1 Definitions
1.1 The definitions set out in the Disciplinary Definitions Appendix shall apply to these League and Competition Rules (L&C Rules). 

2 Competitions
2.1 The Union is responsible for organising and administering the Competitions.
2.2 Save for any exception set out in the rules and regulations of any particular Competition, these L&C Rules shall apply to all Clubs and in respect of all Competitions during the Season-with effect from September 2008.
2.3 The entry procedures, format, divisions, sequence, timing and duration of the Competitions shall be determined by the Union not later than the end of September 2008.
2.4 The League Commissioner shall have the absolute discretion to decide on the interpretation or application of these L&C Rules or any matter not provided for in these L&C Rules (including rectifying any administrative error) and shall give directions or make rulings as appropriate. The League Commissioner's decision shall be final and binding.
2.5 Where there has been any omission or error in these L&C Rules the League Commissioner will have power to rectify such error or omission in the manner he or she sees fit.
2.6 If any provision of these L&C Rules is held by any court or competent authority to be illegal, void or unenforceable in whole or in part these L&C Rules shall continue to be valid as to the other provisions thereof and the remainder of any affected L&C Rules.

3 Effective Registration
3.1 A Player shall be Effectively Registered with the Union once he has been registered by the Club online in the Union ’s database until such time as Effective Registration shall cease to have effect under the provisions of L&C Rule [5].
3.2 No Player may hold Effective Registration with more than one Club at any time unless approved by the League Commissioner at his or her sole discretion.
3.3 Subject to L&C Rule [3.4], a Player may only change his Club registration without the consent of his current Club for the remaining Competition Matches during the Season if he changes his Club registration during the Transfer Period. In the event of dispute regarding registration, the Player may appeal to the League Commissioner.
3.4 A Player who changes his Club registration during the Season may not compete in any remaining Competition Matches during the Season unless the Player's continuing participation in any such Matches is agreed by both Clubs concerned and approved in writing by the League Fixtures Control Panel.
3.5 The only and conclusive evidence admissible of a Player's Effective Registration with a Club on any particular date is the computerised listing of Players holding Effective Registration on that particular date such computerised listing being held by the Union.
3.6 No Club may select as a player or replacement for a team in any Competition Match a Player:
3.6.1 who does not hold Effective Registration with that Club; or
3.6.2 who is currently under suspension under these L&C Rules or the Laws of the Game.
3.7 Where a Club's team has been represented in any Match by a player or replacement who is ineligible or selected in breach of L&C Rule 3.6.1 or 3.6.2, that team may be treated as having forfeited that Match in accordance with L&C Rule [15.5] and/or be deducted up to four league points, as the League Fixtures Control Panel considers appropriate.

4 De-registration
4.1 Any Player holding Effective Registration with a Club may, upon written application (duly signed by the Player) to the League Fixtures Control Panel, de-register from that Club and provided that the Player has notified the Club of his application and certifies to the League Commissioner that he has so notified the Club, the Player will cease to hold Effective Registration three days from the receipt of the Player's application by the League Commissioner.
4.2 Any Club may apply to de-register any of its Players and such Player in respect of whom application is made will cease to have Effective Registration with that Club seven days from the receipt of the application for de-registration by the League Commissioner provided that in any application by a Club to de-register a Player the Club has notified and certified to the League Commissioner that it has notified the Player of its application for that Player's de-registration.

5 Loss of Effective Registration
5.1 A Player will cease to have Effective Registration with a Club:
5.1.1 upon being Effectively Registered with another Club; or
5.1.2 upon expiry of 3 days following a valid application for de-registration in accordance with L&C Rule [4.1] or upon expiry of 7 days following a valid application for de-registration in accordance with L&C Rule [4.2];
5.1.3 upon having Effective Registration cancelled or suspended by the League Fixtures Control Panel for any reason; or
5.1.4 upon the expiry of any work permit, visa or other permit or consent required by law; or
5.1.5 where Effective Registration is invalidated pursuant to L&C Rule [6] below;
5.1.6 subject to the absolute discretion of the League Commissioner to decide otherwise, where that Player plays for any team in or under the jurisdiction of or a member of a union other than the Union more than 6 times in any twelve month period (save for a team selected by the national selectors of that other union); or
5.1.7 where a Player plays for Material Benefit (as defined in the IRB regulations) for any team in or under the jurisdiction of or a member of any union other than the Union (save for a team selected by the national selectors of that other union); or
5.1.8 where and from the date upon which a union, with whom a Player is currently registered and to whom a Club had applied for consent to register a Player (who had been granted Effective Registration pending a response from that union), advises that any consent or clearance is refused or withdrawn or delayed.

6 False or Misleading Information
6.1 Where a Club supplies incorrect or misleading information to the Union in any application to register a Player, or any signature on the Registration Form or other document is not the original signature of the person purporting to have signed it, the application for registration will be void and any Effective Registration will be invalidated from the date such Effective Registration would but for the incorrect, false or misleading information have commenced and the penalty provision in L&C Rule [3.7] shall apply.

7 First Division Rules
7.1 All First Division teams are required to submit a completed team sheet of its match day squad of 22 players to the Union by midday on the day immediately preceding the day of each Match. Any subsequent amendments to a team must be submitted to the Referee and opposing team captain not later than thirty minutes prior to kick-off. Any amended team sheet shall be forwarded by the Referee to the Union office. The team sheet shall clearly indicate those Players who are:
7.1.1 IRB and Asian Games eligible; and/or
7.1.2 not ordinarily and legally resident in Hong Kong ; and/or
7.1.3 nominated as Trained Front Row Players.
7.2 A First Division team may not select in its match day squad of 22 more than 3 players who have not been ordinarily and legally resident in Hong Kong for 180 days immediately prior to a Match.
7.3 During the Season, each First Division team must select in its match day squad of 22 not less than eight Players who are eligible to represent Hong Kong in accordance with IRB regulations. At least four Players in the match day squad of 22 must also be eligible to play in the Asian Games and must play in the starting line up or come on as a replacement in each Match in the relevant Competition.
7.4 A First Division team may be treated as having forfeited each Match in the relevant Competition in accordance with L&C Rule [15.5] and/or be deducted up to four league points, as the League Fixtures Control Panel considers appropriate, in respect of each Match in the relevant Competition where such team has not complied with any of L&C Rules [7.1, 7.2 and 7.3].

8 Numbers of players
8.1 A team may nominate up to a maximum of 7 substitutes for each Match and, subject to this restriction, teams may substitute players at any time during a Match.
8.2 All teams must be able to start a Match and contest the first scrum using Trained Front Row Players.
8.3 First Division squads must contain at least five Trained Front Row Players.
8.4 Issues of scrum safety in all Matches will be governed by the Scrum Safety Directive.
8.5 A team shall forfeit the Match or, where applicable, be deducted any Competition points awarded in accordance with L&C Rule [15.5] in respect of each Match in the relevant Competition where it fails to fulfil the requirements of L&C Rule [8.2 or 8.3].

9 Restriction on playing in lower divisions
9.1 No Club may field a Player in any team in any Match who, during the Season, has played 7 or more matches for any team in a higher division unless:
9.1.1 by reason of the specific rules of a Competition, he is a member of a team that is relegated to that lower division; or
9.1.2 having made a prior written application to the League Commissioner not less than 3 days before such Competition Match on his behalf, the Club concerned receives written permission from the Union for that player to play in a lower division.
9.2 A team which has been represented by a Player or replacement who is ineligible or selected in breach of L&C Rule 9 may be treated as having forfeited that Match in accordance with L&C Rule [15.5] and/or be deducted up to four league points, as the League Commissioner considers appropriate.

10 Postponement of matches
10.1 Subject to Rules [10.2 and 10.3], a Club must fulfil its Competition fixture obligations in respect of any Match on the date and at the time appointed for such fixture.
10.2 A Match may be rearranged in the following circumstances:
10.2.1 where three or more players from a team are unable to play in a scheduled fixture because of union representative commitments, provided that the Union is notified ten days prior to the respective commitments or within 24 hours of squad announcement, the expiry of whichever period is the earliest, in which case the Club affected must notify the League Fixtures Control Panel and the scheduled opponents in writing, giving preferred alternative dates for playing the Match; or
10.2.2 where the Referee decides a Match should not be played or should be abandoned because of weather conditions or for any other reason. The Referee's decision shall be final. If a Match is abandoned when sixty or more minutes have been played, then the score at the moment of abandonment shall stand and be deemed the final score in the Match; or
10.2.3 if safety, weather or any other conditions prevent a Match being played, provided that the Club seeking to rearrange a fixture must notify the League Commissioner and the scheduled opponents of all circumstances regarding the proposed postponement as soon as possible.
10.31 In the event that a Match is to be rearranged in accordance with L&C Rule [10.2], the fixture will be re-scheduled for a time, date and venue either as both teams shall agree, or in the absence of agreement as determined by the League Fixtures Control Panel in its absolute discretion (taking account of pitch availability, reasons for postponement and preferences of the scheduled opponent), within 21 days before or after the original scheduled date or such other time as the League Fixtures Control Panel may approve.
10.4 Where for any special circumstances a Club is unable to field a team for a scheduled Match, the Club affected must notify the League Fixtures Control Panel and the scheduled opponents of all circumstances regarding the proposed rescheduling as soon as possible. If the League Fixtures Control Panel and the scheduled opponents agree and the re-scheduled Match can be played before the original date or the first available date thereafter, the League Fixtures Control Panel may, in its absolute discretion, allow the Match to be played without imposing any penalty. No Match may be rearranged by agreement between Clubs without the prior written consent of the League Commissioner.

11 Failure to honour fixtures
11.1 Where the League Fixtures Control Panel is of the view that a Club has unjustifiably failed to fulfil its Competition fixture obligations, the League Fixtures Control Panel may deduct one Competition point from the Club and/or impose a fine in accordance with guidelines that are issued from time to time by the Union . Any fine imposed will be deducted from the offending Club's subvention.

12 Appeals
12.1 An appeal against any League Fixtures Control Panel or League Commissioner's decision made under these L+R Rules must be made in writing to the Fixtures Appeal Committee. Where the appeal relates to the rescheduling of a fixture, notice of appeal must be given 7 days before the date allotted for the rescheduled fixture, stating detailed reasons.
12.2 The appeal will be considered and decided by the Fixtures Appeal Committee, comprising of three Union directors including, where possible, the Union Executive Director. All decisions of the Fixtures Appeal Committee will be made known to the relevant Clubs, and, where appropriate, before any disputed fixture is due to be played. The decision by the Fixtures Appeal Committee will be final in all cases.

13 Effect of forfeiture of 3 or more matches
13.1 Any team which forfeits 3 or more Matches in the same Competition shall, in addition to any other penalty, be liable to disqualification from that Competition, to be decided at the absolute discretion of the League Fixtures Control Panel.

14. General Competition rules
14.1 First aid cover:
14.1.1 Clubs must make their own arrangements for first aid cover in particular, by bringing with them their Union provided First Aid Kit. Neither the Union nor any Referee are obliged to provide or be responsible for first aid.
14.1.2 Where a person responsible for first aid cover is present, the Referee should do no more than allow an injured Player to leave the field to receive treatment or allow the first aid person onto the field to administer treatment. The first aid person may come onto the field to administer treatment without notice in the case where a Player is down.
14.1.3 Where no such person is present, the Laws of the Game provide that the Referee shall decide whether the Player may be replaced. There is no obligation on a Referee to provide or to be responsible for first aid.
14.2 Team uniforms:
14.2.1 Clubs must inform the Union of the colours of their team uniform; jersey, shorts and socks. Jerseys shall be consecutively numbered with a minimum number size of 250 mm so as to be easily discernible. No two players in the same team should display the same number.

15 League Competition rules
15.1 Teams shall be divided into 9 Divisions: Men’s Divisions 1 to 7, and 2 Women's Divisions.
15.3 Points will be awarded for League Competition matches as follows:
15.3.1 4 competition points for a win;
15.3.2 2 competition points for a draw;
15.3.3 1 competition point for a loss by 7 match points or less;
15.3.4 1 competition point for scoring 4 tries or more;
15.3.5 5 competition points will be awarded to a team that gains a forfeiture or is awarded match points by the League Fixtures Control Panel;
15.3.6 1 competition point will be deducted from a team that forfeits a Match;
15.3.7 No Points will be awarded for a bye or for a loss by more than 7 match points; and
15.3.8 1 further competition point may be deducted from a team that fails to comply with any provision of these L+R Rules.
15.4 In the event of teams being on equal points following the end of the League Competition, the team having the higher positive ratio of "points for" to "points against" will be declared the winner.
15.5 In all cases of forfeiture, "points for" and "points against" will be as follows:
15.5.1 the team receiving the forfeiture, will receive 20 points for and nil points against, and
15.5.2 the team forfeiting the fixture, will receive nil points for and 20 points against.

16 Grand Championship Rules
16.1

Content coming soon

17 Duration of matches
17.1 The normal playing time in all Competition Matches shall consist of 2 equal halves each of not more than 40 minutes duration.
17.2 Normal duration of League Competition Matches is as follows:

First and Second Divisions 40 minutes each half

Third to Seventh Divisions 35 minutes each half

Women's Division 30 minutes each half
17.3 Stoppage time including interval, water breaks and injury time shall be determined by the Referee.

18 Drawn matches
18.1 Where there is a draw in any League Competition Match, the teams shall be awarded 2 league points each.
18.2 If there is a draw in any knockout competition:
18.2.1 the teams shall change ends and extra time of 2 periods of 10 minutes shall be played. Play for the first period of extra time shall start with a scrum on halfway in favour of the team which started the Match and for the second period of extra time the team that kicked off in the second half shall restart the second period of extra time also with a scrum on the halfway line. "Golden Points" will apply - the first team to score any points wins, and the game finishes.
18.2.2 if after extra time there is still a draw then the team having scored the most tries during the Match will be declared the winner. If the Match is still drawn then the team that scored the first try will be declared the winner. If no tries were scored then the team with the higher differential between the ratio of points scored for and against in games played between the two teams in the League shall be declared the winner.

19 Referees
19.1 A Referee shall be appointed for each Match by the Referees' Appointment Board and in the event of the Referee so appointed not attending within 15 minutes after the time at which the Match is fixed to commence, then a referee shall be appointed by the captains or honorary secretaries of the opposing Clubs.
19.2 Upon the captains of the opposing Clubs so agreeing, another referee may be substituted at any time during the progress of the Match, except in the case where a Referee has been duly appointed by the Referee's Appointment Board or by the Union , and is not incapacitated or does not refuse to continue to act.

20 Under-age players
20.1 No team may select or play in any adult Competition any Player under the age of 18 unless the following application process has been complied with:
20.1.1 The applicant Player has applied to the Union in writing using the application form provided by the Union and including with that application:
(a) Endorsement from the chairman of the Club where the Player wishes to play adult rugby;
(b) A letter from the applicant Player's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) supporting the application;
(c) Reference from current coach or coach of the adult rugby team for whom the applicant wishes to play;
The form can be downloaded at the "Club Rugby" section of HKRFU website.
20.1.2 The youth committee of the Union has been informed of the application;
20.1.3 The application has been reviewed by the Union's Performance Department Manager or Deputy Performance Department Manager, who have given their recommendation supporting the application; and
20.1.4 The application and recommendation have been provided to the Union 's executive director, who will make the final decision as to whether to allow the applicant to play adult rugby.
20.2 A Player may appeal in writing outlining grounds for appeal to the Union Committee who will consider and decide any appeal. Their decision will be final in all cases.
20.3 If an under-age Player plays adult rugby without completing the above process and obtaining Union approval, the Player and the Club for which he/she has played for will be liable for sanction(s) as determined by the League Fixtures Control Panel in accordance with guidelines that are issued from time to time by the Union .