League and Competition Rules
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 organisation and administration of the Competitions is the responsibility of and under the control of the Union.
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 2011.
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 2011.
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, with the exception of a "dual registered player" - a Championship club can allow up to 6 players to dual register with a Premiership club, these players are eligible to be selected for either or both clubs on any given game day. A dual registered player can only play in the Premiership A division, not the Premiership, with the exception of a club that does not have a Premiership A team. Dual registered players must be registered as such with the Union by 1st December 2011; a Premiership club can deregister and replace all of their dual registered players between 20th December 2011 and 4th January 2012.
3.3.1 A player who wishes to transfer clubs must complete a HKRFU Player Transfer Form, which can be downloaded at www.hkrugby.com/en/playertransferform.
3.3.2 Any Club player can deregister with notice to HKRFU and his club during the period 1st – 31st May 2011. The player then has until 31st July 2011 to indicate what Club he/she is joining for the 2011/12 season. If no indication of their new club is received by the Union by 1st August, registration will revert to his/her previous club
3.4. From 1st June until 1st December 2011, a player can still transfer clubs by filling in the Player Transfer Form, but if his current club refuses to sign the Form it will be treated as a registration dispute and will be referred to the Rugby Playing Sub-Committee for resolution. No transfer requests will be considered after 1st December 2011 regardless of whether the clubs concerned are in agreement.
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 is dual registered to the 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 [15.3] and/or be deducted up to four league points, as the League Fixtures Control Panel considers appropriate.
4. Loss of Effective Registration
4.1 A Player will cease to have Effective Registration with a Club:
4.1.1 upon being Effectively Registered with another Club; or
4.1.2 upon having Effective Registration cancelled or suspended by the League Fixtures Control Panel for any reason; or
4.1.3 upon the expiry of any work permit, visa or other permit or consent required by law; or
4.1.4 where Effective Registration is invalidated pursuant to L&C Rule [5] below;
4.1.5 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.
5. False or Misleading Information
5.1 Where a Club or a Player 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.
6. Premiership Squad Registration
6.1.1 Each club with a team in both the Premiership and Premiership A will be required to register a minimum of 38 players up to a maximum of 48 players (a club with one team in the Premiership league only will register a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 30)
6.1.2 Clubs with a team in both the Premiership and Premiership A must register a minimum of 32 players by 23rd September, and a minimum of 38 by 31st October (for a club with one team in the Premiership leagues the numbers are 20 and 23 respectively).
6.1.3 Additional new players (currently not registered to any other Hong Kong club) can be registered between 31st October and 31st January within the maximum number of 48 (30 for 1 team Premiership club).
6.1.4 A Club can deregister and replace up to a maximum of 6 players within their registered Premiership/Premiership A squad between 20th December and 4th January.
6.1.5 A request to replace a player within the registered squad can be made at any time up to 31st January in any given season. This can be completed on medical grounds (long term injury) or when a player leaves Hong Kong on a long term or permanent basis. The request will be referred to the LFCP and must be fully supported with relevant documentation. If replacement is approved, the replaced player cannot play again at any level of the domestic league in the same season, without prior LFCP approval.
6.2 Each club will identify and register a total of 8 front row forwards (if only 1 Premiership team then 5 front row forwards) within their total squad numbers, 2 of whom (if only 1 Premiership team then 1) should be IRB eligible to represent Hong Kong. These front row forwards should be capable of playing at Premiership and Premiership A level.
6.3 The Premiership team of 22 will always be selected from within the registered playing squad of 38 - 48 players (or 23-30 players if the club has only one team in the Premiership), with the exception of 6.4.2
6.4.1 A Club with a team in both the Premiership and Premiership A will be allowed to permit a maximum of 10 players into their Premiership A team from their lower club teams in the Community Leagues for league matches, and 8 players for Grand Championship games.
6.4.2 A Club with only one team in the Premiership leagues will be allowed to permit up to a maximum of 8 players in to their team of 22 from their lower club teams.
6.4.3 Premiership clubs can permit a maximum of 4 players into the Community Division 1 on any given game day.
6.4.4 A team in Community Division 1 is only able to name a maximum of 2 permitted players from the Premiership leagues within their selected 22 man squad. These players must be clearly indicated on the Match Result Sheet submitted to the Union on the Monday following the match.
6.5 A team which has been represented by a Player or replacement who is ineligible or selected in breach of L&C Rule 6 may be treated as having forfeited that Match in accordance with L&C Rule [15.3] and/or be deducted up to four league points, as the League Commissioner considers appropriate.
7. Premiership & Premiership A Rules
7.1 All Premiership and Premiership A 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 Union Match Commissioner not later than thirty minutes prior to kick-off. The team sheet shall clearly indicate in respect of each such Players whether they fall into any or all of the following categories:
7.1.1 IRB eligible;
7.1.2 ordinarily and legally resident in Hong Kong with valid work visa;
7.1.3 holding a current and valid Hong Kong holiday/work visa;
7.1.4 nominated as Trained Front Row Players;
7.1.5 dual-registered players; and/or
7.1.6 permitted players from Community Leagues.
7.2 During the Season, each Premiership team must select in its match day squad of 22 not less than 12 Players who are eligible to represent Hong Kong in accordance with IRB regulations. Of the remaining players, all must hold a valid Hong Kong work visa or otherwise be exempt from the need to hold such a visa (eg, being the holder of a permanent HK ID card), with the exception that up to 2 players may instead hold valid Hong Kong holiday/work visas - these players must be aged 26 or under as of 8th October 2011.
7.3 Each Premiership A team must select in its match day squad of 22 not less than 12 players who possess valid Hong Kong work visas, of which a minimum of 9 must be eligible to represent Hong Kong in accordance with IRB regulations.
7.4 All Premiership and Premiership A teams are required to submit a Team Result Sheet to the Union by 6pm on the Monday following a Saturday match, or if the match is played on a day other than a Saturday by 6pm on the first working day following. The Result Sheet should clearly show the names of all players that participated, along with points scorers and the recipients of any yellow and/or red cards.
7.4 A Premiership or Premiership A team may be treated as having forfeited each Match in the relevant Competition in accordance with L&C Rule [15.3] and/or be deducted up to four league points and receive a monetary fine, 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, 7.3, and 7.4].
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. For all divisons apart from Premiership and Premiership A, rolling substitutions will be allowed.
8.3 Premiership squads must contain at least five Trained Front Row Players, to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement hooker is required, and on the first occasion that a replacement prop forward is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums.
8.4 A Premiership A squad must contain at least four Trained Front Row Players.
8.5 A team shall forfeit the Match or, where applicable, be deducted any Competition points awarded in accordance with L&C Rule [15.3] 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. Championship, Community & Development Divisions
9.1 All Championship, Community and Development teams are required to submit a Team Result Sheet to the Union by 6pm on the Monday following a Saturday match, or if the match is played on a day other than a Saturday by 6pm on the first working day following. The Result Sheet should clearly show the names of all players that participated, along with points scorers and the recipients of any yellow and/or red cards.
9.2 Once a player has played in 7 or more matches in one of the Divisions (Championship or Community 1,2 or 3) he cannot then drop down and play for a team in a lower division, unless he has successfully applied for permission from the LFCP. This rule does not apply to a Premiership/Premiership A squad player permitting down into a Community Division 1 team as per 6.4.3
9.3 The Championship and Development Divisions will play with the IRB Under 19 Law Variations with respect to scrums, specifically;
20.9(j) Maximum 1.5 metres push. A team in a scrum must not push the scrum more than 1.5 metres towards their opponents’ goal line.
20.9(k) Ball must be released from scrum. A player must not intentionally keep the ball in the scrum once the player’s team has heeled the ball and controls it at the base of the scrum.
20.11(a) No wheeling. A team must not intentially wheel a scrum. If a wheel reaches 45 degrees, the referee must stop play. If the wheel is unintentional, the referee orders another scrum at the place where the scrum is stopped. The same team throws in the ball.
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 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
10.3 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 designated "fall back" weekend. In the event one or both of the teams are already scheduled to play on all available "fall back" weekends, then the game will be rescheduled at 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.
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 General Manager. 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 should ensure that they arrange sufficient members to attend 1st Aid Courses so that they have in attendance at least one trained member at each fixture, accompanied by their 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 no later than 31st July 2011 of the proposed colours and design of their team uniform; jersey, shorts and socks. Jerseys shall be consecutively numbered with a minimum number size of 250 mm in length so as to be easily discernible. No two players in the same team may display the same number.
15. League Competition Rules
15.1
- Premiership and Premiership A divisions will contain 7 teams. Both will play 2 rounds of league (home and away), followed by Grand Championship Quarters, Semis, and Finals.
- Championship division will contain 9 teams. They will play 2 rounds of league (home and away), no Grand Championship.
- Community Division 1 will play 3 rounds of league, followed by Grand Championship Semis and Finals.
- Community Division 2 will play 2 rounds of league, followed by Grand Championship Quarters, Semis, and Finals.
- Community Division 3 will play 1 round of league, split into top 6 and bottom 6 then play 1 further round of league. The top 4 teams in each pool will then proceed to Grand Championships Semi-Finals and Finals.
- Women's 15s will play 3 rounds of league, followed by Grand Championship Semis, and Finals.
- Women's 10s will play 1 round of league
15.2 Points will be awarded for League Competition matches as follows:
4 competition points for a win;
2 competition points for a draw;
1 competition point for a loss by 7 match points or less;
1 competition point for scoring 4 tries or more;
No points will be awarded for a bye or for a loss by more than 7 match points
15.3 Match Forfeitures
5 competition points will be awarded to a team that gains a forfeiture or is awarded match points by the League Fixtures Control Panel;
1 competition point will be deducted from a team that forfeits a Match;
The team receiving the forfeiture will receive 20 points for and nil points against
The team forfeiting the fixture will receive nil points for and 20 points against
15.4 In the event of teams being on equal points following the end of the League Competition, the team having the higher positive points difference will be deemed to be the higher placed team. If the teams have the same ratio, 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. If the teams have the same differential, then the team with the best disciplinary record during the Competition will be declared the winner.
16. Grand Championship Rules
16.1 For the Premiership, the 1st placed team will get a bye into the semi finals. The remaining 6 teams will play Quarter Finals.
The Quarter Finals will consist of 2nd v 7th, 3rd v 6th, 4th v 5th
The Semi finals, 1st v (winner of 4th v 5th), (winner of 2nd v 7th) v (winner of 3rd v 6th)
The higher ranked teams will enjoy home advantage
The Final will take place at King’s Park. .
16.2 For Premiership A, the 1st and second placed team will have a bye into the Semi Finals.
The Quarter Finals will consist of 3rd v 6th, 4th v 5th
The Semi Finals, 1st v (winner 4th V 5th), 2nd v (winner 3rd v 6th)
The Final will take place at King’s Park.
16.3 For Community Division 1 and Women's 15s, in the Semi-Finals 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd, with the 5th and 6th placed teams dropping out. The two winners of these matches will then meet in the Final.
16.4 For Community Division 2, in the Quarter-Finals 1st v 8th, 2nd v 7th, 3rd v 6th, and 4th v 5th. In the Semi-Finals winner of 1st v 8th plays winner of 4th v 5th, and winner of 2nd v 7th plays winner of 3rd v 6th. The winners of the two Semi-Finals then meet in the Final.
16.5 For Community Division 3A and 3B, in the Semi-Finals 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd, with the 5th and 6th placed teams dropping out. The two match winners will meet in the Final.
17. Duration of Matches
17.1 Normal duration of League Competition Matches is as follows:
Premiership and Premiership A Divisions 40 minutes each half
Championship and Community Divisions 35 minutes each half
Development Division 30 minutes
Women's XV Division 35 minutes each half
Women's 10s Division 20 minutes each half
17.2 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. If the teams have the same differential, then the winner will be decided by way of a coin toss between captains.
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 by mutual agreement.
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: (and no front row player aged under 18 in any circumstances)
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 "Domestic Rugby - League Forms - Underage Players" section of HKRFU website.
20.1.2 The youth committee of the Union has been informed of the application;
20.1.3 The application and recommendation have been provided to the Union 's Head of Community & Development, 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.
21. Women's XVs League Rules
21.1 Clubs with less than 18 players on their game day roster shall be allowed to borrow up to 3 players from other clubs.
21.2 Players that are members of the 2011-12 national team or in the training squad of the national team cannot be loaned to another club. Any club that borrows a national team/national training squad player shall forfeit the match and be deducted one point. The opposing team shall receive five points.
22. Women's 10s League Rules
22.1 Clubs with less than 14 players on their game day roster shall be allowed to borrow up to 2 players from other clubs.
22.2 Players that are members of the 2011-12 national team or in the training squad of the national team cannot play in the 10s Division. Any club that found to play with a national team/national training squad player shall forfeit the match and be deducted one point. The opposing club shall receive five points.
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