4 matches
Illegal rucking of an Opponent Caution
Threatening actions, or words at match officials 2 matches
To physically abuse match officials 2 matches
Verbal abuse of opponents whether based on race, colour
creed or otherwise.		 Caution
Spitting at players 1 match
 2 Yellow Cards in one match - Sending off Sufficient
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22/08/08